1950s

50 Cherished His Family
In mid-April, Eugene “Gene” Phillips celebrated his 101st birthday in Tiffin OH. From his wife, Mary Catherine, I received a wonderful photo of her with Gene with a note about how they’ve been married for over 70 years. Congratulations to Gene and Mary! In other Class of ’50 news, I recently located an online copy of the Jan. 29, 1950, (“105th Annual”) Commencement Program and shared it with the family of Caesar “Chuck” Giuliani, who received his degree during the ceremony. The Conferring of Degrees was overseen by the Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., ’27MA, president of the University, while the Commencement Address was given by the Hon. John Fitzgerald Kennedy of Hyannis Port MA. The Blessing at the conclusion of the ceremony was given by the Most Rev. Joseph Elmer Ritter, archbishop of St. Louis MO. An interesting note: This event was just one of the many where Father Cavanaugh was present in the lives of members of the Kennedy family, including serving at the funeral of President Kennedy over a decade later. During the Class of ’50’s 75th Reunion last year, Chuck shared some of his memories of that special day and I found it interesting to find a visual reference. On a more somber note, I learned that Victor G. Yawman Jr. passed away Jan. 26 in York PA at the age of 97. Following graduation from ND, Victor leveraged his degree in business administration into a career in accounting and sales. His family described him as a man who “cherished his family, and he remarked that some of his fondest memories were the Yawman Family Reunion in 1996 and [his wife’s] 95th birthday party, attended by their entire family.” Victor was married to his late wife, Gerri, for 71 years and is survived by three children, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. If you would like to share news about the Class or stories from your time at ND, please let me know. — Jim Coogan ’91; jcooganv@alumni.nd.edu

51 Class Secretary — Jim Jennings; jimj4703@gmail.com

52 A Look Back
Here are the Notre Dame football results from our National Championship season in 1949. Indiana (1-8) 49-6; at Washington (3-7) 27-7; at Purdue (4-5) 35-12; Tulane (7-2-1) 46-7 #24; (Baltimore) Navy (3-5-1) 40-0; at Michigan State (6-3) 34-21 #21; (Bronx) North Carolina (7-4) 42-6 #28; Iowa (4-5) 28-7; Southern Cal (5-3-1) 32-0 #12. Please send me your updates by July 18. — George L. Heidkamp; 9308 Linden Reserve Drive, Prairie Village KS 66207; 913-206-4128; georgeaj@rcn.com

53 Future Domers
I hope everyone is doing well and starting to enjoy some of the spring weather. I have some exciting news to share as Bernie Hester and his wife, Mary Therese, welcomed their second great-grandson, Macklin Alexander. Both great-grandsons share the same birthday of March 13, two years apart. Bernie will now have great-grandsons in the ND classes of 2046 and 2048 and he could not be prouder. Tom Morsch reports that he recently had an opportunity to conduct a rendition of the “Notre Dame Victory March” by a touring ND undergraduate jazz band. The occasion was a visit to the retirement home in which Tom and wife Jackie ’50-’51SMC are now living. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as Tom said. Tom also asks us to remember Jerry Mulvihill and Bill Berry for their service to the Class Notes, as well as Tom Reedy for hosting the annual class luncheon. All were true Notre Dame men who meant so much to this class. In more somber news, there are a couple of passings I am sad to share. David Fox passed away in Sea Island GA on Nov. 29. Dave was the retired chairman and CEO of Northern Trust Corporation. Prior to his professional career, Dave served as an officer in the USMC from 1953 to 1955 and continued his service in the Marine Corps Reserves until the 1970s, ultimately retiring as lieutenant colonel. Dave met his wife, Mary (“Mike”), in 1955, marrying in 1956, and raised a family of four children. Dave was deeply committed to civic and philanthropic causes, serving on numerous boards, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Chicago Stock Exchange, USG Corporation, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, DePaul U and the Adler Planetarium. He and his wife established scholarships at the U of Chicago Booth School of Business for US military veterans and at Notre Dame for undergraduates. Dave was an avid tennis player and fisherman, known for his playful spirit and musical talent. Robert Shonk passed away Jan. 15. Bob served in the US Army in the 1950s. After earning accounting degrees from Notre Dame and DePaul U (master’s), Bob served as the finance director of the City of Evanston IL for 27 years (1971-98). In 1967, Bob married Marguerite Delacoma, and they enjoyed a beautiful marriage for 58 years. His wife, children and grandchildren were his pride and joy. A lifelong Catholic, Bob volunteered for the St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Athanasius Church in Evanston for many years. He loved to read and go on walks and long driving trips. He was a passionate Notre Dame football fan and rooted for the Cincinnati Reds as well. Please stay in touch. I love hearing from you all and your families. Here’s to a great Blue and Gold Game and the return of football season soon. Yours in Notre Dame. — John Olson ’15; 630-272-2110; jolson5@alumni.nd.edu

54 Class Secretary — John Mertens; 550 Wilmette Ave., Ormond Beach FL 32174; cell 845-216-7251; land 386-615-3685; jacknd54@gmail.com

55 A Need for News
Hey, all you classmates: Please send emails or even phone calls to me and give me some material for our class column. As an example, I recently received an email from Don Yeckel. Don lived next door to me in the basement of Sorin Hall during our junior year. He reminded me that our class columns are online. That’s good to know … for one thing, this deathless prose will live on forever! Don gave me the details of how he fell down the stairs. And I matched him step by step. I had 17 of them, and I also had the luxury of a golden retriever who sat by me as I lay on the floor when my momentum was finished. Don is a Marine and was not hurt a bit. I am a Marine too, but I spent most of the day in the hospital getting patched up. There was a triple room next to mine in the Sorin basement. John Morrissey, John Kurtz and Don (“Dunnie”) Behrmann lived in it. When we were all finished with our junior year, Dunnie’s mother and dad came out from NJ to pick him up. Dunnie packed up his trunk and carried it out to the Sorin porch and left it there while he and his parents went to lunch. There was some construction project being done alongside Sorin Hall. John Morrissey and I took all of Dunnie’s clothes out of his trunk and put in two layers of bricks from the construction site. We then covered the bricks up with Dunnie’s clothes. We always wondered what Dunnie did with all those bricks when he got to his NJ home. Ed Kelly has finally shut down his Indianapolis law office. He is recovering well from recent surgery. In addition to his home in Indianapolis, he spends time at “Prairie Tara” (my label), his farm in Rochester IN. To paraphrase Jerry Mulvihill ’53: Let us be grateful for the joys our Class of 1955 connections have brought to us and pray for the classmates who have died. Ad Altare Dei. — John Connaughton; 1516 Marquette Blvd., South Bend IN 46628; 574-289-1445; jcithaca37@yahoo.com

56 Remembering Classmates
It is sad that we always start out with classmates who are no longer with us. Lawrence “Larry” Prudencio Kraemer from Santa Maria CA died Jan. 21, 2025. A longtime resident of CA, he managed numerous citrus groves in the Woodcrest area near Riverside after a brief career with IBM as a mechanical engineer. He served on the board of the Orange County Water District and was married to Sheila for 60 years. He is survived by five children, 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was a man of very strong faith and loved by his ever-growing family. James Robert Hilger passed away Jan. 2. He was a devoted Domer and active volunteer with the Serra Club where he organized an annual luncheon to honor the religious sisters in Denver where he had resided since 1960. He was a past president of the Notre Dame Club of Denver and was a proud member on the board of the Central City Opera for many years. His beloved son, Michael B. Hilger ’82, who was a member of the swim team at Notre Dame, passed away in 2016, and his daughter-in-law, Jennifer David Hilger ’83, is still living in Denver. His obituary can be found at Ellis Family Services. Deacon James T. Revord died on March 24. Jim graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and worked as a mechanical engineer in the HVAC industry for 40 years. He was an expert in designing pneumatic temperature control systems. In 1993, he felt called to become a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Chicago and was ordained that same year. He was always available for baptisms, weddings and funerals, and faithfully served our class at Mass for many football weekends. He was a very thoughtful and giving person. Bill Stotzer reminisced about his relationships with classmates Hank Dixon, Paul Berrettini and John Manion, all from Dixon, Sterling and the Metro area of IL. Hank introduced Bill to his future wife, Barbara, on a blind date. We also received a call from Don Walz’s wife, Evelyn, who shared that Don passed away five years ago. She mentioned that a photo of him in front of Fisher Hall had her name, instead of Don’s, in The Dome yearbook. Mary Pat and I enjoyed several events with Lou Holtz, including lunches and dinners where he delighted his audience with quips and life lessons. His love for Notre Dame was deep and special, and his funeral service paid tribute to his faith and appreciation of the University. On a personal note, we are glad to have our granddaughter Lucy Kalbas attend Notre Dame next year to pursue her master’s degree in accounting and finance. What a blessing to have a third-generation Kalbas walk this wonderful campus. Finally, we had a few classmates attend our 70th Reunion on June 4 - 7. I hope to receive updates from the weekend. This deserves a shout-out for the wonderful memories we have lived and loved over those 70 years. As always, please call or write with news from anyone in our class. — Joe Kalbas; 317-679-1550; hjkalbas@yahoo.com

56JD Class Secretary — Lauren Sharkey ’08, ’11JD; shark.byam@gmail.com

57 Notre Dame Comes to Pope Leo
As I write this, Pope Leo is in Africa, the second foreign trip of his extraordinary pontificate. Though quiet and measured in tone, his has proved up to the prophetic demands of his office, speaking clearly and powerfully against war as a way to settle international disputes — as have the previous five popes. Note: The men’s and women’s basketball teams will open the season Nov. 1 against Villanova, Pope Leo’s alma mater, in Rome with the pontiff in attendance. Go Irish! Go Leo! Gary Gates’ two great loves, apart from his wife, Phyllis, are books and bookies. The latter requited that love several times over after Gary picked Michigan to win the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball title. He cheats, of course: He works off insights gathered from seven years working at CBS Sports. Gary still retails stories about Michigan’s Fab Five, who lost the title game in 1992 and 1993. An added grace: Gary’s from MI’s Upper Peninsula, though Shelter Island NY is now home. In January, Reginald Bain died after an extraordinary career as “the soul” of Notre Dame’s theater program, according to a glowing remembrance by one of his department colleagues. The first in his family to attend college — his mother sold her wedding ring to pay the tuition — Reg’s first taste of the theater was working backstage freshman year for a production of Kiss Me Kate. His last was as director of The Love of the Nightingale (2000). At his retirement the following year, Reg had directed more plays than anyone in Notre Dame history. His most important theatrical achievement, according to the colleague, was the many ways he “ignored fourth-wall realism and used the auditorium for entrances, exits and playing spaces.” Not surprisingly, he met his wife, Georgia, when they both appeared in Death of a Salesman senior year at Notre Dame, a production that included the late George O’Donnell and Phil Donahue. Paul Walker died in April. After spending 30-plus years at Chase Manhattan Bank working under the direction of chairman David Rockefeller, he served as a trustee of several organizations and was later appointed by President Bill Clinton to spearhead a fund promoting business enterprise in Slovakia as part of that country’s transition to democracy. He is survived by his wife, Susan, four children and seven grands. Don Haney reports the death of his wife, Meg, after 67 years of marriage. Meg Droege was from South Bend and attended Saint Mary’s College as a boarder before transferring to the Tobe-Coburn School of Design in New York City and living in the famous Barbizon Hotel for women in Manhattan, which had rules about who could visit when, much like SMC. Don was conveniently stationed at the Navy’s anti-submarine base in Newport RI so the romance continued. RIP, Meg. The Alumni Association reports the deaths of two other classmates, Thomas E. Kane and Elmer Premo. Both earned Dean’s List honors and Premo also earned an MA from Notre Dame. Folks, if you wish to read about your classmates — what they are thinking and doing after 90 years — you have to tell me the same about yourselves if this column is to continue. — Kenneth Woodward; kennethlwoodward@gmail.com; 1155 N. Dearborn St., #1202, Chicago IL 60610

58 Fondly Remembered
George F. Liddle of Roscommon MI passed on Nov. 11, 2025. George served as a first lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He earned a master’s in environmental engineering, serving the state of MI as an engineer throughout his career. George had a passion for football, including coaching, and was an avid outdoorsman. George was survived by his wife of 51 years, Jackie, and three children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Donald P. Calcagnini of Branford CT passed on Jan. 21. Donald served as an officer in the armed forces before completing an MBA from the U of Pennsylvania. In 1964, at age 28, he founded Hamden National Bank, which ultimately became TD Bank in 2006. He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Joyce, and one son. He is survived by two children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Donald J. Hoodecheck of Sartell MN passed on Nov. 24, 2025. After serving in the Army, Donald received a Ph.D. from the U of Minnesota, before joining faculty at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s U, focusing on education and training of teachers. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne, whom he married in 1959, along with five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Richard J. Hank of Riverside IL passed away on Jan. 6. Richard spent a career in property management, working with his wife of 63 years, Joan. Richard, who overcame polio at age 14, had a passion for fitness, weightlifting and sports. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and grandchildren. Robert C. Johnson of Galena IL passed on Dec. 31, 2025. Bob served in the armed forces in Korea, before beginning a nearly 40-year career as a civil engineer in the Chicago area, focusing on hospital construction. Bob had a passion for sailing, and spent over 20 years on the race committee at the Chicago Yacht Club. Bob is survived by Anne, his wife of 66 years, and three children and grandchildren. James M. Gray of Canton OH passed on Dec. 17, 2025. Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Music, before earning a master’s from Ohio U and studying at Yale U School of Music. Jim spent a career in music education, including directing junior and senior high school bands. Jim persevered for 61 years with multiple sclerosis, spending much time volunteering and engaging in advocacy. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Charlotte, and two daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John A. Pfefferle of Huron OH passed on Jan. 17. John served in the Army. He earned a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall Law School in 1966, working in private practice until becoming Erie County prosecutor, and later being appointed Erie County Court judge. John is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carol, and five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Owen G. Bossman MD of Daniel Island SC passed on Feb. 4. Owen graduated from the U of Buffalo Medical School and served with the US Navy. He practiced medicine for many decades, including a role as team physician for the Buffalo Bills from 1970-88. Owen was predeceased by his wife of 46 years, June. He is survived by his wife of nine years, Amy, and four children, two stepchildren, and grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Our class is so grateful for Arthur L. Roule Jr. and his son Mark J. Roule ’98 for the time they devoted to keep us connected through Class Notes. The Roules will be retiring from this position so please send all updates to our new volunteer, Eileen Z. Surprenant ’09, ’15. Thank you, Arthur, Mark and Eileen! — Eileen Z. Surprenant ’09, ’15; emzander@gmail.com

59 Remembering Knute Cavanaugh
I received the following note from Kathryn Cavanaugh ’97: “Dear Bob — I wanted to share the sad news with the Class of 1959 that my incredible dad, Kenneth ‘Knute’ Cavanaugh, passed away on Oct. 28, 2025. We are very sad and still in shock as his passing was sudden and somewhat unexpected. We had just moved him into a great rehab facility and were hopeful for his recovery after a recent surgery. However, he had been through a lot over the last six months and weight loss took a toll on him. He was mentally very sharp, but he simply did not have the reserves to fight. He passed quickly and peacefully surrounded by family, which he wanted. This is the same man that was golfing at least twice a week, so we all thought he would come home from rehab. I don’t know if you knew my dad in college. To say that he loved Notre Dame is an understatement. Our family went back to campus every year to a football game which brought my dad so much joy. He was so glued to the TV every Saturday watching ND and our reliable ‘ticket broker.’ He was extremely proud that his five children and a grandchild all attended ND. I know he had the best time at the last Class of ’59 reunion. His life truly embodies the American Dream: growing up in a steel mill town in Ohio to being the first person in his family to go to college, to serving in the US Navy, to becoming one of the pioneers of arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine in Colorado. My four brothers and I were always told ‘to those that much is given, much is expected’ and knew that we could not squander any opportunity that presented itself. As a lifelong risk taker and entrepreneur in his own right, his children inherited his relentless work ethic and love of connecting and helping others. Upon reflection, I don’t think he truly realized the impact he had on everyone around him. He simply always did what he believed was the right thing to do. He was truly a ‘man for others’ and lived an incredible life that helped so many people. The funeral and burial were held on Friday, Nov. 4, 2025. It was a very hard day filled with tears, love and laughter. My father was both feared and adored! He will be deeply missed. Anyone is welcome to watch the beautiful funeral Mass on YouTube (contact Bob Brennan for the link).” Here is some of my response to Kathryn: “What a wonderful letter. It’s not easy holding back the tears. I did not know your dad at ND; I knew of him. He was very well known, admired, liked and respected. I did spend some time with him during our recent reunion and thoroughly enjoyed every second. Like him, we all enjoyed the same thought — that is, how lucky were we to end up at Notre Dame. Must have been our Irish heritage. I love your reflection on his life’s journey. Many in our class were rewarded with that trip. I remember my mother saying, ‘Just do your best and only you know when you’ve done your best.’ My favorite was ‘The more you know, the more responsibility you have.’” — Bob Brennan; 855 Clubhouse Drive, Ballwin MO 63011; 314-807-1011; bobbrennan76@gmail.com