1970s

70 A Mini-Reunion and Farewell
Class cruisers abound, but Tom Lemker, Greg Ziombra, Joe Kunches, Bill Litgen and Steve Wolnitzek added a new twist. Onboard The Emerald Princess from Boston to Quebec City, Canada, with wives, they wore gold 50-year Club hats — for easy spotting on ship and ashore. Tom and Steve were childhood neighbors four doors apart in Fort Wright KY. Jeff Hurd, son of Bill Hurd, recently deceased, sought CO’s congressional seat. Mike O’Brien’s April 5 death at home in Loreto, Mexico, memorialized during a May 4 Zoom, featured sisters Sue and Kathleen, brother Tom, daughters Carrie and Nicole, friends, Juneau legal colleagues, and a poem about his time in Tenakee. John Hancock, senior bar manager, forsook the family pig farm in Mayfield KY, graduated from Duke Law, and represents Detroit auto dealers in labor matters. Phil Eagan in Palm Beach FL, where sons and families visit, works with urban education nonprofits. Sue (Bracco) ’70SMC and Gary Gleason, wed in 1971, have lived since 1974 in Santa Barbara near daughter Kathy ’98 and two grandchildren. They “travel to get rest.” Mike Paterni and his wife, Kathy, enjoy their five-acre Missoula MT retreat when Mike isn’t fishing, traveling or volunteering for the National Museum of Forest Service History’s Conservation Legacy Center. Dave Fleming retired from corporate law. He lives in Reston VA with Liz (McGuire) ’70SMC, wed in 1971; they volunteer with Travelers Aid at Dulles Airport. Skip Gilmartin (wed in 1972 to Molly Tiernan ’71SMC, an original female cheerleader) retired from legal practice in 2023. “A wonderful marriage, four married children, 14 precious grandchildren, and priceless friendships with ND classmates and former rugby teammates rendered unfounded concerns that retirement might be boring and unfulfilling.” Gina and Marty McFadden (married 1987) of Boca Grande FL and Lake Michigan in IN volunteer, ski, travel, bike and enjoy family and friends. Ruggers Skip, Marty, Phil, Dave, Gary and Mike converged in Missoula for a June mini-reunion, Clark Fork River float trip, and farewell to late friends Bill Middendorf and Ed Hogan. Bill died in Chicago in 2022; wife Ellen (O’Rourke) ’71SMC said the MT fishing trip was his favorite. Ed and Carol (Collins) ’72SMC lived in Grand Beach IN and Tidy Island FL during retirement from legal practice. He especially enjoyed being favorite uncle until his 2023 death. Chris Starr, Buffalo ’74DDS, was a general Navy dentist at Parris Island SC Marine Recruit Depot. He taught operative dentistry (Buffalo 1976-78), clinical dentistry (Columbia 1978-79), married and moved to FL in 1979, taught operative dentistry at Florida College of Dentistry 1979-83, then practiced in Wellington FL. Michael, one of his four sons, joined in 2014, allowing Chris to retire in 2019. Chris received Florida Dental Association’s 2024 Public Service Award for work at Caridad Medical Center in Boynton Beach. Bob Schmuhl’s latest blockbuster, Mr. Churchill in the White House, describes a total of 113 days visiting FDR during eight separate visits. Frank Vatterott practices law in St. Louis and studies possible revision of the MO constitution. He advises classmates to peruse the St. Louis History Museum. I advise that everyone visit reunion.nd.edu and register for our 55th Reunion May 29 - June 1, 2025. Geri and John Murtagh already have reservations. They enjoyed a cold, rainy bicycle tour from Salamanca to Porto and the warm Canadian Rockies this summer, before John’s second knee replacement. Marty Kress and the Breen Phillips Reindeer Club Zoom monthly and meet annually in person with spouses to update An Tostal and the Sophomore Literary Festival. More in the next issue. — Don Graham; 1901 S. Glenwood, Springfield IL 62704; 217-652-1560; fever1@me.com

 

70MBA Class Secretary — John Carroll;
4315 Alta Drive, Apt. 1301, Suwanee GA 30024; 404-281-6524; johnrcarroll@outlook.com

 

70JD Here Comes “80”
I trust everyone had a Merry Christmas and that you are ready to greet the new year. I don’t know about you, but it is hard for me to believe it is 2025! Marie and Ken Iverson visited Nancy and Joe Kane at their Northern MI cottage for a few days last July. Joe said that while they didn’t solve any of the world’s problems, they did stay up late every night until the wee small hours of the morning discussing ND football and reminiscing about old times. After a big family reunion on the OR coast, Judy and Joe Leahy enjoyed an August visit to the Emerald Isle. The trip afforded them the chance to explore Clonmel in County Tipperary, the hometown of Joe’s great-grandfather, and to spend a few days on the beautiful Dingle Peninsula. Attending sporting events and other activities for their grandchildren as well as entertaining lakeside visitors kept Joyce and Tom Sopko busy last summer. September found Mary Kevin and Jamie Cawley celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary in Paris and then visiting the beaches of Normandy. As autumn arrived, Marie and I traveled to ND for the Louisville game. The rainy weather failed to dampen spirits in the stadium as all did their best to wake up the echoes and shake down the thunder while cheering for the Fighting Irish. I had a vague recollection John Klein attended the Marshall game in 2022, and that caused me to wonder if he might have also been present at another game this past year. When I contacted John, he wanted it stated for the record he was not at the Northern Illinois game and he accepts no blame for the outcome of the same. Vincent George ’73MBA was a classmate of mine during undergrad days at St. Bonaventure U. He passed away last April. Vinnie had commenced his studies at ND during the autumn of 1967. He left early to help run the family farm in upstate NY when his father died, returning to complete his MBA courses at ND in 1973. In addition to Jamie Cawley, Jim Kirker, Mike Kelleher, Kevin Murphy and myself, another ’67 Bonaventure grad who headed out to ND was Tom Gill ’69MBA. I recently heard from Tom, who noted he and Vinnie had roomed together for a year at ND and remained lifelong friends. He had nothing but praise for Vinnie and all his accomplishments in the business world. Condolences go out to Vinnie’s wife, Cynthia, daughter Erika and son Matthew. I want to give a shout-out to the ND Club of Buffalo/Western New York. While distance keeps me from actively participating in this organization, I am kept abreast of the club’s activities by frequent emails. What I see is a group of ND alums leaving a positive mark on the local community by engaging in projects that help the homeless, the sick, the hungry, the poor and many other worthwhile causes. Perhaps you have encountered similar clubs where you live. They reflect well upon ND and should be thanked for all their good work. In closing I note that many of us have either just turned 80 or we will be doing so this year. Yes, you read that right: 80! Let me be the first to wish all of you a happy 80th birthday. As we approach the octogenarian years that lie ahead, maybe the best way to measure our lives from here on out would be by counting our blessings and friendships instead of years. Until next time, stay well. Go Irish! — John K. Plumb; jkplumb37@gmail.com

 

71 Happy New Year!
We are a creative bunch or possibly merely a group that thinks with tunnel vision. Either way, the Louisville game was circled early by a significant number. Perhaps the attraction was September and no snow, and/or mid-afternoon and not a night game. Thus we were able to host 40-plus ’71 ND/SMC grads and spouses for Friday dinner. There were too many to mention, but they came from near and far; bragged about grandkids; compared aches, pains and surgeries; and witnessed a win on Saturday. It’s always fun to visit and catch up. Patti and Neil O’Connor, Chicago, were married in the Log Chapel. In August they celebrated their 47th anniversary at the same location with the baptism of their 13th grandchild. Neil has retired from his law practice, more time to plan family gatherings. Another retired attorney, Herman Fala, and wife Helen, Philadelphia, were able to join us the night before the Miami game. Also here for Miami were Sarah and Tom Desch, Winston-Salem NC, and Sandy and Bill Hassink, Wilmington DE. Mark Hubbard authored Ara: The Life and Legacy of a Notre Dame Legend. Katie gave Mark carte blanche access to all of Ara’s papers. The book has received numerous positive reviews, including from The Wall Street Journal, not your normal sports outlet. Check it out. Michael Boulus passed away in August. Raised in Dearborn MI, a resident of Alumni and an AL major, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in education from MSU. His career was spent in the education field in various positions in MI. Condolences to Marian and their family. Our sophomore Innsbruck, Austria, crew held another gathering in early October in Quebec City, Canada. Per Gene Geiger, Lewiston ME, the attendees were Fritz Baader, Don Black, Bob Ford, Jim Kelly, Russ Kempiners, Terry Kennedy, Mike Leary, Lee Liebner, Mark Mahoney, Mike Pownall, Bill Sauer, Mark Skrabacz, Mark Walbran and Kevin Wifvat. Jim and Russ call Europe home, in Belgium and Germany respectively. Tom Nasca, MD, is retiring as head guy at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, but will remain active in other day-to-day aspects. He and Jean will depart Chicago and return home to Philadelphia where the grandkids reside. Vince Carr, Kailua-Kona HI, dusted off his boating skills from his FL days and volunteered to crew on a three-week cruise from Bellingham WA to Hyder AK on his nephew’s 44-foot trawler. There was fishing and crabbing en route as needed without the cruise line mobs. Pangborn and Fisher are now history. Two new dorms are under construction, with larger footprints encroaching onto part of the Burke golf course. Pat Crowe, Le Roy NY, came west for the NIU game, giving Jerry Riley, Chicago, the opportunity to drive over, visit and catch up. Retirement provides an opportunity for some interesting part-time endeavors. Tom McCalley, Indianapolis, and Steve Zumbo, Canandaigua NY, are doing their part to address the shortage of school bus drivers. Kudos to them, especially in view of a 5:30 wake-up call. As part of the Golden Domers Club (formerly known as the 50-Year Club), everyone is eligible to attend each Reunion in June. Discussions are underway with the Alumni Association to arrange some Class of 1971 events May 29 - June 1, 2025, and not wait until the 55th. Visit reunion.nd.edu and 1971.undclass.org for updates. Cheers! — John Snider; 830 N. Saint Peter St., South Bend IN 46617-1936; res 574-217-8961; cell 312-860-1779; jlscpa@yahoo.com

 

71MBA Class Secretary — Jim Fackelman;
4635 Lakeview Circle, Slinger WI 53086; cell 414-379-0968; jfackelman@alumni.nd.edu

 

71JD
Tom Burns advises me that Mike Tharp passed away in January 2023. Mike was in our class for one semester. He was drafted into the military service which he spent in Vietnam. I also have a note from Bob Salatka. Bob was 80-years old in June, but this is an old note and I do not know what year that was. Bob and Carol have a great-granddaughter, Rhylee, who was born in Norfolk VA in October of 2022. The Salatkas were bringing their granddaughter, Lila, to ND last fall with hopes that she would enjoy the campus and apply for admission to undergraduate studies. I visited with Gary Gottschlich after the Miami of Ohio game and he is doing well. Mary Ann and Fred Kuhar and Barb and Mike Heaton visited with us for the Stanford game. Fred and Mike are both retired. Fred was unable to dissipate the lightning storms in the area which delayed the end of the game. Barb had an art show of her work the next day in Evanston IL. On Oct. 11, Rudy Gerber served as a judge of the Justice Barnett Moot Court competition at Notre Dame. In addition to judging, Rudy attended discussions about artificial intelligence in the law. To Rudy’s amazement, not one of us was mentioned! Since retiring from the bench, Rudy has been an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. He and Kathleen are living 70 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge and he invites all of us to visit. Remember, he lives north and not west of the Bridge. Please send me your news (note my office address has changed). I wish you and all of your family peace and good health in the New Year. God Bless and GO IRISH! — E. Bryan Dunigan; 646 Fair Oaks, Oak Park IL 60302; 312-857-2114; bdunigan@duniganlaw.com

 

72 Our Own Ralph Nader
Jack Gillis was profiled in The New York Times, Sept. 9, 1985, in an article titled “Behind Nader, a Generation at the Ready.” Jack retired in January 2022 from the Consumer Federation of America in Washington DC, where he had worked for 38 years, with the last four as CEO. The press release announcing his retirement stated: Jack “led CFA’s efforts in child and product safety, indoor air quality, consumer education, auto sales practices and, most significantly, auto safety.” His “advocacy [was] responsible for major changes in the automobile industry, including significantly improved vehicle safety, better warranties and increased fuel efficiency.” He wrote “75 consumer books including The Car Book, published for 40 consecutive years. He served for 10 years as a contributing consumer correspondent for NBC’s Today Show representing CFA, was Good Housekeeping’s personal finance columnist, and was a child product safety columnist at Child Magazine.” He “was an adjunct professor at The George Washington U, where he taught in the Graduate School of Government and Business Administration, and [at retirement he served] on the boards of the Center for Auto Safety (chair), Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Center for the Study of Services (Consumers’ Checkbook) and … the Certified Automotive Parts Association, a nonprofit standard-setting organization.” Don Mooney retired from law practice in Cincinnati and is living in Taos NM. He and his wife, Jennifer, recently completed a 17-day, 200-mile version of the Camino de Santiago. He would be happy to share details on planning or the experience. Let us pray for each other, living and deceased, to the Mother of Holiness. — Jim Thunder; thundergroup@alumni.nd.edu

 

72MBA Still Out Here
Just a quick note to let you know I’m still out here in KS waiting for news. I apologize for not having any notes in the last two issues, but it has been months since I last heard from any of our classmates. I would like to point out that all of us are eligible for the Golden Domers Club (formerly known as the 50-Year Club) and can attend the ND Reunion any year, every year if you want to. Not many of us were at the Class of 1972 50th Reunion, but those who weren’t can be inducted at any Reunion. I hope a number of us can attend the 2027 Reunion, and if there is any interest we might plan a mini-reunion of our Class ahead of that, May 29 - June 1, 2025 or in 2026. Register at reunion.nd.edu. Since I missed the last issue I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving, a wonderful Christmas and a great start to the New Year. God bless all of you. — Alex McLellan; 913-991-0944; irish72mba@gmail.com

 

72JD Class Secretary — Chris Schraff;
1881 Marble Cliff Crossing Ct., Columbus OH 43204; 614-227-2097; cschraff@porterwright.com

 

73 73 in 73
Did you know that the members of the Class of ’73 are 73 this year? Cathe Lannon-Barr, recently retired from a prestigious career as an attorney in Chicago, had lunch recently at the Chicago Yacht Club overlooking beautiful Lake Michigan with classmates Beth Olivia, Cathe Moran and Nancy Moran Moore. Patti McGuire joined this group for this monthly October lunch. The Class recently donated $11,000 from its class fund to the Denny Charitable Golf Outing. The outing recognizes the contributions in Kankakee County IL of Dennis Smith, who passed away of ALS in 2006. Over $1 million has been contributed to Bishop McNamara High School and Kankakee Community College in addition to the Les Turner Society. Class Vice President Jim Roolf and myself presented the check Oct. 9 to Frances Smith ’64, the oldest brother of Denny, and Mike O’Brien. I received a nice photo from Pete Farbatko and Mike Hannigan who attended the Georgia Tech game. Their two roommates from Section Friendly in Pangborn Hall, John Griffin and John Barber, were unable to attend due to sudden illnesses and were definitely missed. Good to hear from you guys! Great news from Bob “Bo” Scott who hung up his robe in June 2023. Following a two-week trip to Maui and then to Dublin for the game, he had his right hip replaced. In October he officiated at his daughter’s wedding after he walked her down the aisle. Then he took off his robe and in pure Clark Kent fashion changed into his suit to welcome the guests. It is unknown if Bob changed in a phone booth. I received a nice email from Dennis Wall discussing Notre Dame football and his time as a reserve quarterback. Thanks for your great points concerning our coach Ara Parseghian. Now for the sad news. We have five deaths to report. Mike Manyak was hospitalized in May and had complications from graft-versus-host disease. Mike went to medical school in the Philippines and did some modeling. Mike was a very popular classmate and later a doctor in Washington DC. I was personally disappointed to hear of the death of Joseph Manning Lee, who passed away in July of lung disease. Four of his six children graduated from Notre Dame. Joe spent most of his career in regulatory law and was most recently vice president of regulatory affairs for AT&T. Joe retired in 2016 and was a landscape painter and traveled with his wife, Julie, to ME and Ireland. John Malloy passed away in June. John resided in Southbury CT. John McLaughlin passed away in July and was a recent resident of Delray Beach FL. Living in Lafayette IN at the time of his passing in August was Dr. Stewart Schreckengast. Please don’t be bashful and please send me news on what is going on in your life and those of the classmates of which you associate. Please send to — Michael W. Hansen; 3013 Sanctuary Court, Joliet IL 60435; cell 815-212-3661; mikehansen@mikehansenlaw.com

 

73MBA Class Secretary — Thomas Jindra;
tajindra@charter.net

 

73JD Slow News Quarter
As is usually the case, there is little to report, and what news there is not happy. John Malloy passed away this past June in Southbury CT. He was born in Fountain Hill PA and graduated from Moravian College before heading out to South Bend. At Notre Dame he took part in the London Program. Before opening a boutique practice in Newtown CT, he held positions at Union Carbide, at Schering-Plough and as the chief legal officer at Eveready Battery. He was also an adjunct professor at Western Connecticut U. Our deepest condolences to his wife, Jane, and his children and their families. As for my wife, Jane, and I, we are again officially residents of Quechee VT. It remains to be seen how we feel about the trade-off of cold weather versus worrying about hurricanes. For the record, I experienced weather this morning where the temperature began with a 2 for the first time in at least 10 years. More to come. — Paul Reagan; 328 Fletcher Lane, Box 641, Quechee VT 05059; cell 847-915-9796; pvreagan@gmail.com

 

74 Reunion Promises Kept!
At our 50th Reunion, classmates said they would write to me and they did — thank you. Richard Keenan ran the NYC Marathon in November to support GallopNYC, a nonprofit that offers therapeutic horseback riding programs for all New Yorkers with disabilities and other needs. Congrats! Gary Sobolewski, our Class golfing mastermind at Notre Dame along with Dave DeVita, tells of Al Danza’s life that changed in 2018 after hosting a fantastic guy’s golf trip at the Hamptons for his fellow Zahmbies. Al was in a tragic accident which resulted in Al being a quadriplegic. However, the tight relationships between the Zahm men through Dan Joyce ’73’s website has kept them all together. Not wishing to have Al miss out on our 50th Reunion, the Zahmbies from our Class, including Dr. Tom Eichler, Shawn Kelly, Tom Hansen, Andy McDermott, Jim McGee, Gary Sobolewski and Dave Devita, plus John Agosta ’73, Dan Joyce ’73, Paul Digaetano ’75 and Tom Pearson ’75, pulled together from all across the USA and visited Al to share wonderful memories of the glorious past. From a dinner to a picnic, the weekend with Al at his home was spectacular, sharing the love, loyalty and camaraderie the Zahmbies all have for one another. Michael D. Neubert, who founded the law firm Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, was recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Michael is head of the firm’s Professional Malpractice & Insurance Defense and Medical Malpractice & Hospital Liability Defense practice areas. He also has extensive experience in the areas of civil and commercial litigation, medical and dental malpractice defense, professional liability defense and hospital liability law. Congrats, Michael. Carol Longo Kaupp, my dear college roommate from CA, along with her daughter flew in to visit me in Boston in October, the beautiful season of crimson and vibrant orange colored leaves on the trees. We enjoyed the sights and sounds of the Seaport area and took a tour of the North End and dined on delicious food. Also Jill Fahey Birkett ’74SMC came into Boston to join my first orchestrated senior alumni event for the Boston Club of Notre Dame as we laughed and enjoyed ourselves, with a multitude of others, at the festively decorated Holiday Stroll on the Freedom Trail, and we concluded with a pint or two at Sam Adams. Attorney Richard D. Arconti, a practicing attorney (47 years!) who claims he was a “refugee” booted out of Walsh Hall decades ago, so enjoyed reconnecting with Tom Harmon, Bob Jaeckle and Mark Proesel, many whom he hasn’t seen in 50-plus years, including Rex Rossi (Howard Hall). When moved to Morrissey Hall, newfound friends were made and regrouped at our Reunion, including Frank Poretta, John Flynn, Tim and Kevin O’Neill, and Dave “Fro” Murphy. Infamous stories and body part replacements were shared by all. Tim Creighton also came through on his promise to write and passed the news that the ND Senior Alumni golf event, orchestrated once again by Gary Sobolowski, gave Tim a chance to play with Gary Janko, Tom Hansen and Jack Leight. They won with a score of 57, 14 under par with help from Hanson’s “otherworldly” putting. This year Tim marks his 50th anniversary in the commodities industry in Chicago, where he is still a member. Lastly, Tim loves to bowl and rolled a perfect 300 for a score. Most impressive. Thank you all, keep writing — I love, love hearing from you and representing our Class. When in Boston let me know. Cheers and happy 2025. I hope to see all at the Boston College vs. Notre Dame game here in Boston! — Dede Lohle Simon; 300 2nd Ave., Unit 2139, Needham Heights MA 02494; dedersimon@gmail.com

 

74MBA Hurricane News
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our classmates and their families that reside or have homes in FL, GA and NC. Hurricanes Helene and Milton inflicted tremendous physical damage in those Southern states in a very short time. We wish all of you the best as you continue your cleanup/recovery efforts and try to get your lives back to a somewhat normal routine. I did hear from Randy Marks and Charlie Lanktree, both of whom reside in FL (Randy, full-time in Sarasota, and Charlie, part-time in Hammock Bay). They and their spouses, Sandy and Donna, survived with minor property damage, temporary power loss and, of course, much debris to be cleaned up and hauled away. I would like to hear from other classmates living in those areas. Let us know that you are well and what you are doing in your retirement years. Helen and I had a great week in Myrtle Beach with most of our family in early August. We had 19 people present, including our 2-month-old great-grandson. What a beautiful location to soak up some sun and enjoy the warm ocean waters. We have been making this same trip to Myrtle Beach for over 30 years and are so fond of the good times and the memories that these trips have brought us. Helen and I are off to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in late October. We traveled there last year and really enjoyed the bright sunshine and beautiful beaches of the Caribbean. We feel so fortunate to be able to get away to warm places now that our MI weather begins to grow colder and the nights longer. I hope that all of you have a fun-filled and healthy holiday season with friends and family. Drop me a line or give me a call to let everyone know how you are enjoying your retirement years. — Jack Burnett; 19248 Glen Eagles Drive, Livonia MI 48152; 734-464-3458; jburnet1@sbcglobal.net

 

74JD Kudos to Mike O’Connell
Last August Mike O’Connell became the longest-serving county attorney in Jefferson County KY in over 100 years. Mike began his legal career as an assistant county attorney. He went on to maintain a private practice, and then serve as both a district judge and a circuit judge and later as a sought-after mediator. Mike has served as county attorney since 2008. Mike says his proudest moment, in a legal career filled with proud moments, was when Ellen and his daughter, Circuit Judge Annie O’Connell, swore him in for his most recent term. Be well and take care. — Joe O’Reilly; cell 502-649-6955; joe.oreilly34@icloud.com

 

75 The Big 5-0
I’m hoping to see a big crowd at our 50th Class Reunion at Notre Dame May 29 - June 1, 2025. Class officers, volunteers and NDAA staff are organizing special events over three days, including a casual welcome reception on Thursday night, an induction ceremony into the “Golden Domers Club,” a golf outing on Friday morning, special Masses offered daily, campus tours and special Class of 1975 banquets Friday and Saturday evenings. Visit reunion.nd.edu to register soon. This website also features an Accommodations page with links to the official Reunion hotel room blocks (that include complimentary van transportation to and from campus) and information on our air-conditioned dorm. The Morris Inn lottery last summer was open only to alumni from the Class of 1974 and older who are invited back to Reunion every year… so next time will be our turn! Rally your former roommates, folks from your major and favorite clubs on campus and be sure they are signing up for this memorable Reunion. To volunteer your time and be of service with duties like fundraising, communications, special events or entertainment, contact officers Pat Lally (plally2020@hotmail.com), Jeanne Murphy (jeanne.murphy@alumni.nd.edu), Howard Stierwalt (hgstierwalt@gmail.com) or Norm Bower (normbower53@gmail.com). Thanks for your consideration. Congrats to Ed Rahill, who has written a book about his adventures as an endurance road racer titled One Mile at a Time. He had a book signing event at the ND bookstore in September. Published by Emerald Books and available on Amazon, the memoir is described as both a “racing odyssey and an exploration of the human spirit.” Tawny Ryan Nelb received an achievement award and was named a fellow of the Society of American Archivists at a ceremony in Chicago on Aug. 15. Richard Cusick and wife Sara celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 24 with their three children and their spouses, eight grands and lots of family and friends, including classmate Dr. William Coco. They were married by Rev. Robert Griffin, CSC, at the Basilica in 1974. Congrats! Kathy Osberger’s book, I Surrender: A Memoir of Chile’s Dictatorship, 1975 (Orbis Books, 2023) was given an honorable mention award by the Catholic Media Association in the category of memoir. Noony and Jack Malone hosted Linda and Norm Bower in October at their new home in Glenview IL. They toured the Chicago Botanic Garden and relived a lot of special undergrad memories. Drew Danik, who earned a Monogram as a student manager, passed away in South Bend on May 25. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three children. Lucia Madrid of Las Vegas died June 14 and is survived by her husband, Alfred Madrid. Robert Salata of Shaker Heights OH died Aug. 26 and is survived by his wife, Mary Jo. Please continue to send me your news. Thanks! — Norm Bower; 3946 Fernwood Ave., Davenport IA 52807; 563-349-0469; normbower53@gmail.com

 

75MBA Class Secretary — Jim Ouimet;
cell 703-862-5715; jimouimet@comcast.net

 

75JD Winter Notes
Jim Hightower, an author, columnist and true Texan, once quipped that there is nothing in the middle of the road except a yellow line and dead armadillos. In the 1970s, when our Law School was right smack in the middle, I never saw any lines or armadillos, but maybe I was overly focused on the fertile octogenarian and Latin phrases that were Greek to me. While our football team was ranked number one during our time on campus, the Law School was stuck in 77th place out of 157 law schools. How could that be, you might ask, if rankings did not exist? Well, an interesting article (go to taxprof.typepad.com and search for “1975 rankings”) got posted nearly two decades ago which took standard criteria being used at that time for rankings and applied them retroactively to law schools in 1975. In that year, our Law School would have clocked in at 77, but it was 22 in 2006; more recent rankings occasionally place us in the teens. But, answer this: Did NDLS feel like a middling educational institution when we were there? Back then, the school had high LSAT scores (mine being an ugly exception) along with an enviable student/faculty ratio, a well-stocked law library, a respectable (but hardly glamorous) course catalog and other nifty bells and whistles. Faculty members were wise and seasoned, but certainly not as plentiful, polished and published as today’s faculty. The Law School improved greatly after we left, thanks to David Link ’58, ’61JD, who took it from respected to elite. Our diplomas have far more luster today, no thanks to us individually. Face it, we have much in common with Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe who left the Beatles in the early days: We departed before greatness arrived. Back to the present: Bob Weaver reported that Portland OR set record temperatures last July, so he and Hannah Callaghan fled to AK for a cool break. He resigned from his firm in 2021 but took a couple clients with him; he tried his last case in 2022, followed by retirement. A few months later, he took the position of general counsel of Oregon Catholic Charities, which he jokingly calls his opportunity to atone for a 47-year trial career. Congrats to Paul Fortino and his family. Paul’s grandson joined the family tradition last August when he started at Notre Dame. Thus, Paul MacLean Fortino became the fourth Paul Fortino at du Lac, following in the footsteps of Paul Francis Fortino ’38, Paul Thomas Fortino ’75JD and Paul Christopher Fortino ’97, ’02MBA (who was born during our last semester). At the Texas Access to Justice Commission’s Champions of Justice Gala in April 2022, Bruce Bower was presented with the Emily C. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award. The prestigious award recognizes an outstanding individual whose extraordinary spirit and demonstrated commitment to legal aid has improved society and inspired others. Bruce is now retired after 35 years of service to the Texas Legal Services Center and Texans in need, while also mentoring the next generation of legal aid attorneys and advocates. Last June, we lost Arnie Campbell. His career was mostly spent overseas in diplomatic postings courtesy of the US Department of State. Arnie is survived by his wife, Marti. Remember to dust off your suitcase because our 50th Reunion is right around the corner (May 29 - June 1, 2025). With the unlikelihood of a 100th in 2075, this one will be the biggie, or as my mother would say, the whole kit and caboodle. I hope you will register soon at reunion.nd.edu. — Frederick Giel; fggiel@gmail.com

 

76 Amigos and Accolades Abound
The unexpected persistence of late October’s warm weather in Northwest IN reminds me of the endurance of our Class’s friendships. Our ’76 mini-reunion festivities were recently awarded Tailgate of the Week, where NDAA Executive Director Dolly Duffy ’84 remarked, “You’ve always been a very unique, cohesive class.” Class VP Mark Nishan eloquently reminded her it’s because “we fill each other’s cups,” and President Debi Dell added, “It’s [about] the family.” Our record turnout reinforces the importance of staying close as we prepare for our 50th Reunion June 4 - 7, 2026. The Three Amigos — Mark Nishan, Ron Skrabacz and Tom Klein — journeyed to campus from VA, Chicago and Long Island to celebrate their 50-plus-year “brotherhood” born in Alumni Hall, where they were roommates. Their bench outside South Dining Hall features the Abraham Lincoln quote: “The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.” Mark recently visited his new grandson in SC (son of Lindsay Nishan ’14), Tom is still teaching accounting at St. John’s U, and Ron is our famous MMQB statistician and guru! The three stay in touch via monthly phone calls. Linda and Pat Leary traveled to the mini-reunion from PA, where Pat teaches at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He recently visited Bruce Ferraro in Cleveland, Rocco Basciano in Williamsburg VA, and Phil Coyne in DC, reporting that all are doing well. Don Opal, Bruce Fortelka and Ted Ursu attended the mini-reunion, then journeyed to Atlanta joining fellow Flannerites John Pelehach, Pat Corbett, Paul Giorlando and Brian Dowe for the Georgia Tech game. John Lane hosted another ’76 reunion at his home in Cleveland. Mike Huguelet, Mike White and Pat Nicholson joined him from Chicago and Dave Tulsiak from Tampa, along with their spouses. Joe O’Leary joined via FaceTime. They reminisced about their days in Morrissey and Pangborn. In September, Marty Regan received NDAA’s Rev. John Cavanaugh Award in recognition of his commitment to philanthropy and compassionate public service in his hometown of Memphis. His Flanner roommates, Mike Apfeld, Jim Keegan, Mike Laird, Bob McDonnell and Tim Scully, nominated him in a 71-page document highlighting his countless accomplishments. Ceyl Prinster, CEO of Colorado Enterprise Fund, was honored in August by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce as one of 2024’s Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business. A month later, she announced a $7 million donation from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott to further their mission of providing access to capital and coaching for CO small businesses. We celebrate the distinguished lives of our classmates, including those who have passed away. Our memorial list has grown to 163. Frank Fransioli’s remarks at our yearly butterfly release ceremony reminded us how, in time, grieving heals the wounds of loss so we can “enter the hearth in (y)our soul where (y)our loved one has awaited (y)our return,” per John O’Donohue’s quote. We recently lost John Gallegher, MD, Roy Kolstad and John Sikora. Dr. Gallegher was board-certified in neonatology, which he practiced in FL and VA. In the 1990s, he began a new career in the Air National Guard as a flight surgeon and officer. Roy was a CPA who excelled in sales management later in his career. He loved to travel and visited six continents, including his most recent adventure to Africa. John Sikora passed away in ME after a brief illness. Although he lived there only five years, he said it was the highlight of his life with the love of his life. Our condolences to their loved ones. We also offer our prayers to Joe Thomas on the passing of his wife, Donnarose (Usher) ’77SMC. Please contact me if you plan on attending the NDAA Leadership Conference April 10 - 12. — Shelley Muller Simon; 5972 Dune Harbor Dr., Portage IN 46368; 573-268-3690; ssimon823@gmail.com

 

76MBA Class Secretary — Mike Norris;
text 248-330-5366; norris1021@comcast.net

 

76JD Class Secretary — Virgil L. Roth;
625 Fair Oaks Ave., Suite 255, South Pasadena CA 91030; 626-441-1178; fax 626-441-1166; vroth@vlrlaw.com

 

77 The Girls in the Boat
Mary Spalding Burns, Beth Corbin Murphy and Jody Gormley are still training and racing with their local rowing clubs, but also competing with the NDames, the ND women’s crew alumnae rowing team. In October all three rowed in Philadelphia with the NDames at the head of the Schuylkill Regatta, racing in the Alumni Women’s eight and the Women’s Master’s eight events. Beth Murphy also raced with the NDames in September, rowing at the head of the Cuyahoga Regatta in Cleveland. A three-day inauguration of the 18th University president, Rev. Robert Dowd, CSC, ’87, began a new era. The ND Forum 2024-25 “What do we owe each other?” program was moderated by John Veihmeyer, the new chairman of the ND Board of Trustees and former global chairman of KPMG, and Joe Donnelly ’81JD, former ambassador to the Holy See and former US senator from IN. Joe Donnelly stepped down as the US ambassador to the Holy See on July 8, serving as IN’s delegation chair at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. In an episode of For Good: Stories from Notre Dame, viewable on ND Loyal YouTube, Apple and Spotify podcasts, John Veihmeyer discusses his views on leadership. Thomas Digan lives in Jacksonville FL and was blessed with his fourth granddaughter, Caroline Grace Manley, in July. Sue Fitzpatrick Drago and Lou Drago, Polly Mack Spangler, Sarah Lynch Hadley, Betsy Sklena Lampling and Bill Jacobitz enjoyed a football weekend reunion on campus in September. Patter Sheeran Birsic and Tom Birsic ’76 enjoyed being back on campus for the ND-Stanford game weekend, writing that their “daughter, SIL and granddaughter joined us in addition to visiting with our nephew, Trip Cholis ’95, and several of our friends that graduated with Tom. We flew in Thursday and the most magical moments were walking around campus Thursday night. Lighting candles and prayers at the Grotto, visiting the Basilica, etc. We are already planning on attending the USC/ND game in 2025! We are hosting a FSU game watch at our home for the ND Club of Utah.” Mike Richter shared that he piloted his 1986 Mooney 252 TSE plane through a crash landing March 16 due to fuel exhaustion, near Modesto CA. His son Daniel Richter ’01, who holds a Ph.D. in marine biogeochemistry from Scripps in San Diego, began his own business called Richter Capitol Hill Strategies. Jack Bergen traveled to Norway and the Arctic in July, visiting Svalbard, only a couple of hundred miles from the North Pole, and several locations in Norway. John Shaughnessy wrote an article for Notre Dame Magazine about the 10th National Eucharistic Congress, held in Indianapolis, titled “In Communion,” and a story titled “Close Games” about childhood sports. James King’s poem “You Poem” was nominated by the editors of Dipity Literary Magazine as Best of the Net 2025. Our hearts break at the loss of classmate Rear Admiral Mark Balmert. His commands included the guided-missile destroyer Chandler (DDG-996) and Destroyer Squadron 7 (DESRON 7). He served as Constellation Battle Group Sea combat commander during the commencement of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was awarded a Bronze Star. Orthopedic surgeon Rick Schroeder, MD, passed away after a brave battle, leaving his wife, Diana, and their five children, also ND alumni: Betsy ’04, Peter ’06, Jillian ’10, Andrew ’12 and Bradley ’13, and their families. Condolences also go out to Steve Blubaugh on the loss of his father, George. May all rest now in the peace of Heaven. — Virginia McGowan Bishop; classof1977@alumni.nd.edu

 

77MBA Class Secretary — Alan J. Fisher;
ajfisher7577@gmail.com

 

77JD Petrides Honored with Thomas More Award
Linda Olivieri saw in her church bulletin that Randy Petrides was to be honored with the Thomas More Award at the St. Mary Cathedral annual Red Mass and dinner reception on Oct. 8. The notice included Randy’s contributions during 38 years of service in the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office, followed by his earning a degree in Catholic theology. That, of course, led to his book, How the Saints Shaped History. Congratulations, Randy, on making the most of retirement! Marianne and Paul Smith ’76JD enjoyed a mini-reunion in September with some of Paul’s classmates, with a stay at Tom Hayes’ horse stables in Michiana Shores, tailgating and cheering on the Irish at the Louisville game. A memorial Mass for Joe Cassini was also held at the Basilica. Paul and Marianne spend lots of time in Phoenix with the families of their sons Jason and Colin, including four grandchildren, but they are happy to return to cooler temperatures in the East. I retired in July, and we traveled with my sister Rita and brother-in-law (and our two dogs) to Yellowstone with stops in the Badlands, the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. Future travel plans include April in Paris, so I am working on my French skills at the senior Forever Learning Institute. Please note my home email address! — Janey Bennett; 50850 Tarrington Way, Granger IN 46530; 574-298-9251; res 574-383-5745; jane1977nd@outlook.com

 

78 Reunions
Greetings, fellow members of the Class with class! It was great to see so many of you on campus during football season! Here’s to a magical spring! Fenwick High School in Chicago held its 50th reunion in September. Father Ed Shea, OFM, said Mass in the school chapel. Among those attending were Bob March, Brian Cronin, Jeff Carpenter, Brian Mulhern, Don Nadar, Henry Fetta, Danny James and Jim Henegan. Danny Romano received an award for “community” and Father Ed for “preaching and prayer.” From the “that’s a shocker” department, Pat “Jaws” Coveny moved to Lake Geneva WI. He always did love lakes. Pete Haley, Tom Coryn, Randy Heimbuch and Brian Cronin were at the Florida State game Nov. 9. “Too Tall” (Joe Luberda) hosted a golf trip at his home in St. Louis for fellow Dillonites the week before the Stanford game. Weather is great in St. Louis that time of year. From Chicago were “Tals” (John Talbot), “Dickie” (Richard Byrne) and “Archie” (Mark Manning); from Dallas was “Goose” (Mike Garvey); from Boston was “Ted” (Ted Maroney); and from Dayton was “Rollie” (Steve Ley). In absentia due to an Irish golf trip was “Budman” (Jim Budde, a Fisher Hall interloper). Rollie spotted a Eurasian tree sparrow, a bird with a small range found mostly in St. Louis, to add to his checklist just before the festivities started. Alumni Hall’s Dennis Smith and “Junior” (Jim Moellering) of St. Louis joined us for this festive kickoff. The next day was afternoon golf in IL so we could more easily go to downtown St. Louis in the shadow of Busch Stadium for drinks and then dinner. The next day was more golf followed by drinks and dinner at a local pub. Along with late-night music and beverages, we settled a lot of political issues and kept a close eye on Hurricane Milton as one of the group has a winter home in Sarasota. Early reports on damage were not good. We also were reminded that Ted is the best golfer as he won most of the golf bets and money both days, even with handicaps. All mentioned in this recap are happily retired except Dickie, who is still working at JP Morgan. Father Ed Shea had a mini 1978 Class reunion with Katie Doman Salamunovich and Tim Salamunovich back in October. Father Ed celebrated the wedding of Tim and Katie’s daughter Molly in Petaluma CA. Katie also spent some time with Jean Walsh Simonse and Mary Jo Murphy in August on her way to her high school class reunion in Janesville WI, where she met up with Lisa Lyons Stevens and Doug Stevens. Father Ed also went home to ND for the Florida State game. Dr. Tim Curtin and Jim “Boobie” Clarke attended their 50th at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney MD. In Dayton OH, Jim Budde, DDS, John Talbot and Tim Spangler attended their 50th at Alter High School. In November, John Delaney and Jim “Souls” Coyne attended their 50th class reunion from West Catholic Boys High School in Philadelphia. Also in September, Tom Gettings, John Doherty (both Grace Hall guys) and Joe Camarda met for golf, drinks and lies for our Bethlehem (PA) Catholic 50th reunion. There were no arrests recorded. Ah, maturity! Don “Dancing Bear” Smail joined Jim Coyne for a visit to the Stanford game. The morning started with a visit to men’s basketball team practice, which included Jeff Carpenter and Maribeth ’80 and Bill Hanzlik. Visitors to the Pat Flynn/ Terry Heidkamp tailgate included Mary Jo and Bruce Martin, and Marianne Corr and John Talbot. Susan and Jimmy Dunne were also out for the weekend Nace Mullen joined Don at the Navy game at MetLife. Also attending were Kathy and Steve Conover and John Coyne. John also once again regaled students from Cardinal O’Hara High School’s World Affairs Club with all things financial in his Morgan Stanley office in NY in October. Jim Coyne teaches at the school and is club moderator. Perennial “Best in Age Group” Nace Mullen is always proving what’s physically possible. “Little Nace” (now in fifth grade) is also out there proving his dad’s genes and competitiveness. Nace III is the first-place award winner for runners aged 18 and under. He finished 12th among all 62 runners. Nace III is number nine among all males with a time of 24:09 for a 5k race — a pace of 7:47/mile. And yes … he did defeat Nace II (number 20 overall; 27:09). Nace III is 10 years old! Please remember in your prayers the family of Daniel Pedtke, who has died. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Pray for peace! Love one another! If you are already doing this, do it harder! Stay in touch. — Jim “Souls” Coyne; 1801 Butler Pike, Apt. 20, Conshohocken PA 19428; 267-847-8808; jcoyne@cohs.com

 

78MBA Class Secretary — Mamie Anthoine Ney;
41 Applewood Lane, Falmouth ME 04105; res 207-229-0989; bus 207-333-6640 ex 2020; irishwasherwoman@alumni.nd.edu

 

78JD Quiet Classmates
Please send me news, memories, plans and ideas. — Vincent R. Johnson; 210-410-3562; vjohnson@stmarytx.edu

 

79 Making Music
In July, Farley friends (and some spouses) Margo (McKiernan) and Keith MacDonell, Anne Marie (Huber) and Steve Edmundowicz, Mary Pat (Callan) McKie, Mary (Hadlock) Larson, and Chris (Twist) and Andy Burke joined the Traveling Irish for a10-day adventure in Iceland that included hiking, waterfalls, steaming volcanoes, lava fields, many puffins and one Irish pub. In the DC area, Rich Neville is the father of five, three of whom went to ND, with two of those marrying ND grads. He is the associate director of the Inova Schaar Heart and Vascular Institute and chief of vascular surgery/wound care/hyperbaric medicine. In addition, he is a surgery professor at George Washington U and a medical education professor at UVA. He also taught surgery at Georgetown. In Mt. Prospect IL, Tim Gaida retired two years ago after a career in banking. He volunteers at local food banks and has been a longtime volunteer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. In September, Jane and Jerry Perez welcomed their first grandchild, Jerome. Kevin Buckley recently retired after 38 years as a lawyer with Hinton Andrews Kurtz in Richmond VA where he specialized in legal issues related to business and financial transactions. Before law school, he worked as an engineer. In retirement, in addition to woodworking, he and his wife, Amanda (Bernheim) ’81, have been traveling and attending to household maintenance. They have been married for 43 years and have four children, including Austin ’06 and Erin ’08. Kevin served on the Alumni Association board of directors for five years, including two as president. In September, Jim Speier of Dallas, Gregg Sobkowski of Portage IN, Matt Feeney ’79, ’83JD of Phoenix, Rich Marcello ’79, ’80 of Harvard MA and Gerry Garcia ’81 of Austin, performing as “Distant Relations,” dropped their second album on several platforms, including Spotify, iTunes and Amazon. They recorded the album remotely from each of their homes with Rich putting it together in his home studio. At ND, they performed at the Nazz as “Jim Speier & Company.” They renamed themselves post-graduation. Their new album is titled One More Song of Love and consists of 18 original songs in many genres. Their first album, It’s Never Too Late, was released in 1999. In addition to recording the albums, they have done four live performances, most recently in Phoenix in 2019. Remember Dr. Jim Kerrigan in your prayers. He died suddenly in June after attending the Reunion with 20 of his Cavanaugh friends. Jim was a neurologist in Stroudsburg PA and active in his parish. He enjoyed spending time with his family, his friends and his Great Danes, Cormac and Darby, along with listening to Jimmy Buffett and spending time in Holden Beach NC. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Vivianne; children James III, Michael ’12MBA, Sarah and Tommy; five grandchildren; and his parents and five siblings. He was on the track and field team at ND. — Barbara A. Langhenry; res 216-651-8962; cell 216-509-8962; breclw@aol.com

 

79MBA Class Secretary — Patty Kennedy Kerr;
7750 Leonard St. NE, Ada MI 49301; 616-682-1223; kerrtaxcpa@gmail.com

 

79JD And Now, 45 Years
The reality of our ages (not young) hit us last summer with Janet Miller’s unexpected passing. The news prompted an outpouring of love and support from our classmates who knew her well during our law school years and afterward. All mentioned that she was brilliant, dedicated, creative, funny, forceful (hey, we’re lawyers), warm, humble and spiritual. She also really enjoyed being “one of us” as she eagerly attended and fully participated in all of our Class reunions over the years. Classmates expressing these sentiments included Steve Squeri, Pat Scott, Rose (Gill) Kenyon, Dillon (Dalton) Costa, Terry Karnaze, Greg Murphy, Dora Pinder, Ron Crump, Tom Fitzgerald, Dianne Ghaster, Ray Dalton, Bill Finch, Dan Pfeifer, Jim Kelley, Ray Biagini, Dave Worhatch, Kathy (Gallogly) Cox, David Evinger, Jim Schultz, Peggy Foran, Mary Kay (Rochford) Demetrio, Bob (Jock) Michelloti, Mark Wight, Doug Kenyon, Paula Fulks, Mary Pat (Frailey) and Dean Calland, Jim Wiehl, Dave Beaudoin, Chuck Kolstad, Deborah Griffith, and Ed Foley. The latter two, Deb and Ed, used the communications to organize a 45-year mini-reunion over the Louisville football game weekend. Those attending were Ed and his family, Debbie and her husband, Peggy Foran and her husband, Jock Michelotti and his family, and Pat Scott. Highlights of the weekend included a Friday night dinner at Sunny Italy Cafe and a Saturday pre-game tailgater sponsored by Ed’s good friend and former ND running back Lee Becton, as well as stop-by visits by coach Lou Holtz and former players Reggie Brooks and Oscar McBride. Deb reported it was all great fun! Finally, I wanted to thank all of you who wrote in about Janet and about Notre Dame memories in general. We are indeed a very special Class. Now, onward to 50 years! — Daniel F. McNeil; 1001 NW Lovejoy, Unit 205, Portland OR 97209; 503-539-9188; mcneil.daniel12@gmail.com