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People’s Choice

             With the benefit of a copy of Theodore White’s unpublished The Making of the Student Body President, 1967 and after combing the Notre Dame library’s archive for notes of the successful John Darrouzet, Tom Weyer, Dan Lungren, Mike Crutcher, Bill Gormley and Michael Minton campaigns, Fred Ferlic launched his own political career.  On May 3rd, with a plurality of Rahm Emanuel proportions, Fred won the primary in an election for a seat on South Bend’s Common Council.  From Rochester, NY, supporter Jim Hutchinson observed that “Digger must have voted for him several times.”  Imagine, then, how many times Steve Anderson voted; Steve recruited Fred to South Bend years ago.  In the same election, Fred’s son Gavin won the primary election for another Council seat. 

            Our class means a lot to South Bend.  Logan Center, providing multiple services for the disabled, has been the life’s work of Dan Harshman, who will retire as head this year.  Dip into anything generous in South Bend and we soon encounter Joe Kernan, Gene Cavanaugh, Professor Jim O’Rourke, Pat Barth, John Paige, Steve Anderson and, on the distaff side, Kathy Malone Beeler, SMC 69.  In that group is Chris Murphy, whose meaningful career with 1st Source Bank, where he is chairman and CEO, is detailed in a substantial February, 2011 Hoosier Banker article.  It helps Chris that he was born at about age 30. 

            But South Bend, of course, is only one location of class significance.  Paul Stulgaitis, who called out of concern for Sandy Carrigan’s troubled health, is head of Blue Rock Consulting, which has available close at hand in Portland, ME the legal wisdom of Dick Kelly.  In Alexandria, VA, doctors are watching a minor health issue with Mike Baroody’s lungs while he himself spends time encouraging Mitch Daniels to become a presidential candidate of Tom Weyer importance.  Another Alexandria neighbor, Dennis Reeder, is giving his retirement time to the social justice efforts of D.C.’s Center of Concern, while his wife Elise Stephens Reeder SMC 69 is a dedicated volunteer ESL teacher.  Paul Ramsey, supposedly retired from Educational Testing Services, squeezed New York Holy Week observance and entertainment of 70 Easter guests, including Chicago’s Chuck Amato, between business travel from India, then to Istanbul.  Bill Kelly, who has done enough for the financial services industry, took up residence recently in Scottsdale, AZ.  Joe Blake, who does not think he has not done enough yet, is signed up for Team Hydro in the annual June 25th Sharkfest swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco to raise awareness and funds for those who suffer from hydrocephalus.

            In two years, we will be gathered for Class President Tom Weyer’s welcome and other events of our reunion.  Time remains for some of you – Jerry McCabe, Bob Smith, John Flemming, Fran Mentone, Rick McFarland, and Forrest Hainline come to mind – to put on some girth so that you can help obscure the gaudy Pebble Beach golf pants Fred Ferlic may be wearing for the class photo. 

            Bill Angell, who owned some Muscatine, IA enterprises before becoming a financial advisor there, wrote about the death of William J. “Bill” Beyer from cancer on October 30, 2010.  Bill and his wife Peggy Malone had settled in New Ulm, Minnesota where they raised three children.   Ken Castrop wrote from Columbus, OH about the loss of two of Ken’s best friends: Jack Burkhardt, who died of heart problems, on April 17, 2011 in Nashville and Doug Lubbers, an Allentown, PA resident who succumbed to cancer on April 25, 2011 after a 13-year battle.  A photo of Ken and his friends appears in the blog, http://www.ndclass1968.com.  Bob McCafferty, the father of Mike, died in early March, 2011.  On Good Friday, Jay Schwartz lost his mother Rita, a lifelong patroness of our class from her home in the D.C. area.  Please remember everyone in your prayers.

            Leave comments at the blog, http://www.ndclass1968.com and send news to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536 x 301, office.