1970s

70 Spring Mix
Winter passed without me driving to four playoff games, but I’m willing to sacrifice next year. You are invited to the Reunion June 4 - 7. Graduates over 50 years are eligible for every Reunion, which are always enjoyable. Visit reunion.nd.edu for more information. Gerri and John Murtagh returned to FL in November after touring Turkey, spending five days in Switzerland, bicycling along the Rhine, enjoying a week in the Netherlands, then sailing to FL from Rotterdam. William Frank (Bill “Bookie”) Patrick died Dec. 7, 2025, in Akron OH. After a year at Angers and graduation from ND, he helped his mother care for his dying father in East Liverpool OH. Then he joined accountant brother Charlie and earned a U of Akron accounting degree. An accomplished cook and gardener, he also lifted weights and ran marathons. In later years he provided unfailing care to his mother, often visiting Rusty Weitzel, Jim Cauffield and Bob Rovito. Brothers Jamie ’71 and Charlie ’67 preceded him in death. Crystal Lake Publishing in November released Barry Maher’s latest supernatural thriller, The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon. Pati and Mike Morrissey live in Portland OR near daughter Sara, deputy operations chief for Multnomah County; husband Dan, brewer for Breakside Brewery; son Tomas, senior energy analyst for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council; and wife Laura. Mike, retired from Oregon State U, met Pati (from Peru) while he taught in Mexico. In several issues I’ve referred to Paul Gill’s blog with the wrong address. Now I’m happy to refer you directly to nd1970.blogspot.com. Take time to enjoy all 68 posts, beginning June 1, 2020. Patti and Jim Crowe’s son Paul hosted family and friends at the Texas A&M tailgate. Jim brought his “XL” 1980 Reunion T-shirt to our 55th Reunion last June. Thanks to shrinkflation, it is a modern size M. Sue and Rick Libowitz became parents-in-law June 15, 2025, when son Jordan married Emily at Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory Library. Prof. David Solomon (de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture) died Feb. 25, 2025, at 81. Many will remember his philosophy classes after he joined ND in 1968. On several occasions I was fortunate to attend his annual ND symposium on medical ethics. Al LaReau works out and walks in nature in Kalamazoo MI to the tune of “Staying Alive,” possibly because the beat times chest compressions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He’s learning Lego construction from his seven grandchildren. Meanwhile, he helps administer nursing scholarships in honor of his late wife, Rita. Cathy and Denis Nolan provided a photo of a beautiful snowbound statue of Our Lady of the Rosary from their South Bend backyard. For amplification see MaryTV.tv. Marcia and Mike Hammes of Vero Beach FL have many beautiful grandchildren, including at least three who are taller than Mike (hence his seated pose at Christmas). Bill Hederman, fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for “leadership in national energy policy,” teaches energy at Catholic U, where former ND engineering dean Peter Kilpatrick is president. Son Billy ’06JD married Eleni in December 2024 and moved to Annandale VA. In November, Bill’s class Zoomed with students from The Catholic U of Ukraine. The family joined son Kevin ’07 and his family for Thanksgiving. Mary Beth and Mike Duffey of Wauwatosa WI volunteer at a food pantry and homeless shelter. Elise and Chris Servant last February skied with family for the 52nd consecutive year, now with four children, spouses and 11 grandchildren, the two oldest of whom started high school in September. John Pescatore (Oct. 22, 2025) and Tom Cashore (Nov. 9, 2025) died. — Don Graham; 1901 S. Glenwood, Springfield IL 62704; 217-652-1560; fever1@me.com

70MBA Send Your News
I did not receive any updates this quarter but would love to hear from you. — Richard Johnson; rcjfly68@gmail.com

70JD As the Years Go By
As another April arrives, I trust that wherever you may be the snow has melted, the robins have returned and you are enjoying the longer daylight hours. While attending a concert on the shores of nearby Chautauqua Lake NY last summer, I ran into Bob Greene ’69JD. In the fall of 1974, I had just completed several years on active duty with the Army and Bob took time out of his busy schedule to move for my admission to the US District Court in Buffalo. Now retired from Phillips Lytle, Bob sends his best to all. In September, Mary Kevin and Jamie Cawley celebrated their 55th anniversary with a visit to Vancouver followed by a train trip through the Canadian Rockies. Upon return Jamie came out of retirement to serve pro bono in the preparation of an appellate brief involving public utility questions of law. Marie and Ken Iverson returned to Our Lady’s campus last fall for the Texas A&M game. Ken, a Double Domer, remains an ardent fan of the Fighting Irish. Condolences go out to Bob Urland, whose wife, Kathleen (“Celie”), passed away Oct. 17, 2025. Celie was a dedicated teacher who retired from the Victor School District in Western NY before she and Bob moved to GA several years ago. During our law school days my wife, Marie, and Celie had become friends and we continued to keep in touch with Celie and Bob for more than 55 years. In addition to Bob, her survivors include five children and seven grandchildren. Please remember Celie, Bob and their family in your prayers. Congratulations go out to Jack Slimm, who was recently honored for his pro bono work at the NJ Judiciary’s eighth annual attorney recognition ceremony. The award was bestowed upon Jack by the chief justice and the administrative courts director. Joe Kane had occasion to see Dan Kruse not too long ago at a gathering in the Cincinnati area. Dan had just renewed his season tickets to Xavier basketball games and was looking forward to an exciting season. In addition to Dan, several other members of our class completed their undergrad work at Xavier, including Bill Keck, Phil Schmidt and Tom Sopko. Marie and I had occasion to be in the South Bend area last November and while there took in a women’s basketball game, visited the new Raclin Murphy Museum of Art on campus and had a most enjoyable lunch with Joyce and Tom Sopko. Tom had just attended the Navy game a few days earlier and mentioned the snow that occurred during the second half of the game. His comments brought back memories of another game against Navy. It was 1967 and Ara Parseghian was coaching the Irish at the time. The students were confident in Ara’s ability to deal with any type of challenge, be it on the field or off. During that game a heavy, wet snow began to fall and, as I recall, the following cheer rang out throughout the stadium: “Ara, Stop the Snow.” After a few minutes, the snow stopped. Just as I was about to submit this column, I learned that Dick Blumberg passed away shortly before Christmas. I will refer to Dick in the summer column and would ask that in the interim you keep Dick, his daughter Debbie and son Jonathan in your prayers. Until next time, stay well. Go Irish! — John K. Plumb; jkplumb37@gmail.com

71 In the Year 2026
Pondering a trip to campus later this year, but cold snowy November games are a thing of the past, not a fan of night games, and no desire to pay premium prices for hotel rooms? A simple solution: Redirect those hours and dollars to a visit June 4 - 7 for Reunion 2026, aka our 55th. June weather, check. A more relaxed atmosphere, including beer tents, check. More time and a larger crowd to reconnect with, check. More helping hands for canes, wheelchairs and deciphering conversations, because you left your hearing aids in the room, check. Go to reunion.nd.edu and register. Better yet, grab three more and bring your own foursome. Jim Buches, a Pittsburgh lawyer, passed away in December 2025. From Clairton PA, a resident of St. Ed’s, an English major and a football long snapper, he received his law degree from West Virginia U. Condolences to Laurie and their family. Dean McAllister, a Keenan resident and business major, passed away in December. He returned home to Pittsburgh for a master’s at Pitt followed by a stint in the corporate world. Eventually an entrepreneurial spirit took hold, and he opened a travel agency and one of the largest blueberry farms in Nova Scotia. Condolences to his family. Rugby captain, Marine Corps vet and career FAA flight safety inspector Mike Morrison passed away in MT in December. He was a native of Columbus OH, a management major and a resident of Holy Cross. Charlie Blum, Mike Cotter and Jim Hagenbarth attended the funeral. Condolences to Mary Ellen and the clan. Philip Olson, a lifetime MI resident and career attorney, passed away in December. A native of Grand Blanc, an AL guy and a Dillon resident, he went on to the U of Detroit for his law degree. Condolences to Laura and their family. Jack Clark, Temecula CA; Gerry Giurato, Jacksonville FL; Jim Cavanaugh, Dallas; Ric Korth, Granbury TX; Ed Mattingly, Houston; and spouses started the new year on the road in HI, descending upon Vince Carr, premier host and tour guide. Career oncologist and St. Louis native Jim Schweitzer passed away in November. An AL preprofessional major and graduate of St. Louis U medical school, he was also a member of the Irish soccer team. Condolences to his daughters and their families. John Stupp, Sewickley PA, a native of Westlake OH, passed away in January. A Dillon guy, an English major and a longtime practicing paralegal, he earned graduate degrees from Case Western and the U of British Columbia after ND. Condolences to Bette and their family. John Sweeny, Mahopac NY, passed away in October 2025. A lifelong NY resident, a Dillon guy and an AL government major, he received his law degree from Fordham U. John’s career was primarily spent working within the NY state judicial system, ultimately serving as the senior resident justice for Putnam County. Doug Coppola attended the funeral. Condolences to Alana and their family. Navy attendees included Tom Sinnott, NJ, and his grandson, and Jack Cahill, NJ, and his son, while Herb Melton, Louisville KY, hosted a group from Auburn. Practical self-gifted Christmas presents: Andy Dotterweich, a new hip; Bob Bramlette, a new hip; and Tim O’Connor, a reconstructed shoulder. Bill King, originally from Columbus OH, now resides in FL and is an active member of the ND Club of Sarasota board. Opening Day, March 25, ugh! — John Snider; 830 N. Saint Peter St., South Bend IN 46617-1936; res 574-217-8961; cell 312-860-1779; jlscpa@yahoo.com

71MBA 55th Reunion Time
Helena and Tony Strati continue to ski at their cabin in CO and to travel around the country to visit with grandkids and great-grandkids. Tony is active with many nonprofits in Albuquerque NM and has also been helpful to me in contacting fellow classmates. Much of this column is a result of Tony’s contacts. Terry Walts, our IU alum, was at the Peach Bowl to witness IU’s victory over Oregon and is delirious with their victory over Miami. Bob McCann claims that he has finally retired from Northwestern Mutual, but we all suspect that he has still retained a handful of clients. Gary Groom travels from his FL home to IN each August to visit with family and friends and welcomes visitors to the Fort Myers FL area to stop by. Patricia and Rod Spear have adjusted to their downsized home closer to campus and attend many of the women’s basketball games. Dianne and John Halloran split time between home in WI and family in KC. John has also finally retired. Robbie (Parker) ’71MA and Jim Fackelman spend a lot of time with grandkids activities, and Robbie has returned to teaching math part-time at the grandkids’ parochial school. We are planning a trip to Cabo San Lucas in February with our daughter and family from CO. Rich Sosin called and asked me to caution all to “be safe.” Andi and John Vaughan live nearby and will join us for dinner in a few weeks. Tony also had a conversation with Les Larsen. He and Anna Maria, after years of bouncing around, have finally settled in one place in northern VA to enjoy spending more time with nearby family. All of the classmates listed in this report have expressed some interest in a reunion, preferably at a game at ND in the fall. The Rice game on Sept. 12 seems to be the best choice. By the time you read this, I will have sent you more details about our plans. — Jim Fackelman; 4635 Lakeview Circle, Slinger WI 53086; cell 414-379-0968; jfackelman@alumni.nd.edu

71JD News, Anyone?
I would love to hear from you. Send updates by April 18. — E. Bryan Dunigan; 646 Fair Oaks, Oak Park IL 60302; 312-857-2114; bdunigan@duniganlaw.com

72 Flanner Suite Six
Bob Hodapp MD created the moniker of Flanner “Suite Six.” He is retired and resides mainly in MN. Matt Ryznar retired from a career in education in Youngstown OH. John McCarthy MD went to a Catholic high school in NJ where the nuns sat students in alphabetical order. He and Kathy McCarthy sat together. They continue to sit together since they dated in high school and college and married in ’73. John has been retired 10 years from his work in hematology in the Houston area. They’ve traveled recently to Scandinavia and SC. Tom Kemps retired from business and continues to reside in Brighton CO outside Denver. Over the years, he hosted three mini-reunions of the group there. Joe Nally retired from a career in academic nephrology at the Cleveland Clinic. He and his wife, Jan Giordano ’74SMC, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and Joe’s 75th birthday this past summer by taking their family of 15 to Tuscany and then followed it with a cruise in southern France. The Suite Six miss their sixth member, the late Frank Ciccone. Since I have space in this issue, let me extol a visit to Charlottesville VA: ACC games against ND; homes to three presidents (Madison’s Montpelier, where Patrick Campbell ’85 serves on its professional staff; Jefferson’s Monticello; Monroe’s Oak Lawn); 40 wineries plus cideries, distilleries, and breweries — with views, and live music; Carter’s Mountain with orchards and a view of the town; the pedestrian-friendly Downtown Mall with live music Friday evenings; 45 minutes’ drive to Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Mountains hiking; an hour to Richmond VA; Jefferson’s original “Academical Village” of the U of Virginia, one of the five built structures listed as a World Heritage site in the US. Bill Grimmer ’75JD passed on Dec. 11, 2025. Please see the remembrance in the Class Notes for ’75JD. Tom McDonald passed on Sept. 26, 2025. He and his late brother spent summers on Skaneateles Lake in NY. He came to campus from Onondaga Central School. He owned his own commercial real estate company which brokered several developments across central NY. His family went every weekend to their home in Stratton VT. He started an international foundation for children with heart defects to receive their corrective surgeries. He retired to Venice FL. Our condolences to his wife, Cathy, and their four children. Let us pray for each other, living and deceased, to the Mother of Holiness. — Jim Thunder; thundergroup@alumni.nd.edu

72MBA Let’s Have More of This
It’s always good when I have some news to report. Bob McBride wrote again to say that he (like many of us) enjoys seeing what’s happening with our classmates. It would be great to hear from some of you who have never submitted any updates to this column. As for Bob, he still keeps in contact with Ed Gay. On a December trip to Portland OR to visit their daughter, Bob, his wife Jackie and daughter Amy had lunch with Ed, who joined them from his home across the Columbia River in Vancouver WA. I pray that 2026 is off to a good start for all of you, and I hope some of you will let me and your classmates know what you’ve been up to for the last half century. God bless. — Alex McLellan; 913-991-0944; irish72mba@gmail.com

72JD Happy 2026
Not much news has entered my email inbox. I did have a nice telephone conversation with Paul Onuska, who is happily retired in Farmington NM. And I have talked to Denny McNicholas, who made an interesting suggestion: At our respective ages, when traveling to ND and elsewhere becomes more of a challenge, are there enough of our classmates who would be interested in a periodic Zoom, Teams or comparable technology, where we could catch up with each other and share news and memories of our law school years at ND? I have run this idea by Mike Holland, who tells me he is using Zoom calls to keep up with college classmates and similar groups. So I am throwing this suggestion out to everyone in our class. If you are interested in participating in a Zoom call, contact me and let me know if you want to try this. There are enough of our classmates still working who have access to Zoom-like technology and can set up the call. We will create an invite list and send you an email, alerting you to the date and time of the call, along with a link to the conference call software we will use. We’ll limit the call to one hour or less, depending on the amount of interest. And we’ll propose a question or two for each call that we can use as a jumping-off point for discussion (e.g., what professor or classmate do you remember best?). So don’t be shy — email me at either of the emails listed below, be sure to leave me your email and we can get these calls going!! And as always, if anyone has any news, please pass it on. — Chris Schraff; 1881 Marble Cliff Crossing Ct., Columbus OH 43204; 614-227-2097; cschraff@porterwright.com; crschraff47@gmail.com

73 Website Mania
We are making some changes in the way we inform classmates of deaths and class news. Thankfully we have Greg Pudhorodsky as our class webmaster who has done a phenomenal job since taking over this position in 2023. Greg now has a list of all our deceased classmates on our class website 1973.undclass.org. He has also constructed a reflection page on our class website in which classmates can post news and information or anything else they deem fit. Hopefully all of you have received emails from Greg or have accessed the website and are already familiar with this information. We will attempt to link to full obituaries of any deceased classmates as soon as we receive this information. We will try to make the Class Notes less about deaths and more about what is going on in our lives. Having said that, however, I am sorely lacking in non-obituary news. Please take the time to send me a quick email updating what is going on in your own life as well as any information about your friends in our class. There are four new deaths to report. They are Leo Gorie, Jim McNichols, Bill Stricker and Jim Musuraca. All of you should remember Jim (#47) Musuraca as the starting middle linebacker for the 1971 and 1972 football teams. Jim earned his JD from Notre Dame Law School in 1977 and, following his marriage in 1993 to NBC news reporter Erin Moriarty, moved from OH to NYC, where he then achieved a distinguished record in insurance litigation. Unfortunately, Jim suffered a degenerative illness of the brain caused apparently by head injuries sustained while playing football. Among the classmates who were in attendance at Jim’s funeral were Scott Gleason, Bill Duffy and Jimmy Ronan. Please send me some news! — Michael W. Hansen; 3013 Sanctuary Court, Joliet IL 60435; cell 815-212-3661; mikehansen@mikehansenlaw.com

73MBA Continued Diminishing Returns
John Rapa writes that he is getting ready for the upcoming tax season with Intuit (TurboTax). Gus Browne tells us again no news from Kankakee. All is good, just another year older. Continuing in retirement. John Gaski shares that he retired three years ago after 42 years on the faculty in the Department of Marketing of the Mendoza College of Business (previously known as the College of Business Administration and then, briefly, the College of Business). The college and University then generously provided him with a private office in Flanner Hall for the past three years — alternatively considered internal exile to the Siberia part of campus. I’m looking forward to all of you classmates taking the time to share your experiences with us in this legacy publication. Update your email addresses. Come visit when you are in SoCal. — Thomas Jindra; tajindra@charter.net

73JD Class Secretary — Paul Reagan; 30 Bokum Road, Apt. 139, Essex CT 06426; cell 847-915-9796; pvreagan@gmail.com

74 And We’re Off . . .
It’s hard to imagine that many of our classmates have already turned 74 this year; some will turn 75! Just thinking about it is amazing. I remember, when I was really young, I thought a neighbor who turned 18 was ancient. Are we now considered sages — profoundly wise? Naw, that comes when we are in our 80s, God willing. Although my grandchildren would respectfully differ. This column, while short this time, may have to turn into a traveler’s corner. Beginning with travelin’ Dr. Tom Eichler. Tom needs his own travel channel. He and his wife traversed the globe: Finland, Arctic Circle, Uganda for chimp and gorilla exploration, Greece and Turkey. Great quote from Tom: “Big world, short life.” He also went to NY for the Met Opera, and of course to du Lac to see Our Lady, and the Irish play. Thus far in 2026, he has already explored Paris (one of my all-time favorites, next to Ireland and Venice) and Normandy. If you need travel guidance, email him at ndmd1974@gmail.com and say Dede sent you. Most of us have recently traveled domestically to visit grandchildren and family members, although I do recommend the grand European tour (three weeks) on Viking. Three weeks allows you to bond with newfound friends. I enjoyed seeing my youngest son and my two grandchildren in Rancho Mirage, along with my former college roommate in Palm Springs. Beautiful country, and superb warmth to enjoy while the Northeast and Midwest have colder climes. Chris Stevens, affectionately known to us as Hawk, will speak at the Palm Springs ND Club. He also took a long drive this past fall to visit high school friends and other locals. So, let’s hear from more of you. Some of you have travel blogs; however, I don’t go on those unless you’re showing the latest fashions from that part of the world. Stay safe, thank God for each blessed day, and write — and when in Boston, let me know! Cheers! — Dede Lohle Simon; 160 Commonwealth Ave., Unit 417, Boston MA 02116; dedersimon@gmail.com

74MBA Reflections
As I gaze out my sliding door in mid-January at the snow and cold, and hear the wind howling through the leafless trees, I dream of those warm breezes and sandy beaches in the South. Following a minor delay to accommodate Helen’s hand surgery (carpal tunnel syndrome) in late January, we are planning a midwinter escape to FL or the Caribbean for a couple of weeks. I really look forward to this vacation each year. By the time we return in early March, the MI weather will begin to show signs of rising temperatures and more abundant sunshine. Those gloomy, cold days of winter will begin to be just a distant memory. Back to reality. Other than a few brief emails and phone calls with Randy Marks and Charlie Lanktree to discuss ND’s more than controversial exclusion from the College Football Playoff, there has been no news from other classmates. As you read these ramblings/musings from an information-starved writer, spring should be breaking in your areas. Take that time to enjoy the annual rebirth with your families and friends. And, if you find a few free minutes, drop me a line or give me a call to let your classmates know how you are enjoying your retirement years. — Jack Burnett; 19248 Glen Eagles Dr., Livonia MI 48152; 734-464-3458; jburnet1@sbcglobal.net

74JD Kudos Mike, Craig, Jim
Mike O’Connell has received the Louisville Bar Association’s highest award in recognition of his outstanding participation within the legal community. Craig Boyd checked off the last item on his bucket list when he drove Route 66 from Avalon NJ to Santa Monica CA and back in two and a half weeks. Along the way he lunched with Jim Dahl, laughing for two hours at the Pendry Hotel in Chicago, and stood on a corner in Winslow AZ in addition to traversing MO, KS, OK, TX, NM, AZ and CA. I’ve been writing this column for a while now, and it’s time to step aside. My thanks to Craig Boyd and Jim Dahl, who have agreed to take over as the class scribes. Please share your news with Craig, craigsboyd@gmail.com, and with Jim, jdahl@dahlfirm.com. What may not be a big deal to you will be interesting to our classmates. Learn from the cautionary tale of Helen Palsgraf and the Long Island Railroad Co., take care and be well. — Joe O’Reilly; cell 502-649-6955; joe.oreilly34@icloud.com

75 Let Me Hear from You
We are gathering ideas for our next milestone celebration as ND grads, namely a gathering with the NDAA Reunion in 2028, marking our 75th birthdays for the Class of 1975. We are invited to every Reunion because of our Golden Domer status, but this special spot on the calendar is worth celebrating, right? If you have ideas for a special observance or group activity June 1 - 4, 2028, please share it with me or the other officers. And I am asking for newsy updates from all of you for Notre Dame Magazine. Thanks! Several classmates asked to see the poem I wrote about our class and I have shared it via email. Notre Dame Magazine doesn’t publish poetry, but I wanted to share a stanza that seems to resonate with us Golden Domers: “Somehow we survived our fortunate youth; to learn even more, to uncover truth: That friendships matter, that waistlines don’t. That families should last, that hairlines won’t.” Please remember in your prayers our late classmate William Sohn of Danville IL, who passed away in November 2025. He is survived by his wife, Paula, and two children and four grandchildren. Also, Antonio Passarelli of Franklin WI died in October. He received his Ph.D. in 1975 and is survived by his wife, Carole. Please continue to send me your news. Thanks! — Norm Bower; 3946 Fernwood Ave., Davenport IA 52807; 563-349-0469; normbower53@gmail.com

75MBA Moving to the Front
As we move closer to the front of the Class Notes sections, I enter my second entry as class correspondent with a request for updates. In my first entry I suggested we remember any classmates who have passed; they should not be forgotten. In April 2024 on the day of the Boston Marathon, Dan Dunne passed, fitting for a letterman in both track and cross country. As a Monogram member Dan was often asked to secure a signed football from the National Championship team for guest speakers to our class, which Dan would secure with one small addition — adding his signature, ensuring his athletic legacy carries forward. I received a Christmas card from Jim Corgel which included a reference to University President Rev. Bob Dowd, CSC, ’87 encouraging us to “cultivate hope” in 2026. The card reminded me of our good fortune to be students under the leadership of Father Ted Hesburgh, CSC. One of my fondest memories is the evening Dr. Houck’s class met in Father Ted’s office and discussed his book The Humane Imperative. I’ve gone back on several occasions to read my copy, to capture the memories of that time and the vision of one of the greatest men of the 20th century. I look forward to hearing from you with your memories and remembrances. Best wishes to you and your families for peace and health in 2026. — Bob Sliney; bobsliney1@gmail.com

75JD Spring Harvest
Our classmate Bill Grimmer passed away in Niles MI last December following a courageous battle with cancer. He joined us in June for the reunion dinner at Sunny Italy and met up with Gene Smary last autumn for lunch in South Haven MI. A bit later, Bill and I got together with Rev. Bill Beauchamp, CSC, at O’Rourke’s in Eddy Street Commons. Bill talked about the cancer and seemed resigned to it, but I sensed he still had much more time ahead of him; I was wrong. Bill was a Jersey guy but stayed in the Midwest after graduating with undergraduate and law degrees. He was a prosecutor, state and federal, and was well respected in his relentless pursuit of justice. In January, we lost Steve Botsford, another Double Domer. Steve was a larger-than-life, up-from-the-bootstraps, smooth-talking dreamer and lovable schemer who brightened every room he entered. He headquartered his operations in Barrington Hills IL and achieved his happiness and success in business corridors and board rooms from coast to coast. Godspeed to Bill and Steve, and condolences to their families. In better news, the Ducks of law school athletic fame had their annual gathering last October during the Boise State weekend. Peter Shirk reports the group tailgated on Saturday morning and was hosted by Jo Anne and Pete at their home in Grand Beach MI. Enjoying the autumn weather and victory over the Broncos were Linda and Bob “Bear” Foster, Donna and Ray Garza, Robin and Ron Hein, Sheri and Jack “Judge” Garbo, Sue and Joe Gilfillan, Sherry and Mike Eldred, and Brennan Farrell. By chance, Karen and I ran into Jo Anne and Pete last summer at a basketball roundtable. They were with Molly Faul, their oldest grandchild. Molly is assistant rector at Pasquerilla East and is studying at Mendoza in the Master of Science in Management program. She is an alum and former scholarship lacrosse player at Furman. Hopefully, you enjoyed the Sacred Stories series that popped up on social media near the end of last year with thoughtful interviews and stunning views of the Grotto and other campus landmarks. Mary (Sommer) Sandak reports that their son Tom Sandak ’04 was part of the creative team behind the series. Jan and Jack Bulger were driving through New England last October and gathered at Mary’s house in Stamford CT along with Mary Ellen (Pelling) Hulce for a reunion lunch. They shared good times and collective memories of our law school years. As a bonus, Mary and Mary Ellen discovered they live at opposite ends of Stamford, so they now reconnect on a more regular basis. Mary was at the USC game and enjoyed the win over the Trojans along with a lunch with Jeanne Jourdan. In case you missed it, Ann Claire Williams was profiled in the Notre Dame Lawyer magazine published last December. She serves Jones Day in an “of counsel” capacity, chairing the Rule of Law Institute in Africa. Ann frequently leads delegations of US judges and attorneys to work with African judiciaries, guiding emerging leaders who share justice reform goals. The incoming first-year class in 2025 is composed of 185 students chosen from 3,579 applications. If that ratio had existed in 1972 when our applications were being reviewed, there is no chance I would be writing this column, and most of you would not be reading it. — Frederick Giel; fggiel@gmail.com

76 Let the Celebration Begin
The 50th Reunion of the Class of 1976, aka “ND’s First Coed Freshman Class” or “Notre Dame’s Best Class Ever,” is almost here! For the latest Reunion information, check our class website at 1976.undclass.org and Notre Dame’s official Reunion website, reunion.nd.edu. This website features a “Who’s Attending?” page where you can see who has registered — and decide to join them! Don’t forget you can register for the entire weekend, or even just one day! The Alumni Association and our 50th Reunion Committee are putting together a great program, and highlights include our formal induction into the Golden Domers Club and Golden Oldies for Golden Domers, our exclusive 50th Reunion concert celebrating the Golden Legacy of the Class of ’76, featuring Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone, The Buckinghams and The Grass Roots! Keep an eye out for emails from the class officers and Reunion Committee members and for posts to our class Facebook group. As everyone in the class knows, St. Patrick’s Day is always a cause for celebration because it is the 76th day of the year. This year, Bill Whiteside had a special reason to celebrate: It was also the official publication date for his new book, Operation Catapult: Winston Churchill and the British Attack on the French Navy at Mers-el-Kébir, published by the US Naval Institute Press. Rick “Duck” Santry reports he’s been busy, handling a few small medical issues (at our age, aren’t we all?) and moving to Naples FL after 45 years in NJ. In 2025, he attended the ND-Miami opener and watched the Irish defeat USC in the rain. In fact, Duck is proud to say he’s been at every single USC game at Notre Dame for the last 25 years with his pals Rich LeBlancq ’73 and Dale “Dudley” Planicka ’74. His next visit to ND will be for our 50th Reunion! Speaking of Reunion, our classmate, Air Force veteran Fred Roggero, Major General USAF (Ret), will deliver the keynote address for the Military & Veteran Alumni Recognition ceremony at Notre Dame on Saturday morning, June 6. Many classmates are working hard to ensure we plan and create the Best Reunion Ever for the Best Class Ever. Our class officers, Debi Dell, Mark Nishan, Steve Klug and I, are serving as the 50th Reunion Executive Committee. Debi and Mark are serving as our Reunion Planning Co-Chairs, and in addition to handling our Reunion communications, I am also serving as the Reunion Giving Chair. Augie Grace and Shelley Muller Simon are our Reunion Attendance Co-Chairs, John Carrico is our Golf Outing Chair, Sally Naxera Benson is our Mass Chair. Lynda and Pat Sarb are co-chairs of the Our Lady’s Butterfly Garden Expansion and Enhancement Project. Several classmates volunteered to serve as dorm or activity captains to reach out to classmates about Reunion. At the deadline for submitting my column to Notre Dame Magazine, dorm captains include: Alumni, Ron Skrabacz; Badin, Claudia Zweber; Breen-Phillips, Nancy (Brenner) Sinnott; Cavanaugh, Phil Coyne; Dillon, Dave Szymanski; Farley, Maryanne (Ries) Rogers; Fisher, Paul Francis; Flanner, Don Opal; Grace, Steve Klug; Holy Cross, Tom Black; Howard, Jim Gradoville; Keenan, Brian Hegarty; Lewis, Ceyl Prinster; Lyons, Sally (Naxera) Benson; Morrissey, Pat Novitzki; Old College, Rich Towle; Pangborn, Dave Tulsiak; St. Edward’s, Steve Euvino; St. Joseph’s, Jim Kresse; Sorin, Chris Hearne; Stanford, Frank Bennett; Walsh, Jesse Verna; and Zahm, Casey Nolan. Activity captains include: Architecture, Rob Barringer for ’76 Arkies and Frank Fransioli for ’77 Arkies; Band, Tom Burke and Mike Sierputowski; Fencing, Sam Difiglio; Football, Pat Sarb; Glee Club, Paul Shay; Hockey, Pat Novitzki; Liturgical Choir, Andy Schilling; ROTC/Veterans, US Air Force veteran Rosemary Lesser, with assistance by US Army veterans Mike Esper and Steve “Mac” McGregor, US Navy veteran Rick Huber and US Public Health Service veteran Phil Coyne; Student Athletic Managers, Will Morrissey; and Tennis, Betsy Fallon and David Wheaton. If you have any questions about the reunion, please contact me or any of the other class officers: Debi Dell, president (debidell@earthlink.net), Mark Nishan, vice president (marknishan@comcast.net), or Steve Klug, treasurer (steveklugnd@gmail.net). May The Spirit of ’76 guide you home — to the Golden Dome — for our 50th Reunion! — Bob Quakenbush; 3611 Wellington Ridge Loop, Cary NC 27518; 574-323-4423; quakend76@gmail.com

76MBA Looking for News
Fellow classmates, please send your life updates by April 18. Take care. — Mike Norris; 248-330-5366; norris1021@comcast.net

76JD Reunion Approaching
It’s not too late to register for our 50th Reunion June 4 - 7. Visit reunion.nd.edu for more information. — Virgil L. Roth; 51 Tammany Road, Upper Black Eddy PA 18972; 626-260-2223; fax 626-441-1166; vroth@vlrlaw.com

77 Competition, Service and Recognition
The Class of ’77 was well represented last fall when Pope Leo XIV received Notre Dame leadership in a private audience, including John Veihmeyer, chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Rev. Austin Collins, CSC, vice president for mission engagement and Church affairs. Gene Smith, longtime Ohio State athletic director, retired, was among those featured in a video celebrating former OSU Coach Urban Meyer’s induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Tim Bourret was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame, having served as sports information director and associate athletic director there for over 40 years. Tim is a member of the College Sports Information Directors Hall of Fame and is a commentator on Clemson sports broadcasts. Tim Glass competed in the World Fencing (Epee) Championships in Bahrain. NDames Senior Women’s Rowing Team headed to the start line with two boats in Philadelphia last fall, winning first place at the head of the Schuylkill Race with Jody Gormley and Elizabeth Corbin Murphy. ’77 prayed for the recovery of Cindy Parseghian, president of the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, who was out of the hospital in a week. Special thanks to devoted husband Mike Parseghian, their family, and organizing angels Anne Thompson ’79; Jean Gorman ’82, former Farley rector and AVP of development at ND; and Sheila O’Brien. Nick Winnike also thanked ’77’s support for grandson Grisha, who grows with major speech advances. Roxanne O’Brien Martino, with a local team of bankers, corporate heads and health care dignitaries, is responsible for the creation and funding of the new Austin Hope Center, a multi-use health care facility on Chicago’s West Side. Roxanne is on the board of Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago and of Thresholds, a mental health care center. Anne Dilenschneider and Bill Holtsnider’s son James (“Jim”) is the new US ambassador to Jordan. Anne’s younger son, Thomas “Tom” Codol, taught a course on Archimedean geometry for the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, U of Wales. Anne has two service dogs who help in library and hospital settings. Maureen O’Neill’s dog Buzz is amazing as a service dog where she still works at Oxford U, opening her hospitable home to faculty, students and friends when not traveling. Jim Maronick was at the ND-USC game on Oct. 18, 2025, with Lee Alexander, his 50th ND-USC game. “I have not missed a game since ’78, either in SB or USC (covid year ’20 was canceled). I still remember fondly the ’73 game when Eric Penick ran right at us (in the end zone) for the TD. Plenty of fond memories scalping tickets, prior to Stubhub, great victories and disappointing losses.” John Gelson, Tim Cawley, Kevin Kelly and Tom Moffitt came in for the ND-USC game in October. John and his son went to the IU vs. Miami national championship game. Patter Birsic and Tom Birsic ’76 “attended the ND vs. Pitt game in November with Ace Schroeder and Jamie Cain ’76, Kelsey Birsic Estrada ’15, Alec Estrada ’16, Keira and Pierce Estrada (future ND grads), Mark Shepherd, Jim Birsic ’75 and Bill Birsic ’81.” Polly Mack Spangler, her grandson Steven Miller, and Sue Fitzpatrick Drago and Lou Drago enjoyed the ND-Pitt game. Roxanne and Rocco Martino hosted Gayla Molinelli, Deb Kenny Ellsworth, Bill Ellsworth, Kathy De Pauw and Jerry Graham and others at game watches. Deborah Mackellar Caron and Dave Caron traveled to Greece; Jack Bergen to Egypt and Antarctica. Elaine Cerny Raccuglia and Bob Raccuglia ’75 and Mary-Louise Houghton Polo and Tom Polo met for lunch in Northampton MA. Lou Drago sent a photo of Betsy Lamping Sklena, Polly Mack Spangler, Sarah Lynch Hadley and Sue Fitzpatrick Drago by the USS Maine monument “The Bullet,” a shell from the USS Maine on the south side of the ROTC Pasquerilla Center. In NJ, Kevin Murphy won the Pershing Golf League Championship, Tournament of Champions and “Golfer of the Year” 2025; Mike Pesce won the “Sportsman of the Year” award for good sportsmanship. Dom Fanuele, along with the ND Club of Northern NJ, helped organize a joint Notre Dame vs. Navy game watch with the local chapter of the Naval Academy Alumni Association, collecting donations for Backpacks for Life, an organization that helps homeless veterans. Nancy Rix Kraft ’77SMC and John Kraft had a fantastic time with Kathy De Pauw Graham and Jerry Graham at the Navy game. William “Pups” Landuyt spearheaded the Coaching Endowment Campaign to establish a legacy and full-time coaches for ND rowing teams; FONDR’s goal is $2.5 million. Glorie and Nick Winnike welcomed granddaughter Nadia last May. Jim Crawford welcomed a new grandson, Patrick Henry. Mary Claire and Bob Kastenholz celebrated the birth of a grandson, their fifth grandchild. Kevin Murphy and his wife celebrate their first grandchild, Paul. Michael Bowler wrote a moving tribute to Rev. Tom McNally, CSC, former rector of Grace Hall, noting that “he managed to know the names of all 550 residents of Grace but also treated us with kindness and respect even though we often challenged the good order of Grace Hall!” Class of ’77 deaths: Anthony Chavez is survived by his wife, Kelly Keller, and three children and two grandchildren. Brian “Duke” Walsh, an All-American who remains the all-time leading scorer in ND hockey history, is survived by wife Claire, a son and three grandchildren. Philip Beverly Jr. is survived by his wife of 41 years, Judy, and two sons and a daughter. Dan Sanchez ’77, ’79MA is survived by his wife, Mary ’76SMC, son William ’09, three daughters and three grandsons. Joe Connelly is survived by his wife, Kathy, and a daughter. May all rest in peace. Deepest sympathies to classmates who lost parents, including Tom Clements, whose father, Richard, died at age 101; to Marianne Morgan Harris, who lost her father, Col. Bernard Morgan; and to Marion Toth Sullivan, who lost her mother, Mildred, at age 106. — Virginia McGowan Bishop; classof1977@alumni.nd.edu

77MBA Cookies for a Note
Greetings. Incentive for news: Suzanne, my wife, is known for her chocolate chip cookies. No nuts. Requested by family, friends and sons’ classmates from WI to LA, MA to CA. So, one dozen cookies to those who send a short note. A personal note: After summer golf it’s duck hunting in the fall. My sons join me for both. Otis, a black Lab, has replaced Rebel in the duck blind. Charlie, Ole Miss ’16, went to the Ole Miss vs. Georgia game at the Sugar Bowl and celebrated into the morning on Bourbon Street. It brought back memories of going to the Sugar Bowl in 1973 with the ND Marching Band, the win over Alabama on New Year’s Eve, and celebrating on Bourbon Street. — Alan J. Fisher; ajfisher7577@gmail.com

77JD Classmates Mourn Musuraca
In January, we lost Jim Musuraca. Marivonne Basten remembers his great sense of humor and quick laugh. Maz was devoted to his wife Erin, son Nick and daughter-in-law, and we offer our condolences to them. Maz was passionate about football, and, as an undergraduate, he was a talented member of the football team that also included Greg Marx. Marivonne; Rick Stone, who met Maz when they were undergraduate freshmen at ND; and Rick Mason attended the funeral in NYC where Rick Mason shared wonderful memories and funny stories about Maz. On a much happier note, Marivonne and her family are looking forward to her daughter’s wedding in July. Rick Stone retired in 2021 so that he could babysit after his only child, Emma, had her first baby. Rick is now the proud grandfather of a boy (5) and a girl (3), and he loves all the time he spends with them. Charles Carpenter has been blessed with a wonderful legal career, and he gives a lot of credit to our excellent training at NDLS. After graduation, Charles returned home to Memphis and very soon started a firm that has blossomed into an established municipal finance practice in TN and surrounding states. Charles is proud and happy to have his youngest son, Corbin, as a partner in the firm that has national recognition as Bond Counsel. Charles recently went on a Far East cruise with his wife. — Janey Bennett; 50850 Tarrington Way, Granger IN 46530; 574-298-9251; res 574-383-5745; jane1977nd@outlook.com

78 Spring Fever
During our sophomore year at Notre Dame, over 50 Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s students travelled to Innsbruck, Austria for one of the University’s several sophomore year abroad programs. For many of us, it was a life changing year and close friendships (and some marriages!) developed. To celebrate the occasion, a few of the group travelled to Innsbruck to celebrate the 50 year anniversary. On the weekend of Oct. 24, over 30 members of the group gathered to celebrate in Chicago. The weekend started with a dinner hosted by Lisa (Easley) D’Aunno and ended with a brunch, also hosted by Lisa. Many of us enjoyed various Chicago area activities ending the evening with dinner at Himmels, a German restaurant in downtown Chicago. This was a very special weekend for longtime and lifelong friends who shared a very special year together abroad. In attendance were Peggy (Calhoun) Appleby SMC, John Daley, Vic Yeandel, Kate (Sarb) Elkins, Sheila (Pfister) & Mike Padden, Lisa (Easley) D’Aunno, Clare Leary, Alicia Denefe, Lyssa (O’Neill) MacCaughey, Bob Ahern, Patty (Rafael) Statwick, Mike & Stephanie (Howard) Mulherin, Jon & Don O’Sullivan, Kathy (Kinney) Bowman, Mike Edwards, Dave Johnson, Bill Farmer, Tom D’Aunno, Mark Spence, Mark Braunlich, Mark Ondash and Dee (Korz) Kilduff SMC. Jimmy Dunne once again participated in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament and squeezed in a televised interview about our next Fed Chair. John Delaney, Nace Mullen, and Jim Coyne helped lead the marchers from the Philly club in the city’s annual St Patrick’s Day parade. Don “Butterball” Smail became a first time grandfather! Jim “Boobie “Clarke was still manning his grill well into January, specializing in locally sourced food from the Baltimore area. — 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 Rest in Peace
Thomas Botkin died Dec. 28, 2025, after being very ill with Parkinson’s and dementia for about 12 years. According to Tom’s wife, Muriel, “We are all going to miss him.” Muriel said “it was hard to watch Tom cope with the medical problems, and I am still dealing with the consequences.” Muriel’s phone number in South Bend (via land line) is 574-277-8165. — Vincent R. Johnson; 210-410-3562; vjohnson@stmarytx.edu

79 Dorm Reunions
Fourth-floor Stanford Studs Bill McSorley, Russ O’Brien, Tom Lux, Brian Flood, Ed Zagorski, Gary Luchini, John Hagale, Ed Kelin, Diane and Dan Cole, John Jannazo, Ed Andrle, and Patricia and Pat Tansey tailgated at the Boise State game. Their RA Paul Korkemaz ’75, ’77MS, Zahm resident Bill Schramm and Stanford Hall cheerleader Rosemary (Hammer) ’79SMC and Paul Lancos ’78 also attended. Jes Swihart Hagale ’78 and Stanford Hall Rector Father Chris secured and distributed green Stanford Hall shirts to the revelers. Tony Skevington ran a marathon in Chicago with the charity team for the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels, where fellow Cavanaugh resident Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Bob Lombardo, CFR, serves. The men of Cavanaugh Hall, who sponsored Tony, contributed $12,000, and the entire team raised $433,000. Tony is president of RMF Works and lives in Leawood KS with his wife, Constance. Bishop Bob met with Pope Leo in Rome in October. Dr. John Cimino celebrated the marriage of his daughter Caroline to Steve Ferrarini in La Jolla CA in October. Jay Rafter and John’s brothers, Ray ’68, Dick ’69, Bob ’74, Pete ’77 and Bill ’84, joined the celebration. Their dad, Lou ’47, was there in spirit and their mother, Louise, 101, attended. She is the mother of 10, grandmother of 45, many of whom are ND grads, and great-grandmother of 52. Jay and John and fellow Dillon roommates Dave Marchiori, Gary Metzler, Pat Donley, Tom Schreder and Kevin Mosier are planning a reunion at Dave’s lake house on Lake Okauchee WI in May. Dr. Robert J. Daley, a retired orthopaedic surgeon, has published his debut novel. A Beacon in the Mist is a mystery about top surgeon Dr. Liam O’Keefe, who is precise and always in control, but when his wife is found dead near their home everything starts to unravel and everyone is a suspect, including Liam. Copies are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online retailers. Steve Needles retired and closed his law office last February. He has been spending his time with his “first love” — coaching baseball with the varsity staff at Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster PA, where he has coached four separate times since the 1990s. His wife, Maria, also retired and they have been traveling, spending time with their grandkids and staying out of each other’s way. Sheila ’80SMC and Steve Simmerman are in Phoenix near their three grandsons, daughter and two sons. Steve is VP of global alliances for Locus Robotics. Bill Moore and Dan Gomrick reconnected at their 50-year high school reunion in Pittsburgh. Bill works for EPRI in Charlotte NC and Dan is retired from the Navy and living in Pittsburgh. Biv Wadden, known for his ready smile and passion for golf, died in December 2025 in the Chicago area. He was on ND’s varsity golf team. After graduation Biv earned an MBA from the U of Chicago and worked in finance as an institutional fixed-income portfolio manager. In 2008, he retired to pursue a career in golf as a Class A PGA professional and level 9 certified clubfitter. He served as putting instructor for the ND golf team. He was devoted to and proud of his son, Jack, and daughter, Laura. He also is survived by a brother, four sisters and his partner, Trish Pappano. Remember that the column deadlines are three months before publication. — Barbara A. Langhenry; 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 Approaching 50
Spring greetings, classmates. Not much news has come in. So, as something of a prompt, maybe think about and reflect on our experiences almost 50 years ago when most of us met for the first time in the fall of 1976. Many, many lifelong friendships began then as we found our footing to become one of Rev. David Link ’58, ’61JD’s favorite classes. So think a bit, and send a note describing recent events or classmates you have connected with over the years. I know it will be really good stuff. Thanks! — Daniel F. McNeil; 1001 NW Lovejoy, Unit 205, Portland OR 97209; 503-539-9188; mcneil.daniel12@gmail.com