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Judge Tom Phillips reflects on his service

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Retiring Judge Reflects On Drug Court And More

By Patrick Sullivan | Dec. 26, 2018

This Friday (Dec. 28), 86th District Court Judge T.J. Phillips will hang up his robe and retire after presiding one last time over the “drug court,” which is fitting, because he started the specialty court in 2016 in response to the opiate addiction epidemic.

Drug court diverts hardcore drug users who face less-than-delivery charges away from prison and gives them a chance to get treatment and have their felony conviction reduced to a misdemeanor.

Phillips also helped establish a community outreach court to serve the homeless population and an eviction diversion program to help people who might their homes. The Ticker sat down with him to talk about his time on the bench and how he looked for ways to help rather than punish many of the people who came before him in court.

Ticker: Does it make sense to you that judges cannot run for reelection once they turn 70 in Michigan?
Phillips: I think I’ve done some of my best work after I hit 70. I started the drug court after I hit 70. I started the homeless court, the community outreach court after I hit 70. Started the eviction diversion a little bit before that. So, I mean, I think it is kind of ageism. If someone is doing a good job, why kick them out?

Ticker: Tell me about eviction diversion.
Philips: It brings together various agencies and nonprofits that can help provide rent payments. And if the person can show they can sustain paying their rent, that they just got behind for a little while, then the agencies are willing to pay the rent and the tenants can stay in their homes; they don’t become homeless. And the landlord gets paid, so everybody wins.
 
Ticker: Since you’ve been a judge, what insights have you had about how the criminal justice system should work?
Phillips: You know, I have a job where most people don’t want to be there. And let’s say we have someone who works as a cook in town, and they get in trouble, and I’ll talk to them and I’ll ask, “What do you cook?” I always asked them, “What’s your signature dish?” I think then, you can bring it down to just two people talking. I think they’re more relaxed, and then get treated better by the system. You talk to them as individuals. They don’t want to be there. They’re scared. But you can reach out to them and make progress.

Ticker: Is that something that happens in drug court, or can that kind of interaction happen in any kind of proceeding?
Phillips: I think it can happen in any kind of proceeding, usually criminal proceedings, because most of our stuff is criminal, 88 or 85 percent. I think it is important people have a good experience. It’s important to treat people with respect. I think that you should do it because it’s the right thing to do but it’s also the best thing to do. So maybe if the judge is nice to them, they will look inward rather than at the crappy old judge that came down on them.

Ticker: How did the drug court originate?
Phillips: We have to respond to things, and we had to respond to the overdoses we were seeing. And the specialty courts had been successful in other areas, so it was time to get it up and going. Drug court is very different than my other courts, because in drug court, you kind of act like a cheerleader. You act like Oprah where you interview people and talk to them and see how they are doing. And you still have to act as a judge, too.

I have a lot of admiration for people that are trying to change their lives. Probably 75 percent of people feel they should lose 10 pounds, and they’re motivated to lose 10 pounds, but very few of those people ever lose those 10 pounds. That’s something they want to do, they are motivated to do, and yet it doesn’t happen. And here are people that have a terrible disease of addiction and they are motivated to do something that’s very hard. So, I hold them in high esteem, because they are trying hard.

Ticker: How successful has it been? Do you measure long-term results?
Phillips: We haven’t reached that level yet, because we don’t have our first graduate. We’re getting close, probably within the next three or four months we’ll have a couple graduates, and then we will review how they do. The state will as well. They want to see what the rate of recidivism is for our drug court. Right now, we measure it on a day-to-day basis, because they are tested twice a day for alcohol, at least in the beginning, and eight times a month for drugs. So, every day we are seeing how they do and then twice a week we meet with them. Every week I hope no one messes up, and we are doing pretty well.

Ticker: Have very many people failed out of drug court so far?
Phillips: We’ve had some people fail out. Usually they fail out in the first month or two because they just weren’t motivated. After they make it past that, they’re pretty good. We want to be open to the hard cases in drug court, so we should not be surprised that some of them don’t make it through, especially in the first couple of months. But sometimes the hard cases are the ones that surprise you the most.

Class notes submitted Nov. 1, 2018

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Tailgate and Marriage Secrets Revealed

Keeping the glorious reunion mojo going, the South Bend classmates in combination with the Chicago ones made a large swath of the near-stadium parking lot a tailgate gathering place for friends who just can’t get enough of a good time on fall weekends. Twice, Muffet McGraw arrived to show off her team’s NCAA trophy before photo-bombing a smiling, green-shirted row of Fred Ferlic, Gene Cavanaugh, Roger Guerin, Joe Kernan, Tom Gibbs, Bryan Dunigan, Dennis Toolan, Dave Dittman and Class President Tom Weyer.  Tom McKenna of Carmel, IN, recalling the tailgate’s origin in Honest John Weyer’s discovery of an open Engineering classroom when we were students, called the gathering “a public trust.”

The core tailgate pack, minus the South Bend friends who had seen the Weyers all other fall weekends, met October 20th at the invitation of the Weyer children for a Chicago party celebrating a tradition almost as lengthy: Tom Weyer and Mary’s 50 years of marriage.

Mary and Tom Weyer, recent photo

The secret? “Find a woman you can’t live without and then stay alive,” Tom said. After he and Mary spoke, Roger Guerin said, “That’s the longest speech Tom Weyer has given without mentioning Rocky Bleier.” Bryan Dunigan, Rick McPartlin and Patty, Bob Ptak, Dennis Toolan and Mary Lou, Tom Durkin, Matt Walsh and Joyce, Tom Gibbs and Sheila were there. Mick Hyland was absent, caught up with the first reunion of his Pangborn Hall study group.

Three days later, with leaves turning color and temperatures falling, Bob Ptak went to join Donna in Naples. Roger Guerin and Jean will go after Christmas. . . along with Chris Murphy and Carmi, Paul Dunn, Jeff Keyes and Meg, Bob Brady. . . Expect a flow of postcards: alligators guarding golf balls (Guerin), a beach sunset (Dunn), and the off-color (Ptak).

On the East coast, Jay Schwartz hosted a lunch party at the fashionable Harry Browne’s in Annapolis for Mike Baroody and Muff, Pat Collins and Emily, Dennis Reeder and Elise, Tom Condon, Tom Figel and Nancy.  See the Schwartz-centric menu.

Putting the fashion in the fashionable Harry Browne’s, Annapolis

The St. Louis legal community named Tom Corbett a leading practitioner in trusts and estates.

Tom Corbett

Jorge Robert R. Saavreda, regretting that he missed the reunion, wrote that “We have recently moved from Stafford County, Virginia (where we lived for 20 years) to Denton County, Texas (North of Dallas & Fort Worth). The move was encouraged by my mother’s failing health (she is 96 with associated physical challenges). Although originally from Puerto Rico, our family has, over the past 30 years, slowly relocated to the Dallas Metroplex. Health permitting, we will make the next reunion.”

And check the experience Allen Brown had. “A group of us (Mike Carroll, Mike Ford, Tony Shaheen, Bill Clark, Ed Ferry and Brian McManus) got a Facetime session going with Geoffrey Thornton who was in the Seattle area. (The FaceTime with Geoffrey) was capped by a surprise ten minute conversation with Lou Holtz who happened to also be on the 7th floor outdoor courtyard on the Duncan Center. Tony asked Lou if, prior to the Catholics v. Convicts tilt, he really said to “leave Jimmy Johnson’s a** for me.” Lou said yes, he recalls saying something to that effect prior to the game. The group also got to engage Dr. Brian Ratigan, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in South Bend who was also there. Brian, as you recall played linebacker for Lou as well as the Indianapolis Colts.”

Mike Hampsey’s death in June, followed in August by John Longhi’s death after 30 years of Parkinson’s suffering, led Chuck Perrin to compose a song:
https://youtu.be/bJPGcmJ6usw.

After returning from Peace Corps service with the heart of nurse Tess, John earned a Harvard doctorate in geology and then became a research scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University.

John Longhi, Peace Corps volunteer

Mike Carty, who would have been hard to keep away from the reunion, died months before, in February, 2018. Paul Zalesky brought John’s death to our attention; Phil Feola did the same for Mike. Father John Pearson, CSC, was in South Bend for a visit and a surgery when the South Bend Tribune announced the death of Professor Donald Sniegowski. Tom Condon’s brother Jim, a Vermont radio personality and state legislator some think was the funniest Condon, died in August. Funny? Listen to one radio skit, “Leave it to Bernie”, on soundcloud.com.  On November 18, 2018, Tom McKenna, Carmel, IN, suffered the death of his brother Jim, age 78, after decades of diabetes illness.  Jim (James, Jr.) was a Marine Corps veteran and a solid contributor to the McKenna’s hometown, Madison, IN.  In following days, Joe Ferry wrote of the death of his brother Hugh Ferry:  I am saddened to report the passing of my beloved brother Hugh, a member of the Class of 1959. He passed away to the strains of Notre Dame Our Mother shortly after the Irish victory over Syracuse on Saturday, November 17, 2018.  Hugh was a first-generation Irish-American, the oldest of seven sons of Irish immigrants, a Korean War veteran, a world-class marathon runner, having run the Boston Marathon in 2:52 at age 50 in 1981, and a great big brother (I would never have been able to go to ND without his support).  He was also very witty. Once, we went to Sweeney’s after an ND game and a string-band rendition of the Victory March was playing on the jukebox. When it concluded, Hugh cued up his recording of it by the ND Band and said “This is the Douay Version!”

Thanks to Bob Smith, Joe Hale, Jim Hutchinson and others who help us keep up with our news. Please send notes and photos to Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt 3E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536, tfigel@reputecture.com.

Death of John Longhi August 19, 2018

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Paul Zalesky sent the news of John’s death and Tess Longhi sent the obituary John wrote for himself:

John Longhi was born in White Plains, New York, raised in Larchmont, New York, and lived most of his adult life in Hamden, Connecticut. Following his graduation from Notre Dame with a BS in geology, John entered the Peace Corps and served in Kenya for more than 2 years where he met and married Tess, a nurse volunteer, who had a smile that could light up a room. While in Kenya, John designed and supervised construction of rural water supplies. Upon returning to the USA, John and Tess moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts where Tess worked as a visiting nurse and gave birth to a baby girl, Sarah. Meanwhile, John earned a PhD in geology at Harvard. Post-doctoral fellowships at MIT and the University of Oregon followed next. Subsequently, John had a successful career as a research scientist especially at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, where he worked on increasing our understanding of the origin of the chemical variation in lavas on Earth, the Moon, and the meteorite parent bodies.

John’s career and life were shortened by advancing Parkinson disease. He will be remembered for his calm disposition and timely sense of humor.

These just in, September, 2018

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Rick McPartlin arranged a golf outing that avoided rain in Oak Brook, IL on August 24, 2018.  President Tom Weyer, golfers Tom Gibbs and Dennis Toulan had gone on to other events by the time players and friends gathered for dinner near the course.  Back row: Rick’s brother Mike and nephew Pearce flank Roger Guerin, Mick Hyland of Pangborn Hall fame, Bob Ptak.  Front row: Bryan Dunigan, Patty and Rick McPartlin, Tom Figel and Tom Culcasi.

In attire obtained from Mike Burgener, Jim Hutchinson and Jerry Murray won the wardrobe competition during their summer golfing.

Meanwhile, in the back-at-the-office, workaday world category, Tom Corbett of St. Louis firm Thompson Coburn has been named one of the St. Louis, MO area’s Lawyers of the Year.  Tom’s practice concerns trusts and estates.

Tom Condon’s brother Jim Condon, state rep and longtime radio personality, dies at 60

from vtdigger.com

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Jim Condon
Jim Condon speaks at the Capital Plaza hotel in Montpelier, in a photo from his campaign website.

Rep. Jim Condon, who served seven terms in the House following a long career in radio broadcasting, has died after battling esophageal cancer. He was 60.

Condon, a “Blue Dog” Democrat, represented Colchester since winning election in 2004. He decided against running for re-election this year after receiving an “unwelcome medical diagnosis” of cancer this spring. He also served as executive director of the Vermont Association of Broadcasters.

He is survived by his wife, Ginny McGehee, a radio personality on WJOY in Burlington, and their son, Thomas, who attends Syracuse University.

“I have been humbled by the trust you’ve given me to be a voice for common sense at the Statehouse,” Condon said in April when he announced he would not run again. “I hope I have lived up to your trust.” He missed much of this year’s session.

Condon partnered with radio personality Louie Manno in Connecticut before they moved to Vermont where they worked in the 1980s and 1990s at several Burlington radio stations.

Their morning news and comedy program,“The Manno and Condon Show,” ran on WKDR-AM from 1990 to 2000. Prior to that, they co-hosted a morning show on WQCR-FM (now WOKO), where they broadcast their notable sketch, “Leave It to Bernie,” a light-hearted takeoff of the “Leave It to Beaver” television show that poked fun at Sen. Bernie Sanders (played by broadcaster Joel Najman).

Condon, the deep-voiced, hefty straight man in the comedy team, was known for his sharp wit and hearty laugh. In addition to partnering with Manno, Condon was also news director at WKDR and at WQCR/WJOY.

“I was the wrecking ball, and he did the layups,” Manno said Friday. “Of all the gifts Jim had, he had an incredible sense of humor. He always had a twinkle in his eye and I don’t know if anyone was ever angry with him. Jim was a very gentle man, an everyman who was just as comfortable talking to a homeless guy as a head of state.”

Manno and Condon
Radio partners Louie Manno, left, and Jim Condon. Photo courtesy of Louie Manno

“We shared together several lifetimes worth of laughs,” said Manno, who held his best friend’s hand for the last time on Thursday. The two also ran a deli in Burlington together after they stopped broadcasting and before Condon ran for election to the House.

“He was the smartest and funniest man I ever knew,” said Dan Dubonnet, the general manager of Hall Communications, the parent company of WOKO and WJOY. McGehee, he said, was “in good spirits” and spending time with co-workers and friends at the station on Friday afternoon after completing her morning shift.

Condon passed away Thursday night at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester.

Condon served on the House Ways and Means Committee and had a reputation as a fiscal conservative. He described himself as a “Blue Dog” Democrat and made several efforts to reform and simplify the property tax system.

Gov. Phil Scott, who served five terms in the Senate, said he was sad to hear of Condon’s passing.

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Jim during my time in the Vermont Senate. He was truly an independent voice, always acting in the best interests of his constituents. Jim was eager to reach across the aisle and work together on important issues. His experience and wisdom on the House Ways and Means Committee was incredibly valuable.”

“Jim set a strong example for all his colleagues, and his years of service are appreciated. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time,” the governor said.

Speaker Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of a dear colleague and friend to all, Representative Jim Condon. Jim was a devoted public servant, fondly known for his booming voice and sense of humor, who represented his community of Colchester with great distinction.”

Ways and Means Chair, Rep Janet Ancel, D-Calais, said: “Jim had a huge heart. I will deeply miss his wit, intelligence, and friendship.”

In July, Condon and McGehee celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary when they traveled to Ireland, the home of Condon’s ancestors.

Condon grew up in New London, Connecticut, and graduated from the University of Connecticut. He served as press secretary for congressional candidate Jim Guest during part of his 1988 campaign.

No funeral is planned. Instead, a celebration of life ceremony will be held at some time in the future, Dubonnet said.

Editor’s note: Mark Johnson worked with Condon at WKDR.

Class notes submitted July 10, 2018 (post-50th reunion)

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A Great Time with the Great ‘68

With Mike Burgener at home in California for a son’s visit, with Monk Forness occupied as part of the Homeland Security force, and with Brien Murphy approaching middle years, Notre Dame was able to breathe a sigh of relief as the wave of returning ND ’68 celebrants, more than 500 strong, flowed across the weekend as a wave and not a tsunami. In deference to Fred Ferlic, who led the South Bend classmates and other volunteers in reunion planning, the events took place in English. John O’Connor and Ralph Neas, who spoke on Watergate history and on the modern political climate, would have been captivating in any language. John’s history of former FBI agent Mark Felt and the Watergate events paid attention to the impact of investigative articles written by journalists Pat Collins and by Tom Condon. You can hear a recent BBC report about John and the long search for the identity of Mark Felt by clicking.  Ralph Neas provided notes now available in a following post. Also on the blog in following posts are photos and the text of Father John Pearson’s class Mass sermon.  A video of Lou Holtz’s Saturday night speech is here.

Guests new to the Great ’68 may have been startled by the legions of Toms, as if the reunion were a final scene from a remake of Spartacus, this time with Class President Tom Weyer in the role of Tomacus.

On the big screen of the reunion, no one loomed larger than Rocky Bleier, whose two performances of his one-man play excited universal praise. The popularity of the play plus the talent of Rocky the auctioneer added to the till of an immense class gift. Ka-ching! Father John Jenkins, C.S.C., was able to acknowledge a gift exceeding $56 million.

With the gift so sizable, there was neither a first nor a second collection at the class Mass concelebrated at Sacred Heart by classmates Father John Pearson, C.S.C. and Father John Sheehan, S.J. Bob Smith, a deacon, assisted and Michael Minton, class president our senior year, was a Eucharistic minister. Some saw Jeff Keyes and Bob Brady, now Naples, FL neighbors, watching from confessionals.

Bill Cleary met Lou Holtz at the Saturday night dinner, then said he could mark off an item on his bucket list. Lou replied, “You need to improve your bucket list!”

The reunion attendance produced a rarity the Chicagoans enjoyed as much as anyone else: they were outnumbered by classmates from lands beyond South Bend and Chicago. Former roommates Walt Moxham and Tom Brislin rolled in from upstate New York and Connecticut. Hawaiians Pat Furey and Mike Trombetta came. Paul Higgins, as ready for golf as he was in the past for other sport, came from Oregon with Jim Chapman. Jake Keenan came from Cambridge, MA. Brian Schanning and Susan, used to sailing the globe, had the sensation of moving about on dry land. Charlie Schmitt and Lynn combined the reunion with other Midwest stops. Jay Schwartz regaled a group that included Dave Martin’s wife Janis with Dave’s football exploits, including scoring his only touchdown on an intercepted pass in the 51-0 beat down of Southern Cal in Los Angeles in 1966, the week after the 10-10 tie in East Lansing. Dave believes his real estate career may be more memorable than his foray in the NFL. Ned Buchbinder organized a seminar for General Program classmates including Tom Fitzharris, Tom Durkin, Guy Faris, Tiger Schaefer, and Bob Heineman. Following the reunion, former Naval officer Mike Baroody and Muff drove to Lake Superior for a look at the nation’s watery northern frontier.

The Keenan troops were a strong presence. Joe Hale’s report runs deep into the blog, so don’t be content with what’s here in print: “Keenanites who attended the Reunion:  Tom Voglewede and Dave Percio were both on my floor of Keenan. So were Dennis Dorratcague, Mike Woods, Rich Falvey, Rocky Bleier, Tom Culcasi,  Gene “Skip” Schraeder, Bill Nungesser, Wayne Micek, Tom Phillips and Ted Bratthauar.  The following had supper on Friday night at the Lasalle Grill:  Ted Bratthauar and his wife Ann Benton (we all at her request called her “Benny”);  Steve LaPlante and his wife Kathryn;  Skip Schraeder and his wife Ellen; myself.   Skip and Steve both served in the field artillery in Vietnam; they attended the Military Commemoration, and  I sat by them.”

At the same ceremony, Joe Kernan received honors.

Chris Murphy and Carmi gave the reunion a rousing finish with a generous Sunday brunch thrown at their home for the entire class.

Neil Rogers, Rich Rogers, and Bob Santaloci were in a car driven eastward by Pat Demare when Pat reached the Indiana-Ohio border: “He managed to blow through the gate going at least 60 miles an hour. The gate itself took off for the nearest cornfield,” reported Neil.

Mike Hampsey, much remembered during the weekend, succumbed to heart ailments on June 4th. John Walsh and Charlie Schmitt will be among those giving the lifelong musician a musical memorial in Titusville, PA on August 12, 2018.

Keep getting together and keep sending news and photos to Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt 3E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536, tfigel@reputecture.com.

Emails and reminiscences, post-50th Reunion

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From Bob Smith (not from Chicago):

I, Bob Smith, am chipping in with my observations and will leave the Chicago mafia to Tom Figel, who I always enjoy seeing.  Thanks for the Thursday dinner.   I would like to say thank you to Tom Weyer who always remembers me and everyone else and congratulate him and his cronies for the fantastic reunion they pulled off.
    The aeronautical engineers were out in full force and had their own Thursday night dinner.  Most are retired but a few are still working.  Among those I know that attended and a few peronal notes include:  Dominic (Corky) Bozzelli, Paul Zalesky, Tom Follett, Arnie Vance (retired in Florida), Rick Jurjevic, Dave Tarkopwski, Dennis Dorratcague, Steve Sullivan (retired from Fedex as one of its original pilots back when they only had 9 planes), Ralph Salvucci, Ed Raffo, Rich Greff, and Bill Mordan.  Incidentally Corky’s nephew of the same name (Dominic Bozzelli) is making the cuts on the PGA tour.  Corky was from Rochester and a pretty good basketball player in his day as was another Rochester attendee, Jim Stoffel of Electrical Engineering fame.  He now resides on one the the Georgia islands.  Jim got his PhD at Syracuse after ND and joined Xerox where he became executive VP and hosted me and a group from Cryovac, where I retired from, on a benchmarking trip.  He headed up R&D and Innovation at Kodak briefly after leaving Xerox then headed off to the world venture capital in research, where he is now General Partner and Executive Partner at Tilliam Group, a private equity firm that invests in promising technologies.  He is also on the advisory board for ND’s efforts in innovation. Many of the Aero guys became Air Force Officers/pilots.
    Another small but mighty group were the Metallurgical Engineers (all 9 of us).  At the reunion was our class genius, Ron Jones, who got his PhD in 3 years then went to run the family box carton business after a brief career in metal’s research.  He still resides in his hometown of Joliet.  Also attending was Rich Guepe (also did not work in Metallurgy) and his St. Ed’s crew of Phil Fitzpatrick (accounting par excellant, CPA, etc.) of California, and Dr. Jim Druckenbrod who is semi-retired as a doctor but still part-time farm guy in Pennsylvania.  The 4th in attendace was Alex Clarke (in addition to me) who did not work in metallugy either (owned a couple of Mail Box franchises before moving on to another business relating to property and other things I cannot remember.  He resides in the greater Cleveland area.
    I spent much of my time with my Dillon friends, Rich DiLorenzo (who was my roommate there and spent most of his career as a prof at the Air Force graduate school program at Wright Patterson AFB and is retired in Naples, FL and Beavercreek, Ohio.  Len Niessen was a 5 year program (Liberal Arts and EE) and spent an illustrative career in EE and management beginning with Honeywell in the greater Boston area and ending with the last firm to own that business.  He still resides in the home he bought after graduation from ND in Farmingham, MA and also resides in Naples, FL, close to Dick where they still play hoops together.  Alex Clarke was also in our Dillon crew as was Bill Follette, who spent a career as a copter pilot and worked in the aero industry always in the greater Scottsdale, Arizona area (also in local government).  Other Dillon friends that I enjoyed seeing were Dr.Steve Anderson (congrats on finally retiring from ST Joe hospital in South Bend), Rocky Bleier, Dan Harshman, an amazing man who coordinated treatment and care for the mentally handicapped in St. Joe county for many years (who caught that touchdown pass in the 51-0 blowout of USC), Michael Browning (an accounting grad and media and property mogul of Indianapolis), and probably others I forgot to name.
    Many of us attended a very much appreciated surprise, honoring those from our class that were Vietnam Veterans that included many of the above names (myself included as a retired Army Colonel),  Rocky Bleier was keynote speaker and many of us attended one of his 1 1/2 hour performaces reminescing at his family bar (stage setting) in Appleton recounting his amazing life story (both dramatic and funny).  Went also to the presentation of John O’Coonor of Indianapolis and San Francisco fame (also same floor in Cavanaugh) on Deep Throat in the Nixon era and Ralph Neas, the consumate civil rights activist that has accomplished amazing things during his life (including coming back from near deathly illness).  Always enjoy seeing him again.
   My off campus roommate and dear friend, Brian Kenny was there with good friend Rudy Konieczny, still residing near his hometown of Chicopee, Mass.  Brian lives in Ellington, Conn and was also a 5 year student (liberal arts and aero eng.) and spent a career working for the state of Conn in enviromental engineering while having rental properties and a demogaphics data base on the side for the banking industry.  He is now the business manager for two Catholic churches in the area and runs the Catholic cemetary, an amazing guy.  Rudy spent a career in HR (personnel in the 70s) for several very lucky companies as I could not think of a kinder, more just person for this job that needs those traits.  I would have loved to have him as my personnel guy during my 35 years at Cryovac in Duncan, SC.
    I really enjoyed being deacon (just had my 11th anniverary of my ordination) at our class Mass Friday night with good friend FR John Sheehan concelebrating for FR John Pearson, CSC, of our class.  FR John was among the first theater grads from ND and is a world class tenor, actor and Jesuit priest, now serving in Jordan. Many Cavanaugh guys attended and I enjoyed reminescing with a few including Jim Chapman of Peace Corp fame (next door neighbor with notable John Hall whose band the Shags made our freshman year more interesting – remember Lola), Phil Feola (one of the lacrosse jocks who returned led by Len Niessen who wrote the first and only book on lacrosse at Notre Dame and another I enjoyed seeing was Tom Kingston also a lacrosse stalwart). Tom Follett, Alex Clarke, Dick DiLorenzo, Jim O’Rourke (retired Air Force and ND Business School Prof/Admin), Corky Bozzelli, Bill Follette (all Air Force ROTC), John O’Connor, Pete Farrell, Mike Carroll, Rudy K.,Jim Karol, and probably others I forgot.
     Also ran into Hank Schank, also aero and ROTC who is working in retirement for my old parish in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  Spent some time with Lloyd Adams (twin of Pete) and talked about the hours spent together playing bball at the Rock.  He told me Pete is very ill with cancer and I ask all for prayers for Pete.  Lloyd tell Pete I did beat him a few times.  It was good seeing Dr Fred Ferlic of South Bend Orthopedic fame and Gene Cavanaugh also of South Bend who has grandchildren in SC.   An old civil engineer friend, Carl Littrel, and I reminesced about some missing from the reunion, Brian Peters (of clean-up of ground zero fame and renovation of Grand Central Station fame, who was the other catcher on the baseball team with Joe Kernon who was so appropriately honored at the reunion for his service to the community and state) and Chuck Mattei (deceased and very dear friend and icon in PENNDOT).  I also bring news of the recent death of John Libb who battled heart problems and lived in St Joe Michigan where we stay when we return for football games and would visit with John while there.  Touched base with two attorneys, Dennis Kelly of the greater Philly area (in NJ)and Mike Heaton (part of the Chicago mafia) and we discussed our dear friend Bob Marotta (Columbus, Ohio) who did not make the reunion and has some health issues he has amazingly fought.  All three are leaders in the field of law.  I will leave Chicago to Tom and thank him for the great work he does as lifetime class secretary.

 

From Ken DiLaura:

Our group, including Mike Wolf, Jim Ewing, Andy Kelly, Jim Hoffman, Dan Dickman and Mike Murray, thoroughly enjoyed getting together at the 50 year reunion.  Lots of laughs and reminiscing and just hanging out.  Two of our buddies, Mike Coleman and Mike Cooney couldn’t make it, so we roasted them without their knowledge.  We also raised our glasses to our friend, Joe Scott, who passed away two years ago.  We vowed to make the 55th reunion so we will see you there!

Kenneth DiLaura
email kadilaura@comcast.net

From Steve Sullivan:

After arriving Weds night before the reunion, on Thurs morning I raced up to Grand Haven, MI to check on a restoration project on my ’55 MGTF, then raced back to SB to host an Aero Eng dinner at Tippecanoe. In attendance were Joe Roman, Arnie Vance, Rich Jurjevic, Dave Tarkowski, Dennis Dorratcague, Ralph Salvucci, Ed Raffo, Rich Greff, Bill Mordan, Jack Gilmour, Pat Long, Mike Stephan, and Greg Yust. During the dinner I had each recount how they had squandered the past 50 years. Amazingly, no one apparently had. All had actually used their degree and many had worked for the Navy, AF, and NASA in the Aero field. I, on the other hand, condensed my career down to three words: I flew airplanes.
Great job on the reunion weekend! I tried to dress down for all events, but was hopelessly out done by Pat “Jake” Keenan.
From Joe Hale (all over the place):

Rich Falvey – with the beard – is next to Bill Nungesser (who is at the upper left.)  In between them is Steve Sullivan (third floor of Keenan with Rich, Nungesser, Mike Woods, Mike Stephan, Tom Voglewede and myself.)  Sullivan retired from FedEx as a pilot and is married to Kathy Huisking Sullivan (SMC ’68 – who served on her class’ reunion committee.)  Steve and Kathy (who had a twin sister named Karen at SMC) are still in the Memphis area.   Steve was instrumental in obtaining a wheelchair needed by Rich in order to make it to the induction plus the Saturday night dinner.   This photo was taken at Holy Cross Village.

And from Joe Hale to Jim Woods:

Jim,   Rocky put on “The Play” performance on Friday and again on Saturday.  Some of my friends from Keenan and their spouses went to the really-nice downtown South Bend Lasalle Grill after the Friday performance.  All of us were complimenting Rocky on his performance;  he is a natural actor who for more than one hour was both serious and comical –without having to refer to any notes.   Dave and I saw Rocky after the Friday performance as they, of course, knew each other well while Dave served as Ara’s head football student manager our senior year.   In short:  Rocky knocked it out of the park!

The Memorial Service in front of the Golden Dome was great as well.  Tom and Dave got to meet each other afterwards while Dave was talking to Dan Harshman (who is a good friend of Rocky.)   Rocky, Gene Cavanaugh and several others were in the receiving line as we ND veterans passed through to pick up items thanking us for our Vietnam Wartime Service (meant for all ND vets who served during that time whether in ‘Nam or elsewhere.)   Decals, buttons and a specially-designed pin were handed out.  In a folder we received a description of the pin along with a Certificate signed by Father Jenkins and a Certificate signed by President Trump.    (The memorial for vets who served in any capacity wherever during the Vietnam War started in 2012 and will continue through 2025, which will be the 50thanniversary of the end of that war.)  The names of all ND alumni who died during the Vietnam War while in combat were read commencing before when LBJ was president all the way through the end of the war.   Our finance major classmate Joseph William McDonald, Jr. was shot down just a few months before the war ended;  he was a A-6 pilot for the Marine Corps, and because his death wasn’t confirmed for a long time he was promoted to major. I got to speak briefly with Dennis Withers just before the program started.  Dennis is still in the Atlanta area and is retired from law practice as a litigator.  He said Jay Mannelly lives nearby in the Atlanta area, but he doesn’t see him much;  Jay remarried after his first wife died.  Jay and Frank Moye (who was also at the reunion) roomed together while at North Carolina’s MBA program right after our ND graduation.   At the Memorial Service I sat between Gene “Skip” Schraeder (whom I knew from Keenan) and our Army ROTC classmate Steve Laplante – both were in ‘Nam and served in field artillery (Skip as an enlisted man and Steve, of course, as a lieutenant.)  Skip (who early on got his MBA from ND after his ‘Nam service)  works in South Carolina (near plenty of golf courses he gets to frequent there by the coast) in securities in the banking business.  “Plant” is an attorney plus bankruptcy trustee in his hometown of Evansville, IN (he got his J.D. from IU right after ‘Nam service.)

Tom did a terrific job in organizing the Sunny Italy dinner that was held last Thursday night.   The place was packed as more than one hundred attended.  I had the privilege of sitting next to Mike Woods and my three-year roommate Tom Culcasi.  Tom Weyer announced to the mob that he would continue to be our class president “whether you like it or not.”   Vintage Weyer for sure!

Several of us helped Rich Falvey make it over from Holy Cross Village to the induction ceremony and the luncheon – plus the Saturday night class dinner.  Rich and his wife Janine now live in a villa of their own at Holy Cross Village (which is across the road – 31/933 – from WNDU.)   It is a really-nice facility.   Rich’s family hosted a nice graduation party in ’68 for a bunch of our classmates (including Mike and me.)  Rich and Mike were both from Niles, MI and were classmates at St. Joseph’s H.S. (then near the campus but now near Rocco’s restaurant which is still in business – south of Rocco’s on St. Louis Boulevard and not too far from Notre Dame Avenue.)   The high school really looks nice with a football stadium there along with it.   Rich had 39 years of accounting/computer work with Chrysler in Detroit before retiring.

At the induction (at the basketball court – Purcell) each of our class members were photographed individually with Father Jenkins.  The whole class was photographed in the stands.   The Friday and Saturday night activities were at the new Duncan Student Center at the west side of ND Stadium.

I guess that about covers the much-fun reunion, Jim.

Sincerely,

J. Joseph (Joe) Hale

LTC, Ret. – U.S. Army Reserve

Active Army service:  1969-1971

Squad Tactical Officer for Army ROTC (whatever rank that was)

B.B.A. in Finance

From Allen Brown:

Allen Brown reports: “a group of us attending our 50th (Mike Carroll, Mike Ford, Tony Shaheen, Bill Clark, Ed Ferry and Brian McManus) got a half-hour Facetime session going with Geoffrey Thornton who was in the Seattle area and couldn’t make it.  It was great catching up with Geoffrey and was capped by a surprise ten minute conversation with Lou Holtzwho happened to also be on the 7th floor outdoor courtyard on the Duncan Center.  Tony asked Lou if, prior to the Catholics v. Convicts tilt, he really said to “leave Jimmy Johnson’s a** for me.”  Lou said he didn’t mention it for twenty years, but yes, he recalls saying something to that effect prior to the game. The group also got to engage Dr. Brian Ratigan, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in South Bend who was also there with us in some interesting conversation.  Brian, as you recall played linebacker for Lou as well as the Indianapolis Colts.”
(J) Allen Brown
24476 Brookstone Path
Millsboro, DE  19966
(603) 452 8856
From Tom Culcasi (Chicago area):

(to Joe Hale) Sorry I have been out of the loop for a couple of weeks.  Things were really hectic, but now slowing down.  Reunion was great.  Can’t believe we had so many Keenan and Zahm guys there.  Amazing how old those other guys are and we are just as young!

The week after reunion was our 50th Wedding anniversary.  We had all of my family up, and Judy had here family here as well.  We renewed our vows at Mass on the 9th, the day after our date.

We really need to keep in touch with these guys.  Life is way way too short.  Here are a couple of pics that I took and one of our anniversary.  The twins are 13, Ben is 4, Erika (in white dress) is 6 and Adam is 6 weeks in that picture.

Ted Bratthauar and his wife Benny, Skip Schradeder ( my freshman roommate) and me, Joe Hale, ( my roommate for the next three years), Wayne Micek and Dr. Phil Mika, Dennis Dorratcague, me, Dan Collins.

Class notes submitted April 27, 2018

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The Great ’68 in Force!

Smoochies to the Great ’68 from

Miss June 1968

(See following post “Reunion Plans as of mid-May” for a reunion schedule and other information.)

Notre Dame’s efficiency will have the trash removed, the broken glass replaced, the furniture set back upright, the carpet stains erased by the time these notes appear in a printed magazine. Before then, for three or four sweet days at the beginning of June, we will behave as if we are young and middle-aged again.

Confident of a clean election in June, Class President Tom Weyer is also confident that Special Counsel Brian Sullivan will complete his examination by then of alleged Russian interference in some voting during the late 60s and early 70s.

Fred Ferlic, frothing to his planning committee through calls, texts and emails right up to the time of the weekend, has activities gelling into one good time after another: nights of dinners and dancing, days of programs, memorials, Mass, and being together. Handball player Mark Lies continues to trash talk Bill Cleary. South Benders Fred and Mary Jane will take up residence in a hall, a chance for Fred to obstruct any big government/big university regulations affecting free living. Many others, acting on Joe Hale’s discovery of good rates, will stay at the Doubletree. While attempting to make his own reservation for himself and Marilyn, Mike Obiala happened on a loophole: when the “nice young lady” (Mike’s term) found all 1968 rooms taken, she located space under the 1958 class heading – and at a price $1 better than ours. Bryan Dunigan and Roger Guerin, who made the reservations as they graduated in 1968, chose the Morris Inn.

Registration by the end of April had regular campus visitors and infrequent visitors returning: Rocky Bleier will perform his one-man show several times. John O’Connor, Ralph Neas and maybe Jim Stoffel will give presentations. Mike Suelzer is coming from Iowa City, IA, Jim Davis from Charleston, SC, Dick Faherty from Austin, TX. Wally Moxham had little trouble luring Tom Brislin. Jim Hutchinson and Eileen have their peeps Jerry Murray and Rich and Neil Rogers attending, maybe even camping with the Hutchinsons in a gaudy, Grateful Dead type of RV behind the Bookstore. Paul Higgins and Jim Chapman are coming from Oregon, Bill Clark from California, Paul Ramsey from New York.  Think of a name and you will find that friend among the merry-makers of the weekend. Female readers may wish to note that John McCoy is still single!

Freshman year, Keenan Hall bunch in photo

found by Tom McKenna (Chicago cuz)

The reunion will test the truth of what Bob “Rabbit” Noonan wrote as he retired from his consulting position in 2017: “After retiring from the Army, I joined Booz Allen Hamilton here in Northern Virginia and led a business unit supporting defense intelligence agencies, organizations, and units. On Oct 31, 2017, I retired from that great company as an Executive Vice President and now it’s all about travelling and catching up with old friends and spending more time with family. Diane and I live in Herndon, VA, just outside D.C. in Northern VA.”

The infrequent visitors such as the Noonans, most of them from the coasts, will have the thrill of face-to-face encounters with the Chicagoans whose names appear so regularly in the class notes, usually because Chicago classmates have a propensity to provide news about themselves.

While a 50th reunion is special, it is not the only reunion opportunity. Bill Maturo, Chris Manion, Brian McTigue, Pat Hermann, John Schmelzer, Jerry McCabe, Dick Farina, Michael R. Ryan, George Kelly and the rest of you, Joe Blake, Bill Kelly, Dick Kelly, Dennis O’Dea, Tom McCloskey and all of you who are unable to come back the first weekend of June, know that you are missed and cherished. Remembering someone? Reunite by phone, by email, by arrangement of a lunch, of a mini-gathering at a destination or on a cruise.

Bryan Dunigan, Ted Nebel, Jim Woods, Tom Figel, John Walsh, Tom Gibbs, Tom Weyer and Mike Heaton, just after departure of Mike Tyrrell and Mark Lies and just before presentation of lunch check

A mostly Chicago group proved the reunion-everywhere-often theory in late April, when Jim Woods came from Milwaukee. Chicago area native Jim flew right into the lunchtime comparison of the high school alma maters attended by Mike Heaton, John Walsh, Bryan Dunigan, Tom Weyer, Mike Tyrrell, and Ted Nebel. Afterward, Mike Heaton summed up the debate: “I have come to appreciate the difference between those who grew up on the ‘South’ side, the ‘West’ side and the ‘North’ side. In the words of Brian Shannon, the South side guys think they are the toughest, the West side guys think they are the smartest, and the North side guys think they are English.”
During February, Paul Zalesky and Steve Sullivan chose a Florida location for their own reminiscing over several conversation-stimulating drinks.

Steve Sullivan and Paul Zalesky, in prepartion for 50th reunion

Mike McCullough re-discovered his report of Robert Kennedy’s presidential campaign stop in South Bend, “To Make Gentle the Life of This World”.

Ray Munchmeyer

The deaths of Ray Munchmeyer March 26, 2018 (see obituary in following post) and of John Hughes’ wife Trish during January, 2018 are sadnesses that make us grateful for the time these important friends were with us. Please remember the families and pray for them. In addition, remember Dave Hirschboeck’s family. The April death of this friend from the 1969 class produced a gathering of classmates from many years: John Walsh and Dia, Kevin Daly and Helena, Kelly Baruth and Ruth, Shaun Reynolds and Susan, Nancy Carlin and Tom Figel.

Dennis Reeder will repeat the favor he did the class at the previous reunion: he will video classmates who wish to send greetings to absent friends.  Once completed and placed on a hosting service, the video will be available on our class blog and will have a link for sending by email or text.

_________________

April 27th email from Mike Burgener:

  
Son beau comes in on may 28th and will be here for 5 days…..cannot wait to see
 him…..so i will not be at the reunion…please pass on my best to all our great
 class of 68!!!  tell rocky, dave martin and all the other great men i will
 miss them.  

we are back in the house….still lots of work to do rebuilding but it will get
 done.  the best is that my gym is up and running and i am coaching and 
training as hard as ever……my style now is:  GEEZERS RULE!!   the geezer group
 ranges in age from 83 down to the youngest buck being 62!!!   the geezer
 categories are:  50-59 you are a geezer in training.  60-64 you are a geezer.
  65-69 you are a super geezer.  70-74 and i designed the tee and made
 the groups so we are:  stud geezers!!!!  75+ since hopefully we will
 make….we will then be SUPER STUD GEEZERS!!!

SEMPER FI TO ALL MY CLASSMATES.

MIKE
_________________

Please visit the rest of www.ndclass1968.com for photos and other items. And please send news and photos to Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt 3E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536, tfigel@reputecture.com.

Bonus from 1968 yearbook:

Received from Bryan Dunigan May 9, 2018: During the reunion, Joe Kernan will receive the Sorin Award.  Joe will receive the award during a special presentation following the Reunion All-Class Mass on Saturday, June 2. Mass will begin at 4 p.m. inside the Joyce Center Fieldhouse, and the ceremony will start at 5 p.m., immediately following Mass.

Also, Bill Kenealy says that Bob Noonan will receive the Corby Award in November.

May 21, 2018 Funeral of Christine Costello

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Gene Cavanaugh called when he learned of the death of Professor Don Costello’s wife Christine.  Known to many of us because of the Costellos’ endlessly open door at their home as well as Mrs. Costello’s support for her husband’s spirited Notre Dame life, Christine Costello lived fully.  This is the obituary from the South Bend Tribune:

Christine H. Costello

Oct. 15, 1931 – May 12, 2018

NOTRE DAME – Christine Helen Costello was born on October 15, 1931 and died of congestive heart failure in her home at Andre Place in Holy Cross Village. She died surrounded by all of her children, music, God, and her beloved husband.

She was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and came to South Bend in 1960 when her husband, Donald got a teaching position in the English Department at The University of Notre Dame. They settled on Wakewa Ave. in the North Shore Triangle neighborhood where she not only raised their six children, but also took numerous classes at the University of Notre Dame, and hosted glorious dinner parties. She was a foodie before anyone knew the word. She was farm to table before it was even invented. Her glorious garden was the talk of the neighborhood. Christine was also an expert needle worker and a member of the Embroiderers Guild of America. She read widely and was a longtime leader of the Evening Book Group of the Ladies of Notre Dame. She loved opera, theater, and travel.

Christine was preceded in death by her parents, Helen (Curtin) and John Kane; and by her sister, Mary (Harold) Schwind. She also lost her brothers, Br. John S.J., Gerald (Marilyn), and James. Fortunately, she still had her brothers, Thomas (Jean deceased) and Robert. Christine is also survived by her husband of 66 years, Donald; children, Christopher (Lois Vanderhoof deceased), Maria O’Connor, Monica (John) Dilenschneider, Paul, Matthew (Anne), and John (Leigh Ann Marchant).

Christine was a supportive and loving wife and an unfailingly kind, giving, and sensitive mother. She was the best grandma ever to twenty-one grand kids and three great-grand-kids, with one more on the way.

Christine said after learning of her heart failure, “Don’t worry about me: I’ve had a very good life and I’m old!”

Funeral Services will take place Monday, May 21, at 9:30am at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, on the Notre Dame Campus. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame. Friends may call Sunday from 3-7:00pm at the McGann Hay Funeral Home, University Chapel, 2313 E. Edison Rd., just east of campus. There will be a Wake Service at 3:30pm Sunday in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to: Logan Protective Services Board, PO Box 1049, South Bend, IN 46601; Community Foundation of Saint Joseph County; or your own favorite charity. To send your condolences or to share memories log on to: www.McGannHay.com.

Published in South Bend Tribune from May 16 to May 20, 2018

Ray Munchmeyer death March 26, 2018

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The news came Wayne Micek.  Please remember Ray and his family in your prayers.

Raymond P. Munchmeyer “Ray” passed away on March 26, 2018 at the age of 71 years. Born in Brooklyn, NY and spending his formative years in New Hyde Park, NY and Breezy Point, NY (Roxbury). Leaving NY for the University of Notre Dame where he graduated in 1968. He later earned his MBA from Northwestern in 1969 (accomplishing a 2 year degree in 1 year). Ray served in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant during the Vietnam War era from 1969 to 1971. In 1969 he began his career with the Polaroid Corporation where he worked 39 years and retired as a Senior Production Planner. For his son’s and daughter’s soccer teams, Ray coached for the Framingham United Soccer Club for over 10 years. Ray also served on the Board of Directors for the club as Treasurer. Ray was an athlete who ran and completed the NYC Marathon 3 times. Later on in life, Ray developed a love for spin classes (indoor cycling). He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Carmela (Zito), son Paul, Paul’s wife Amy, daughter Michelle Salvi, Michelle’s husband Matt and 4 grandchildren: Anthony (Ray’s best friend), Eric, Shay and Libby. Ray lived a full life and touched many people. Whether it was “down the beach” at Roxbury, in college at Notre Dame, in Germany serving in the Army, working at Polaroid or at a spin class in NY or Massachusetts, Ray met and befriended almost a countless amount of people. If you became Ray’s friend, you were a friend for life. Not one person was more important to him than his wife Carmela. Ray and Carmela met at 16 and were never apart after that. Together they traveled the world, loved each other and created a loving family. Carmela, Paul and Michelle felt an endless amount of love from Ray and all of us will miss him immensely. Family and friends will honor and remember Rays life by gathering for visiting hours in the McCarthy, McKinney & Lawler Funeral Home, 11 Lincoln St., Framingham on Wednesday, April 4th, from 4-7 P.M. Funeral services and interment will take place in Queens, NY in the following weeks. Details to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CJD Foundation at www.cjdfound ation.org or PO Box 5312, Akron, OH 44334. For directions and online tributes, kindly visit www.mccarthyfh.com