Class Notes Submitted February 1, 2017

Posted on February 2, 2017 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine, Main Page • 1 Comment

The Election: Get Over It

The election revealed a rift that reached into many groups, including the class of 1968. Some woke to cheer, while others woke to gloomy pondering of the madness that had been expressed at the polls. But our class is resilient and our friendships are well-forged. Eventually the partisans of victor Chris Murphy and of defeated Dennis O’Dea will reconcile. The 50th class reunion draws near.

During the past football season, Class President Tom Weyer took time for meetings with advisors, mostly family members, at his Weyer-a-lago complex on Paw Paw Lake in southwestern Michigan. Though unsuccessful in lobbying for 1968 class representation on the new national cabinet – the incoming administration wanted to stick with billionaires of mid-range wealth and so avoid the political pushback of selecting Mike Browning, Bob Brady, Tom McCloskey and some other excessively prosperous candidates – those Tom Weyer assembled at the Michigan retreat did work through other important matters. The Wall Street Journal article about his representation of Guantanamo prisoners – see link at www.ndclass1968.com – made Tom Durkin an unlikely name for any short list of Supreme Court nominees. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-terror-suspects-best-hope-in-court-1481735889) On the other hand, the group made progress with establishment of the Weyer Library and the maintenance of the important documents and artifacts. Kept in a sturdy Paul Powell shoebox given to the Weyer family by a former Illinois Secretary of State, the materials have moved from beneath Tom Weyer‘s Dillon Hall bed to many other locations over the years. Now, what to do with the records, all of such interest to scholars? Included are a Brian Sullivan business card clipped to John O’Connor‘s draft of a plan for a Weyer Global Initiative: “This would be wrong,” reads the note on the back of the card. A rare note from roommate Tom Condon asks for a wake up in time for an afternoon ROTC class. A clipped Tom Brislin column from an Observer, a scrap of cloth from a Spiderman costume damaged at a campaign stop, edited copies of a couple of inaugural addresses, a $10 Bryan Dunigan check drawn on a Continental Bank account in 2003, a “paid in full” receipt from Gilbert’s, the trove is full of interest.

In April, when the Observer celebrates its 50 year history, Dennis Gallagher, Tom Condon, Jay Schwartz, Bob Anson, Bill Kelly, Tom Brislin, Tom (Indiana) McKenna, John Walsh, Bill Siska, David Kahn, Steve McCormick, Shaun Reynolds, John Twohey and others from that storied time will assemble for discussion of the Observer investigative style Editor Pat Collins began with our own deep, unrelenting examinations of the transgressions of Scholastic staff. If April brings the snows seen during Dennis Toolan and Mary Lou’s wedding two years ago, there may be snowball fights as Bill Knapp begins an assault on deadbeats with unpaid advertising charges.

The powerful, understandable draw of grandchildren has led Paul Zalesky to leave the West Coast with his wife for residency in Rhode Island among in-laws, the new home proximate to grandsons in Boston and two children in New York.

The World Series outcome prompted a note from Ned Buchbinder about sex: Carmen Fanzone, a utility infielder for the Cubs who played in a jazz band, said, “Playing a trumpet is great. And sex is wonderful. But there is no greater thrill than hitting a baseball.” Bryan Dunigan and Joe Kernan can attest.

Bryan was part of a group whirling among Gotham sites in December: “Just spent the weekend in New York City with Joyce and Matt Walsh, Sheila and Tom Gibbs and had dinner with Eddie Broderick. Sheila and Matt’s grammar school classmate is Cathy Wendt Sudekis the mother of SNL’s Jason Sudekis and he was starring in the play “Dead Poet Society”. We saw the play and celebrated Cathy Sudekis’ 70th Birthday with her family. Play is terrific. Also visited the spectacular Calatrava train station, the 911 Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, had brunches at the New York Athletic Club and the Carlyle Hotel and attended Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.”

Tom Culcasi and his wife Judy now know what other Chicago classmates know: Bryan Dunigan’s annual Christmas party is a lot of fun, and a good place to find Ted Nebel, John Walsh, Tom Weyer, Bob Ptak and others, everyone nearly indistinguishable in red sweaters.

The funeral of Dave Kil, the South Bend native who made his career at Notre Dame as assistant registrar, took place in Sacred Heart on January 23, 2017. Father Monk Malloy, CSC, was one of the celebrants. Please keep Dave and his family in your prayers. Even as he drew within a day of succumbing to his prostate cancer, Dave could smile when his cousin Brian Sontchi (’75) came Notre Dame-bedecked into the hospital room.

Joe Blake discovered and sent some of us a fine article he wrote for the Scholastic in 1968 about the philosophies that continue to shape global and domestic relationships. Find the article posted at our blog, www.ndclass1968.com.

Ken DiLaura, after much deliberation, sent: “I’ve procrastinated long enough. I just wanted to send you a note regarding a 70th birthday party where roommates Mike Coleman, Jim Ewing, Andy Kelly, Mike Wolf and myself along with our spouses met at my home in Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich last August. We had a great time reminiscing about our college days and telling lots of stories about the last 50 years. We want to wish all our friends we met at ND a Happy 70th Birthday!!!”

John Walsh is spending a couple of months in San Diego (instead of Evanston, IL) and had this experience:

“I was out at Torrey Pines (one of the pre-eminent golf courses on the PGA Tour, located in LaJolla, CA) with Dude’s brother Donnie to watch the Farmers Insurance Open. I was wearing my ‘Great 68’ golf hat, standing at the 6th green waiting for Tiger Woods, Jason Day, and Dustin Johnson to reach that hole. About three threesomes in front of Tiger, the fellow carrying the scoring placard for that group came walking up to me, looking at my hat, and asked, “Is that from the Notre Dame Class of ’68?” When I said ‘Yes,’ he said, “My brother was in that class–Bryan Dunigan.” Stunned, I said, “Bryan’s one of my best friends–my parents and your parents went to high school together in the 1930s.” It was Bryan’s younger brother Kevin, who’s lived out in this area his whole adult life. I’d never met him before. We had a few laughs, and then he had to leave with his threesome of golfers. What a coincidence!”

While this item may not hold appeal for the family of Walt Moxham, everyone so fond of Buffalo in wintertime, a request from the principal of Maria de Nazareth school in Cordoba, Argentina may interest any classmate involved with a school. Father Gerardo Carcar is seeking to arrange exchange programs for 16-year old students who will live with local families. Get details from, send news and photos to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536.

Class Notes submitted November 1, 2016

Posted on October 31, 2016 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine • 1 Comment

The Next Thrilling Episode

In the same way the old Tom Mix adventures used to end an episode with Tom in peril, maybe dangling from the face of a cliff, Pat DeMare had himself in frightening peril at the time of the previous class notes. Since then, in true celluloid hero mode, albeit with a Jersey accent, Pat has rebounded from the worst of the strange bacterial infection that made him unable to walk, put him on dialysis and wracked him with pain. (See following post, a note of thanks from Pat.) This was life-threatening, not the everyday after-effect of sharing a bottle in a South Bend alley with Bob Santaloci or Pat Furey. According to Rich Rogers, who spent hours at the Grotto while on campus and checked with Pat DeMare at home during the summer and fall, Pat was improving at a rate that would allow him to resume his physician work in November while continuing rehab. While all this was going on, Rich may have taken his prayerful mind off the needs of the football team from time to time. Rich did look in on that situation, for sure, with one of his annual weekend-through-weekend South Bend visits. At the ends, he overlapped with Jay Schwartz and then with Tom Condon.
Seen from another vantage point – Bryan Dunigan’s – Tom gathered an audience with funny stories about Class President Tom Weyer; the two Toms had been roommates in Dillon Hall during senior year.
Joe Hale included a compliment about Bryan Dunigan along with a reminiscence: “Bryan Dunigan was always so funny. When we as seniors were doing a good bit of celebrating at the Dunes, a bunch of us congregated at a bar near our Dunes playground. The elderly proprietor got a bit perturbed at the loud noises from our group. When we quieted down, Dunigan made the remark, ‘Don runs a speak-easy.’ The old gentleman was the only person in the bar who didn’t think that was funny.”
Brian used that wit with the grandson of Dan Lungren, attending the Stanford game: “I told Jack his Grandfather used to be the quarterback for Stanford when he was at Notre Dame, so Jack asked Grandpa Dan who replied—‘Yes…Stanford Hall.’ Dan now lives in Virginia—no longer a Californian. We were honored to spend some time over the weekend with former Badin Hall track stars– Shane and Pete Farrell (now retired as Princeton’s only women’s track coach), Sandy and Ken Howard, Katie and Bob Timm, and Ron Kurtz and Patty. Shannon Philbin and family visited our tailgate for the Stanford game as well. They were up from Louisville. Tom Gibbs, Tom Weyer, Gene Cavanaugh, Mike Ryan, Roger Guerin, Fred Ferlic and I have continued in our Great ’68 tailgate party for our friends and classmates the entire year despite the ridiculous requirements that we be parked in our spots at 9:00 am (8:00 am Chicago time) even for the two night games—thus requiring a 10.5 hour tailgating experience exacerbated by two losing efforts and a return home in the 1-2 am hour.”
Memphis residents Steve Sullivan and Kathleen go where the classmates and the fun are: “Last year, we met Wayne Micek and Jackie in Michigan after Steve’s niece, Anne Sullivan Pifer ND’2001, was married in South Bend. Ted Nebel visited us on his way to the soggy NC game. We visited with several SMC and ND classmates in Naples, Fl last winter; Mary Donohue ’68 and Tom Brueggen ’68, Penny Wingeir ’68, and Maurice Sullivan ND ’67. “ Steve and Kathleen plan to have another Micek visit, and maybe a Joe Hale visit, during the San Antonio game against Army.
Joe Hale weighed in on another period of class get-togethers – military service – an exchange prompted by John Schmelzer’s memory of training at Ft. Riley, KS with Joe and with Dennis Reeder during ND Army ROTC times. “The Army obviously lost a good man when (John’s service ended),” Joe said. “I remember seeing him reassemble an M-1 rifle while having his eyes shut.” As for Joe, “I stayed in the Army Reserve until retirement in 1996. I had almost all of my two years of active duty in then West Germany so I was fortunate. I took a European Separation so I could drive around the Continent while footloose; I traveled around Europe from January through March, 1971. While traveling I saw Ray Munchmeyer in Germany as he was also in a Hawk (replaced now by Patriot) Missile battalion. He had completed a MBA from Northwestern prior to going on active duty. I’ve seen Ray at the class reunions, of course. While traveling, I also saw Mike Moore (now retired from Cessna and the FBI) of our class as he was in the USAF at Bitburg, Germany. Mike was across the hall from me in Keenan, and, of course, was one of the first guys in our dorm that I met.“
Before all that European touring, Joe roomed for three years with Tom Culcasi, now retired and living in Lemont, IL near Chicago. Tom wrote: “Mike Moore and his lovely bride, Anne, were in Chicago this August for a family wedding and were able to extend their stay for two days. They stayed at the Culcasi B & B here in Lemont. My wife Judy (Donofrio) SMC class of 68 and Anne took up just like the last time we were all together in Ohio 48 years ago. What great friends. Now we are going to try and plan annual get-togethers. Mike and Tom Curtin and I are having great fun texting during the ND games. (Yes, we old farts can text). So far we have called perfect games, but the message just hasn’t gotten to the sidelines. Moore paces and stands the whole game, forcing Anne to buy new carpet each year. Curtin and I have been more on the negative side trying to see how far Mike will go. Sadly this has been more fun than the last few games. Would like to get together with some of the classmates from the Chicago area as I live just down the road in Lemont and have a son Dave, Class of 98, who lives in the city, so we get there regularly as well.”

If your Christmas packages arrive off schedule, it may be because Steve Sullivan, at center, retired from flying the Fed Ex goods some years ago and now has time to goof around with Joe Hale, left, and Dave Zell, right, at events such as the game in San Antonio.

In Naples, FL, Bob Brady and Jeff Keyes and Meg have set it up so that they don’t have to travel far to see one another: they just walk down the block, at least during the winter months, now that Bob has purchased a home nearby. If this is a Stanford Hall migration, they’ll have to save a golf cart parking spot for former rector, Father Robert Austgen, C.S.C.
A visit to the present Observer newspaper office during Jay Schwartz’s time on campus revealed a roomful of Sunday afternoon activity and produced word of the paper’s plans for a reunion celebrating 50 years in April, 2017. Already, the positive responses are arriving: Bob Anson, Pat Collins, Bill Giles, John Twohey, Bob Brady, Jay Schwartz, Tom Condon, Dennis Gallagher, Tom Figel and Nancy Carlin Figel, Bill Kelly, John McCoy, Bill Mitchell, Joel Connelly, Steve McCormick, David Kahn, maybe Mike Browning, Betty Doerr, Tom McKenna, Bill Knapp . . .
Jim O’Rourke had an early summer Notre Dame reunion right in the family: “Pam and I made it out to LaJolla (during June) and spent some time on the South Course at Torrey Pines with my daughter, Molly (Class of 2000), her two sisters, Colleen (SMC ’94) and Kathleen (ND 2007). Caught up with grandsons and visited Colleen’s art studios in the newly remodeled Liberty Station complex in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego.” Then Notre Dame began classes August 22nd.
Jim reminds us of the April 29, 2016 death of Tom Quinn, the ND’67 member who played on the 1966 championship team before spending his business career as a senior member of Jordan Industries. Tom Quinn was a member of Notre Dame’s Business Advisory Council.
With the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians presently engaged in the World Series, Bryan Dunigan takes a swipe at Jerry Goetz, whose nephew Stephen Goetz has written a well-reviewed children’s book titled Old MacDonald Had a Truck: “Goetz recommends this book highly and he was able to read it in only a few weeks as he was distracted by the success of his Cleveland Indians’ run to the American League Championship.”
Thanks to Kathleen Sullivan, Joe Hale, Bryan Dunigan, Tom Culcasi and Jim O’Rourke for all the messages about our class.
Please send news and photos to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536, tfigel@reputecture.com.

Class notes submitted August 1, 2016

Posted on August 3, 2016 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine • Leave a comment

Gathering in Sorrow

At a time she was dealing with her own cancer, Bob Brady’s wife Margaret said in Elise Stephens Reeder’s hearing that any gathering of people our age begins with “an organ recital.” This column is such a gathering. Friend to all – except, perhaps, slightly less a friend to Professor Frank O’Malley – Tom McCann died very suddenly in June after suffering a stroke.

The suddenness of this ebullient, seemingly healthy classmate’s passing intensified the sadness of the disparate, large group who came to his Oak Park, IL wake and then his funeral. Among the mourners, of course, were a legion of friends Tom knew at Notre Dame and before Notre Dame: Class President Tom Weyer and Mary, Dennis Toolan and Mary Lou, a roomful and then a nearby bar full. Tom Gibbs and Rick McPartlin knew Tom as “Wally” (because there were too many Toms) when they were classmates at Chicago’s Mt. Carmel High School. Mary Pat McKenna said that she and Tom “Rock” McKenna were to have been with Tom and his wife Kathleen Mary Drumm the night of the stroke. Sheila Gibbs and Tom Gibbs were also accustomed to being with Tom and Kathleen. And who were the other mourners? In the lines were women and men of many ages and types, their eyes red, tissues at their noses, their thoughts large and regretful as they waited for a last look and then a word with Tom’s wife and four children. At www.ndclass1968.com, our blog, you will find an obituary and comments. In short, after Peace Corps service, Tom was a social worker in the Cook County, IL healthcare system. And what of the Frank O’Malley tension? Catching sight of a Mr. O’Malley image at a reunion, Tom’s nostrils flared. “Him!” he said. “Him!” The Irish in Tom left him resentful of the ‘D’ he and partner Tom Etten received for their work as students in the Modern Catholic Writers class.

In Lexington, KY, the death of Joe Scott on July 5, 2016 produced the same anguish, if not the same surprise.

Well-known as a former bankruptcy judge and member of a prominent law firm, Joe was a father and grandfather who dealt for years with prostate cancer and with failing kidneys. “He finally had a transplant with a kidney donated by his youngest daughter, Jane,” wrote Mike Coleman. “He always said it was his loving wife Patty who kept him on the straight and narrow for all those years prior to the transplant.” Those who remember Louisville classmate John Fowler will understand something that must come with the Kentucky air: “It’s hard to think about all the good memories but know that Joe was great to be around as he had wonderful sense of humor and was fun to be with. He owned a box at Keeneland race track that was approximately two boxes from the finish line.” In addition to Mike and his wife Gloria, other classmates attending Joe’s funeral were Ken DiLaura and Michael Wolf and his wife Mary Bartlett, SMC68.

Then, at the end of July, came this alarming news from Pat DeMare’s daughter: “This past Tuesday morning (my father) entered the ER unable to walk and in severe pain. He was admitted, and brought to the ICU, where he has been until today (July 30). He still cannot walk and is still in severe pain. As of yesterday, we know he contracted a very bad bacteria that entered his whole system. Unfortunately after many tests he still does not know the source of the infection. Now, he is on dialysis.”

Please remember these classmates and their families in your prayers. Save some space for rejoicing with John Walsh and Dia about the birth of their grandson Declan James Walsh in New Orleans.

(At this point, running out of space, we leave the notes submitted for the printed magazine and, with the caution that some Fred Ferlic material is only suitable for mature audiences, we continue on the blog.)

(Following content for mature audiences)

Father John Pearson, C.S.C. completed decades of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s service at the end of June. Father John, a lawyer, was on the Notre Dame law school faculty before joining St. Mary’s as a counselor. He was about to begin a drive toward Arizona – by way of St. Louis and other places the change gave him time to see. Now in Phoenix, Father John is the chaplain at a residence for C.S.C. priests. John’s brother, a retired police chief, helps keep the home maintained. Before Father John began his drive, half a dozen of us met in South Bend at an Applebee’s where Monk Forness is known. You’d think that the presence of two C.S.C. religious – Brother John Paige, who is president of Holy Cross College, South Bend, and Father John as well as the former Indiana Governor Joe Kernan, local business celebrity Gene Cavanaugh and Homeland Security’s Monk Forness would have tempered Fred Ferlic’s behavior. And maybe it did. Just as Joe Kernan was about to launch into saying grace, Fred told of a prank pulled on a friend suffering from a pain in his hand. The assistants insisted that Dr. Ferlic required a full disrobing. The man, Fred’s friend, complied, only to have the door kicked open by a mocking Dr. Fred. Then, Fred told of being in the hospital shortly after Joe Kernan had been operated on for a bad hip. Attended by a young female intern, Fred was solicitous. “How are you doing, Joe?” he asked. Joe replied that he was fine except for the incision on his rear end. Fred pulled the Governor’s gown away for a look and turned to the intern. “So, does the Governor have a nice ass?” he asked the red-faced young woman. Gene Cavanaugh confirmed that Fred really does leave the type of phone message Fred described. Ask Fred and Gene at the next tailgate. Don’t believe what Fred says about disrobing; after all, he is retired now.

Tom Fitzharris’ talent as a painter earned him another accolade during July. The Heliker LaHotan Foundation on Cranberry Island off the north coast of Maine awarded Tom an artist’s residency.

As a nearby blog post shows, Pete Farrell retired with the same grace he exhibited during his successful track coaching career at Princeton University. Please read the report and be proud. Ken Howard’s note? “Pete was Best Man at my wedding for a reason—he really is.”

Kevin Daly and Helena told friends at John Walsh and Dia’s July 4^th party in Evanston, IL that the Dalys will move to Ireland once they complete the sale of their home in Spring Grove, IL. Irish citizen Kevin and Helena have a daughter and grandchild in London.

Mike Hampsey’s Facebook peeps learned of Mike’s active June music schedule: “This Sat, June 25, at 3pm on the lawn of the Hotel Conneaut,Conneaut Lake Park, will feature The Hampsey Project with Matt Hampsey (Mike’s son) from New Orleans. I am grateful to Tom Challingsworth for putting this together. I will be part of a blues jam from 3-4pm that include my musical buds
from Meadville, and my eldest son Matt. Then from 4-5 pm Matt will sit in with the Go For Broke Band. Thank You, Lord.”

The tailgate parties of each football season are an excellent preparation for the approaching 50^th reunion of our class. Under the shelter of the Great ‘68 flag, everyone is recognizable, unchanged, witty and welcome. Directions from Roger Guerin and from Bryan Dunigan are: “We are parked to the north and just east of Legends. Look for the large blue and white flag that says The Great ’68.” Remember to say thank you to hosts led by South Bend’s Gene Cavanaugh and Fred Ferlic.

Chris Murphy’s son Dillon Murphy (‘06) has begun a service that simplifies game-day travel from and to Chicago. Everything is detailed at www.IrishExpress.com.

Thanks to the hospitality of a string of classmates, Nancy and I had our personal Irish Express during July. In Alexandria, VA as well as the Ontario shore of the Ottawa River near Deep River, we had pampering from Dennis Reeder and Elise Stephens Reeder (SMC69). The Reeder’s DC circle includes Carol Ann Denison Dyer (SMC69), Pat Collins and Emily, Mike Baroody and Muff. We didn’t quite have time to solve all the problems of the world or to consume all the good things offered, so leaving Nancy at home with her Evanston Township High School work, three granddaughters and I will return before Labor Day. This trip will include hospitality from Jay Schwartz and Laura in Maryland.

The next visit should allow us to polish up some plans begun in July: a tailgate party at the Collins’ house and maybe a practice reunion in the Baltimore area. Another visit with John Schmelzer is likely, too. Even among us, John pays extraordinary attention to all things Notre Dame. If you can swap stories or jot a note, John will be an avid audience for you. His address is 200 North Maple Avenue, #611, Falls Church, VA 22046-4328.

Thanks to Ken Beirne, a request for help locating Pat Hermann turned up a happy Alabama resident, retired from the English faculty of the University of Alabama. Pat has replaced his Chicago accent.

Please see the posts that surround these class notes and others. The blog allows you to post comments. Or just send them and news to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt 3E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 773-764-4898, tfigel@reputecture.com.

Class notes submitted February 11, 2016

Posted on February 20, 2016 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine • Leave a comment

Python training in the Philippines? Neil Rogers was back in the

Philippines, where he explored that retirement option. See the following post.

Free to be us, free to be the Class of 1968!

Now that many of us – okay, okay, except for you, Jim Hutchinson, and a couple of other near-Millennials born in 1947 – have reached the sweet interlude between forgetting our workaday cares and forgetting to put on our pants, this is a good moment to consider the profile of the Class of 1968 in retirement. What prompts this, besides envy, is the arrival of some retirement announcements from Tom Condon in Connecticut and Jay Schwartz in Baltimore at the end of 2015 as well as word from retired Dennis Reeder that Jeff Keyes will be leaving his Federal Magistrate position during 2016. Here we are, no longer answering to the man, free to be us, the Class of 1968 pure and unfettered!

Observation of Tom Condon in his natural state at Notre Dame – that is, at rest – leads to expectations that Tom has now reverted to form. There was a time when Tom’s sleep habits were causing him to miss his early afternoon ROTC class and imperil his military career, but that is not the risk now. After Tom’s years as a reporter and a columnist for the Hartford Courant, the writing of books and articles, we all run the risk that Tom will give in to his punning muse. Beware the advent of PUNishment.com. Tom warmed up for retirement with a vacation in Bilbao, Spain during the fall.

Others throwing off the shackles of the workplace have fled the whole thing. Brian Schanning sails all over the world with Susan. Tom Cuggino now lives in South Bend. Roger Guerin and Dennis Toolan took their households to Michigan City, IN’s Long Beach. Tom McKenna has kept his hand in Indiana politics while taking on a large helping of grandfathering. Mike Baroody turned to reflections on public policy: for example, Mike proposes a Constitutional amendment preventing anyone who wants to be President from being President. Bob Smith is a permanent deacon with the Diocese of Charleston, SC. The occasional sagging jowl and rounded hip attest to Brien Murphy‘s retirement from his plastic surgery practice.

This leaves the responsibility of the economy on a coterie of unstoppable classmates: Bob Noonan, retired Army General, is Executive Vice President of Booze Allen Hamilton. Pat Collins is covering DC gang violence for NBC-TV and poking a blue stick in snowbanks. Class President Tom Weyer is. . . irreplaceable. John Walsh is protecting his doctor clients from errant judicial decisions. Dave Lensing is hard at work in Memphis as he tries to dig out of a financial hole caused by the price of a fistful of tickets to the Boston College game.

Unfortunately for Jay Schwartz, who intended to walk out onto a Maryland golf course every morning, he is working on getting spring back in his step. Jay is going to La Jolla, CA at the end of January for a treatment designed for cure or alleviation of his progressing MS. On behalf of the class and certain interests in Maryland, I will accompany Jay in order to ensure that our classmate is not being given over to some cell of old Nazi experimenters who mean to harvest his DNA and create multiples of him. The consequences from that could be terrible: whole swaths of the Notre Dame stadium taken up with new ticket holders, Annapolis legislators besieged by phalanxes of him. Jay and I will go on to San Francisco for visits with our sons.

Uh-oh! Did the California lab create Whack-A-Jay Schwartz?

If you haven’t seen the class blog, www.ndclass1968.com, please read the sad report of Tim Fangman‘s death in a truck-automobile collision. Just scroll down to the article.

In January, when Tom Durkin’s daughter Ali married her 2011 classmate Alex Richer, Tom “Rock” McKenna, Tom McCann, Tom Gibbs, Bill Bingle, Bryan Dunigan, and Dave Martin attended the Chicago wedding celebration.

Writing as Dennis Brennan, Denny Lopez has published Tales of a Tradesman, his account of 25 years of caring for the homes and eccentricities of Block Island owners. See http://www.tradesmanstale.org. Gus Duffy’s artwork graces the announcement.

Joe Kernan, who will be honored for his military service at a late January hockey game, prepared remarks remembering the service of fallen classmates Mike McCormick, John Crikelair, and Bruce “Duke” Heskett.

Scroll down for news and photos Neil Rogers sent after a visit to the Philippines with his daughter Deirdre, as well as other news I will post as they arrive in coming months.

Photos to share? News? Information about people we remember but don’t track so well? Pat Hermann, once the University of Alabama English professor? George Kelly? Dick Blumberg? Send them in from the cold. Please post to the class blog and send news to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536, tfigel@reputecture.com.

Class notes submitted Nov. 1, 2015

Posted on November 2, 2015 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine • Leave a comment

Gathered at the Great ’68 Flag

Richie Rogers, with grace and good sense, arranged the sale of his Rockaway Park, NY bar to buyers of his same stripe, people who would keep Rich’s staff and respect the Rogers Bar’s regular Joe customers.

The Rogers Hotel, Rockaway, NY, established 1917, serving Class of 1968 since 1964

This lack of venality, nurtured during theology classes and proven when Rich and his wife added triplet daughters to the family roster, may explain why Rich’s years with the FBI didn’t morph into a rich position with one of the East Coast venture capital firms. As for the regular Joe customers, the patronage at times included Joes who were not regular ones: Pat DeMare, Mike “Rhino” Ryan, Bob Santalocci, Dave Graves, Mike Trombetta, Pat Furey, Dave Martin, Jim Hutchinson, and the late Al Berryman and Tom Weems. Now in retirement, the triplets all employed university graduates, Rich is able to engage in a practice he began a few years ago: he comes from New York for back-to-back home games, without going home between them. His regular Joe South Bend friends now attend Class of 1968 tailgates with him.

The constancy of the tailgate, marked with the class flag, spurred a thankful note from Brian Gormley to Bryan Dunigan and classmates after Brian and Kathleen came from Oakton, VA for the USC game: “I know it’s a tremendous amount of work for you all (Brian’s a southern boy) to maintain that tradition every weekend, but for those of us who live outside the area, it’s comforting to know that locating and rekindling with classmates is as simple as finding the ‘Great ’68’ flag.”

Larry “Monk” Forness, who hosted Jim Smithberger that weekend, is pushing the retired classmate to relocate from Dade County, FL to Granger, IN.

The Chicago classmates had a pitcher to cheer in the World Series competition this season: Pat Misch, son of Tom Misch and Linda, brought seventh game victory to his Lamingo Monkeys (Taiwan) with a no-hitter. The happy Monkeys, after beating the Chinatrust Brothers 11-0, had enough oomph left for throwing the lanky Misch into the air. Pat spent the 2006-2011 seasons pitching for the Mets and the Giants.

Matt Walsh is managing logistics for friends in possession of some of the precious Boston tickets. After arriving in Boston from Chicago, maybe directly from morning Mass, the group including Class President Tom Weyer, Roger Guerin, Bob Ptak, Rick McPartlin, Gene Cavanaugh, Joe Kernan and Bryan Dunigan will make its presence known at Fenway Park. Dick Kelly will come from Portland, ME. Also in town – with hopes to be in Fenway – will be Dave Lensing and his family, coming from Memphis.

After the Georgia Tech game, Tom Weyer sent these comments: “Ralph Neas brought greetings from the Pope – Ralph met him at the White Houe. My invitation, apparently, got lost. Richie Rogers, Mike Helmer, Steve Quinn, many others from the Great 68 there – John Sheehan and John Pearson represent the clergy classmates. I attended ‘The Play’ in Pittsburgh, a one man show starring Rocky Bleier. Great, a sold out house.”

Jim O’Rourke writes from South Bend that Tom Warner and his son James visited South Bend recently to catch up on old times and share a few ideas about what’s ahead for the family. Tom, former Chairman and CEO of Del Monte International, still has homes in London, Tuscany and northern California, and is now Fire Chief at the Shaver Lake, California, volunteer Fire Department. “He’s still in the same condition he was when he occupied the #4 seat in Notre Dame’s heavyweight eight-oar shell in 1966-67-68,” O’Rourke reports. Warner’s son, James, is a Ph.D. student at NYU, studying the culture and anthropology of the Arabian Peninsula. Access to key subjects and data in Sana’a, Yemen has grown very difficult in recent months, but he remains optimistic about his research.

Tom Scully, older brother of Fr. Tim Scully, C.S.C., paid a visit to campus recently, examining a dozen new buildings under construction, along with eight miles of new sidewalk and an estimated 1,000 fewer parking spaces. “My task,” he said to Jim O’Rourke, “is to remain relevant while encouraging my wife to continue working.” Tom was Chief Marketing Officer at Axsys International, a renal dialysis firm in Chicago, but is now “fully, completely, and entirely retired,” as he puts it. “Running errands, of course, is the task of the newly retired.”

Chuck Perrin‘s new album The Yearn – liner notes written by Brian McMahon perhaps? almost every day another barrier gets stripped away fresh pathways open beckoning promising we chase them following wide-eyed hopelessly lonely yearning for connection . . . . . . It’s an asshole world Larry Mitchell guitar/bass/drums/sound design, Dave Curtis bass, Richard Sellers drums Blood Larry Mitchell guitar/sound design, Yvette Graham Williams gospel vocals, Misha Piatigorsky…

Chuck Perrin, running his club Dizzy’s Jazz in San Diego, has a new CD, available at ChuckPerrin.com. Dennis Lopez, also on the West Coast now, in Oregon, has written a book. Rich Pivnicka wants Tom McCloskey to repeat the tuxedoed party Tom threw our senior year, an event marred (or, in the sense of entertainment, improved) by Fred Schwartz‘s assassination of Chris Murphy.

Bob Brady has had great jolts of loss: his wife Margaret in late August and now Bob’s mother Dorothy Elizabeth Lindsay Brady at age 102 on October 29, 2015. See the following articles (posts) for Mrs. Brady’s remarkable history, plus information about others we’ve lost – Margaret Fox Brady, William Sullivan, Mike Philbin, Peter Noonan, Tim Fangman.

In case Mike Burgener and some others of us need time to get in shape, this is an alert: we are now two years from our 50^th reunion. Eddie Kurtz was not able to heed his instruction, but it’s a good one: “No croakin’.” In support, the class of 1955, invites us to make use of that class’s medical information site, “Heading Home”, http://www.nd55.org/s/1210/clubs-interior.aspx?sid=1210&gid=226&pgid=16666.

Photos to share? News? Information about people we remember but don’t track so well? Pat Hermann, once the University of Alabama English professor? George Kelly? Dick Blumberg? Send them in from the cold. Please post to the class blog and send news to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536, tfigel@reputecture.com.

Class Notes Submitted August 1, 2015

Posted on September 21, 2015 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine, Main Page • Leave a comment

He taught us all

(Courtesy of Tom Misch, Texas game September 15, 2015: Tom Weyer and Bryan Dunigan)

The South Bend Tribune announcement of Professor Emil T. Hofman’s death July 11, 2015 included the fact that, between 1950 and 1990, Professor Hofman taught half of each freshman class. Regardless of our own half, this professor taught us all. Who can deny that he affected our Notre Dame experience through his influence on the other phenomenal people who, like him, strove to make us educated, moral, and happy? To remember him and his Notre Dame era, our era, is to remember Professor Frank O’Malley, Professor Ed Goerner, Professor John Malone, Professor Ernest Sandeen, Father John Donne and many vigorous retirees such as Professor Don Sniegowski and Professor Don Costello. At times of reunion, we visit and admire the spread of new buildings but we return because of appreciation for the faculty and administrators who poured themselves into us. Add your own names to the reflection.

Only able to pass the basic, non-Hofman freshman chemistry through the help of the late John Fowler, I had my own brush with the Emil T. Hofman version through rooming with Brien Murphy. The approach of the weekly exam had the power to quiet that . . . wild man and many of his ilk. Do you remember, too, the once-a-week absence of so many from our quad and our dorms? With our engineering and pre-med classmates taken out of the mix for a time, the rest of us could make hay. We became available to the neglected St. Mary’s coeds pining for the bright fellows sweating over test questions. Pat Collins and Bob Brady had space to spread out in a library study area. Bryan Dunigan, working without interruption, could progress with the amassing of his now prodigious contact list, a replacement for an early passion for winding string into a ball. In his own Keenan dorm room, future Class President Tom Weyer could deliberate in private the outfit for his next basketball game appearance: Batman or the Flash, maybe Green Arrow or . . . a gorilla?

Did you see the August, 2011 Notre Dame Magazine article written by Brendan O’Shaughnessy, “The Excellently Extraordinary, Iconic Emil T. “? We know that when we meet in reunions, half of us know chemistry well and all of us know more about life because of Professor Emil T. Hofman.

Bryan Dunigan forwarded a striking note from Mick Hyland, who had been approached for a ride by an elderly man waiting in the same medical reception room where Mick was awaiting his wife Connie. After giving the man the lift, Mick asked him “Why me?” and heard “Your ND shirt told me that you were a good man and would help me if I needed it.” In reporting the incident, Mick said, “What a great reminder it was for me and all the years I have enjoyed my ND connection. As always, wear the colors proudly.”

Notre Dame appointed Jim O”Rourke to a Department of Athletics Advisory Council that is providing, comment, and reaction on a wide variety of issues. Says Jim, who requests help at jorourke@nd.edu: “First up: the fan experience. We’re looking at everything imaginable that fans would encounter when they come to campus.”

A road trip from the West Coast to Chicago took Nancy Carlin SMC 69 and our three granddaughters through Davenport, IA, scene of a remarkable Thanksgiving, 1964 combat involving Tom Condon, Mike Helmer, Jim Henegan and me. The three former New London, CT high school classmates had come to Davenport for a Thanksgiving with the Figels. Larry, a sister’s boyfriend, was showing us the adventures of Davenport’s one-ways cruising when an adventure ensued. Through mistake or intention at a stoplight, another carload of boys jumped our car. Tom Condon, even then no shrinking violet, engaged immediately while Mike Helmer first held his door fast and then relinquished his hold, whereupon the boy pulling on the door immediately smashed it into the face of his fellow. Jim Henegan and I took notes. Tom Condon and Mike Helmer later pursued these combative instincts in brief Army and Navy careers.

Don Hynes and Linda served up a mid-July reunion brunch in their Portland, OR home for John Walsh and Dia, Tim Swearingen and Denny Lopez. More of this may be in the offing: the Walshes son’ Conall will marry in Michigan in September, 2015.

Tom Fitzharris‘ new painting “Westbury, Big Red Tree #8” was included in an August-September show of the New York Studio School alumni.

Please read the following notes telling of the deaths of William E. Sullivan, Margaret Brady (Mrs. Robert Brady) and Peter J. Noonan.

Please send news and photos to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tfigel@reputecture.com, tel. 312-223-9536.

Class notes submitted May 1, 2015

Posted on May 4, 2015 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine • Leave a comment

May 1, 2015

Bedbugs and Losses

Ted Nugent, not a classmate, not at Bryan Dunigan’s Christmas party

Bryan Dunigan did not realize that he had invited Ted Nugent (not a classmate) as well as Ted Nebel (a classmate) to his Dec. 2014 Christmas party until Bryan read the report in the recent class notes. This shows that the class secretary – despite Bob Ptak‘s watchfulness – was so over-served at the party that he ventured into very dangerous space: that is, the possibility of rousing the Fenwick High School, Oak Park, IL faction of the class, a group almost as numerous and more cohesive than the steady, salt of the earth Tom faction led by Class President Tom Weyer. The Fenwick faction is so powerful that it has its own honorary consul to the Czech Republic in the person of Richard Pivnicka. Furthermore, the group can bring influence on Slovakia through Rich’s wife Barbara, who is honorary consul to that country. This suggests a California mansion alive with gripping intrigue, an impression only heightened by the photograph of smooth, shaken-not-stirred Rich with Barbara as they posed like a Gilbert’s ad for the Blue Circle at their residence’s entrance for a March, 2015 San Francisco Chronicle article. See http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Why-the-Bay-Area-is-a-hotbed-for-volunteer-6164283.php?t=f4c883c2dd&cmpid=email-premium

A shortage of California moisture seems to have provoked additional California writers. With help from Ironman competitor Alex Georgiou and Ironman observer Bryan Dunigan, a YouTube series about Mike Burgener and Crossfit training came to light. Already a solid favorite of women (this accounts for the pantyhose ads and similar offerings abounding on the site), the Burgener series is now going after the desirable demographic of cool guys Mike’s age. Help by clicking the links on our class blog.

In the Rocking Chair With Coach Burgener: Episode 1

https://youtu.be/G6svvjQGQqA

In the Rocking Chair With Coach Burgener: Episode 2

https://youtu.be/AzyqzZY4jdo

In the Rocking Chair With Coach Burgener: Episode 3

https://youtu.be/5WQ8W4907-8

During February, Bill Clark and Maureen had a good Miami reunion and a bedbug experience with River Edge, NJ grammar school friends Mike Carroll (Pepperell, MA), Terry Adrian, (NYC) and Rick Dawn in Miami Beach. Says Bill: “After battling it out with AirBnB most of the night (about the bedbugs at the first place), we ended up leaving and settling in at Miami Beach where we lounged by the pool, swam in the ocean, took in the Art Deco architecture and admired the comely women (Bill means Maureen and the other spouses). I knew Mr. Botet’s Spanish class would come in handy.” Retired the past four years, the Clarks travel from Lafayette, CA to Basel, Switzerland and to Lexington, MA for long summer visits with their grandchildren.

Jim Hutchinson returned to an old campus politics issue with a proposal that we recruit the Rolling Stones for our 50^th reunion: “They could sing some of their all-time hits modified for their, and our, current ages:

I can’t get no Bowel Action/Hey you get off of my lawn/Time ain’t on my side/19th cardiac arrest/You can’t always remember what you want/Wobbly Jack Flash/Mother’s Little Walker/Brown Something

, and many other favorites.”

Our class is grieving for Father Ted Hesburgh, Father James Tunstead Burtchaell, Mike Philbin, Lenny Joyce, Merlin Bellinger, and Genevieve Ptak, mother of Bob Ptak. Mike Philbin died April 24, 2015 in Nashville, TN.

Mike Philbin passed away April 24, 2015 in Nashville, TN. See Mike’s obituary in following item.

Think Father Hesburgh had an effect on us? Twenty-four minutes apart, John Walsh and Tom McCloskey sent these memories. John first: “Fr. Hesburgh’s greater effect on my life has grown out of something that he wrote years ago, that I read during our senior year. He was writing about young grads and dads who used to ask him about what things they could do to make a great and lasting impression on their children, like taking them to Disney World or on expensive vacations. Fr. Hesburgh wrote, ‘The greatest thing that a father can do for his children is to love their mother.'” And Tom: “When I asked if he had any advice for me going into my marriage, he told me “to always remember that the greatest thing a father could do for his children is to love their mother”.

Tom Weyer wrote about a Father Hesburgh encounter in 2010: “I Sat with Sandy Carrigan at his last Notre Dame game in 2010. His son Kevin had arranged seats in the ‘Press Box…Sky Box.. I first encountered Fr. Ted in the men’s room….we mutually agreed not to shake hands. After the game Sandy and I were in the line for the elevator , as he was moving slowly. In the line was Fr. Ted ..as usually being gracious as he was being introduced to a group. He asked a very young man if he was a student at ND. His parents jumped all over that one…Hope next year ..we’re here on a visit…great student etc…Ted responded the usual..good luck..keep studying etc. We wound up behind the group on the elevator…I couldn’t resist…..Father, I said…I’ve been sending you letters since the Sixties.. When can I get off the waiting list???? Without turning or missing a beat Fr. Ted said….Maybe if you start behaving yourself…I’ll let you in.. I remember Carrigan’s laugh fondly.”

Lenny Joyce died in July, 2014. See Lenny’s obituary plus a selection of emailed reminiscences in a following item.

Emails about Lenny Joyce, who died in July, 2014, bring to mind Class President Tom Weyer’s punchline from a joke about a man made to speak kindly of a deceased neighbor: “His brother was worse.” During his Notre Dame time, Lenny took proud inspiration from the boldness and fire of his older brother Kevin. Even in reminiscences critical of Lenny’s lifelong political views, classmates admire the constancy of Lenny’s concern with justice. Lenny’s actions during his student days made him one of the best known members of the student body. As warm and good-humored as he was steadfast on behalf of causes that included racial justice and cessation of the war in Vietnam, he had friendships across all the campus groups.

From the emails about Lenny:

” I always liked Lenny even though his sense of humor was so dry it might better be called absent. He was the only flat out Communist I can recall ever personally knowing. He told me the Vietnam War was a good thing because it radicalized people, and he actually did not want it to stop. I guess he died in the faith.”

*******

” Like the rest of you I of course lost track of Lenny after college. His obit left me with mixed emotions. Here is a man who appears to have stayed true to his early in life convictions and devoted himself to Utopian causes throughout his life, even as those causes faded from view and the public consciousness. For those of us whose political convictions are not so fixed and who are always doubting whether we really have the answer, that type of single-mindedness and ability to throw one’s life into a never-ending series of defeats on the fringe has a fascinating quality and enviable quality to it. But there is also a sense of sadness about it too. I wonder if he ever came to grips with the what the terrible consequences would have been, in the real nitty-gritty world we live in, if his dreams had come true. But of course I didn’t know the person he became. I certainly wish I had that chance.”

*****

“Yes I know I was harsher than the rest of you but then I never shared his view of the world then or now. I think he led a few really into the twilight zone and their lives may have been confused by utopian junk.”

And a memory that may amuse others, too: During one spring break, Lenny was among Notre Dame students who came to Chicago for participation in a program instituted by leaders in a neighborhood close to the University of Chicago. The pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in the Woodlawn neighborhood, John Fry, had made the church a center of the project, one that sought to make use of the existing gang structure (Blackstone Rangers at the time) for good effect on the community: young men and women would gain from small income earned from projects for Woodlawn households (such as washing of windows) and the interaction of the two groups would abate racial fears. The Notre Dame group entered the church and took seats for one of the meetings. Wait. Where was Lenny? He had stopped to genuflect – carefully and devoutly – before entering the pew of the Presbyterian church.

Post your own comments on the blog. Please send news to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536, tfigel@reputecture.com.

(Almost All) The Great 68: Class notes submitted May 1, 2014

Posted on June 8, 2014 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine, Main Page • Leave a comment

Prescient Class President Tom Weyer advised as 2014 dawned that this would be the year when the Class of 68 would be 68. The transition, already being led by Tom Condon, Dennis Reeder, John Walsh, Tom Figel and others, has left plenty of spring in the slowly maturing group. At the same time, Jim Hutchinson reminds us that he, Rich Rogers and Neil Rogers lie outside the normal range: the three will not reach age 68 this year, despite some personal identification carried at social functions during our University years. (See Jim, pictured above.) Jim’s mocking note is no surprise to those who long have put up with these near-Millennials’ behavior: helicopter parents demanding that their precious ones be given favored places at football games, tantrums about column attention inferior to that of a Bryan Dunigan or a Mike Helmer.

Besides, anyone who could handle the past winter can handle a new birthday. For Pat Collins, the D.C. area Channel 4 television news reporter, the unusual amounts of snowfall burnished his fame when Pat took to measuring the snow with a stick and wry humor. John McCoy sent a link to a March 6^th Tony Kornheiser radio show: at 17 minutes of the show’s second hour, the hosts burst into a lengthy paean to Pat: he is called “iconic”, “at the mountaintop (of reporting)”, and “one of the last great characters (of the news business.” Dennis Gallagher saw causality in Pat’s reports: send him to the Bahamas or another place where there would be no snow to measure, Dennis said.

Dennis Toolan, who promised Mary Lou the sun, moon and stars when they married in April, 2013 gave her a South Bend snowfall that day and a Chicago one for their first anniversary. Jean Guerin and Carmie Murphy had the sense to be in Naples, FL during some of the winter; they played golf with husbands Roger Guerin and Chris Murphy.

On Florida’s east coast, Jerry Murray set up a sure thing: a Singer Island beach party. Jerry wrote: “(After attending three losses in 2013), I set up a guaranteed win party for the Blue Gold game. Hosted Bob Kubiak and Sharon and a number of other ND fans. Cookout and pool party was a blast in 82 degree weather plus ND and the Yankees won.”

In an annual ritual, a group of classmates and many children attended the Chicago White Sox’s season opener (a victory). Tom Weyer counted 40 regulars, including former Pangborn Hall social animal Mick Hyland, Bryan Dunigan, Dave Kabat, and Rick McPartlin, who ran the tailgate brats operation. Dennis Emmanuel and Nancy, present from Ottumwa, IA, revealed themselves as closet White Sox fans, said Tom.

Mick Hyland said the late Sandy Carrigan will be the St. George High School, Evanston, IL “Man of the Year” when his classmates gather in May for their 50^th anniversary.

Paul Ramsey, whose global sightseeing includes the sight of misery he won’t ignore, has become one of the leaders of a new organization giving direct help to Indians needing healthcare or other services. Continuing to consult globally on the kinds of education issues he addressed as an executive of ETS, Paul dedicates much time to The India Group, www.theIndiaGroup.net.

While in New York during March, I stayed a night with Paul and almost saw Gini Waters Enright, SMC 68, who is neighbor to a Brooklyn home where we were visiting. Did a phone call to Gini have her bound out her back door, vault the fence, and arrive for a warm hug? Nope. Reflecting on this, I realized I never mentioned Pat (Jake Keenan) or Jim Davis: Gini figured they were not present. I had not mentioned Tom Condon, Pat Collins, and Tom McKenna: they could have been present. Gini did say she had the flu, and sounded true. (See a following article sent by Gini, Chuck Perin’s reminiscence about The Shaggs.)

Larry “Monk” Forness had the Internet spiking with emailed prayers and encouragement as he readied for heart surgery on April 24, 2014. The 2014 ND hockey season taxed the heart of the Grainger, IN classmate.

The Maryland legislature lobbying season ended, Jay Schwartz will be traveling during early May in Istanbul, Jerusalem and Barcelona. See our class blog, www.ndclass1968.com, for photos of Jay in his fine travel garb: ND cap, cameras slung around his neck, alpine walking stick in hand, wife-beater shirt, creased bermuda shorts, socks to the knees. (Here’s a photo of Jay, relaxing after battling a pious group of Ecuadoran women for access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre:)

The May 25, 2014 wedding of Pat DeMare‘s daughter Sarah reunited Pat with the Eagle Lake crew of Bob Santaloci, Dave Graves, Pat Furey, Rich Rogers and Neil Rogers. (original and retouched photos shown below, photos provided courtesy of Jim Hutchinson. Jim, who was not in attendance – and maybe not on the guest list – notes the matching ties worn by the Rogers twins: “I wonder if they coordinated outfits or if their sister picked them out for them.”)

The approach of the Kentucky Derby brings memories of John Fowler, the gracious Louisville classmate who died last year. May John and the rest of our departed friends remain in our thoughts and prayers.

Send news to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536 (office), tfigel@lake-effect.com.

Class Notes Submitted Feb. 3, 2014

Posted on February 3, 2014 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine, Main Page • Leave a comment

Notre Dame Class of 1968 Notes Contact: Tom Figel, 312-223-9536 office

February 3, 2014 tfigel@lake-effect.com

State of the Great 68 Address

President Tom Weyer’s State of the Class address delivered to the class council during late January included a call for continuation of a hallmark of the Weyer administration, class contribution inequality. “Looking in the rear view mirror or 2013,” the President said, “we had a fantastic 45^th reunion, wonderful get-togethers at our tailgates, and we suffered the loss of dear classmates. During 2014, the year the Class of 68 turns 68, this administration pledges itself to protection of all the high average contribution rate privileges created by the recent generosity of Matt Walsh and Joyce.” His administration, the President said, will support the plans for stadium enlargement while paying great attention to any encroachments that threaten the Mary Weyer memorial plantings honoring her parents and Honest John and Annie Weyer.

January ended with an Evanston, IL get-together occasioned by the death of Moose Krause’s daughter Mary Carrigan, who succumbed to cancer six months after the death of Sandy Carrigan.

Mary Krause Carrigan
Aug 17, 1946 – Jan. 16, 2014

The four Carrigan sons and their sister Jill amused and saddened the memorial service audience with reflections on a lovely woman who had raised her own family while being Mom (“Mombo” in the Carrigan family) to many others. The 68 contingent – Tom Weyer and Mary, Tom Gibbs and Sheila, Dave Kabat, Tom Moore, Bryan Dunigan, Dennis Toolan and Mary Lou, Tom Figel and Nancy – heard son Chris remember that the romping Carrigan kids “tested the laws of physics, Mombo’s patience, and the limits of our health coverage.”

Bryan Dunigan, of a family with generations of ties to the Krauses, said that his grandfather had known and helped the young Moose. The grandfather, for whom Bryan is named, was in charge of printing for the Sears Roebuck catalog (“like being in charge of the Internet,” said Bryan.) Bryan’s own immense email directory shows that management of contacts is in the Dunigan DNA. Frank Leahy, who took care of the grandfather’s yard work, was being recruited from Boston College when Notre Dame asked Grandfather Dunigan to help with the wooing. Bryan said his grandfather flew to Cleveland for the successful pitch.

January also saw a Chicago get-together organized by Shaun Reynolds and his family in memory of Shaun’s brother Damien, whose world-roaming, friend-gathering life included appearance in a Life Magazine photo taken at Woodstock. Dave Hirschboeck, John Walsh and Dia were there with Nancy Figel (still Nancy Carlin SMC69 to Shaun, and to me). .

John Walsh and Dia organized a dinner evening with John Flemming, when John came to Chicago from New Orleans for presentation of his art at a December show. The onset of Chicago winter had no apparent effect on John’s happy spirits and laughs about the late Eddie Kurtz’s novels as John visited with Geof Thornton and Christine, Peggy Barber O’Rourke, the Walshes and Figels.

An Evanston, IL high school class seeking to interview U.S. war veterans during January received help – and powerful remembrances – from classmates Gene Cavanaugh, Tom Condon, Bill Brennan, Pat Collins, Joe Kernan, Mike Browning, and Mark Lies as well as Tom Nerney, three years behind us. Gene Cavanaugh, seeking respite in Chicago from the cold of South Bend, visited the classroom during some days spent with his daughters and grandchildren in Evanston. The reflections of people then slightly older than the Evanston students were revealing, generous and often painfully assembled. .

Pat Collins was one who called Tim O’Meilia, the former Observer editor and popular Palm Beach County, FL journalist whose cancer has him confined to home, though typically upbeat. A couple classes behind us, Tim was a reporting godsend when Pat was Observer editor.

After considering the magazine pages devoted to class notes, John Grima sent this optimistic reflection: “It strikes me that, in magazine terms, the life of a Notre Dame class might be said to be 26 pages; that we have lived 18 of them and still have eight to go. That feels pretty good for a bunch of 67 and 68 year olds. A lot of time gone by, still plenty to look forward to.”

Mike Baroody, Gonzaga High School, 1964, Washington, D.C.

In addition to photos, including a bow-tied Mike Baroody from the Gonzaga High School yearbook, our blog has instructions about using Notre Dame’s database for simple location of all alumni friends. If you enjoy seeing old men and their young wives, see www.ndclass1968.com.

Stay in touch – Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. (off) 312-223-9536, tfigel@lake-effect.com.

Jan. 29, 2014: Tom Gibbs, Tom Weyer, Gene Cavanaugh, Dave Kabat, Dennis Toolan, Bryan Dunigan, Tom Moore, Tom Figel

Class Notes Submitted Nov. 1, 2013

Posted on January 12, 2014 by admin • Posted in Class notes submitted to ND Magazine, Main Page • 1 Comment

Blue angels practicing on November 1, 2013 for stadium flyover the following day (Navy game). Tom Misch sent the two photos by way of Bryan Dunigan.

Modern Catholic Writers

Class President Tom Weyer, in reviewing financial records of our class with Treasurer Joe Kernan, noted that the recent, immense gift from Matt Walsh and Joyce had a big effect on our average giving. Matt and Joyce deserve the appreciation they have received. Great as their resources are, the Walshes probably gave to Notre Dame the way they give to many causes: that is, at a level beyond what is comfortable. As one consequence of their generosity, the Walshes are now in a position to move into the 50 yardline football seats Rich Rogers had to vacate a few years ago, when the University discovered an error.

Rich Rogers is annually on campus for a game or two. Such was the case on the September afternoon of the Temple game. Retired FBI agent that he is, Rich had interesting things to say to Jay Schwartz, Jay’s guest Maryland legislator and former Temple player Mike Busch, and me about the U.S. surveillance revelations resulting from contractor Edward Snowden’s actions. The suddenly prominent NSA, its budget revealed in Congressional questioning, used to be called “No Such Agency,” Rich said. “They are good guys.” Rich is acquainted with some of the threats coming at the country from various sources. That same afternoon, Jim Smithberger was a well-received Florida visitor. Steve Anderson was keeping tabs on him because Jim, readying for some heart care procedures in coming days, had made the trip against the judgment of some Florida advisers. Jim and his wife Debbie stayed with Larry Forness, who says that everything went well for Jim, who is now on the mend. Jim told of his chance recruitment by the new football coaching staff in 1964. Jim was receiving attention as the regional player of the year in West Virginia. At the same time, an alumnus who subscribed to the South Bend paper was aware of coaching conversation about a running back need. The alum called the coaching staff, talked up Jim, Jim visited and went home to tell his father that Notre Dame was his choice. “You tell the other school (Kentucky?) you’re not taking their scholarship then,” Jim’s dad said. Larry Forness remembers that Jim was a successful scholar as well as a player: Jim was an Academic All-American, too, for a couple of years.

(Says Tom Misch of above photo: Interesting point about Father Hesburgh from his autobiography and this interview: Hesburgh called in a favor to Jimmy Carter stating he wanted to fly in the SR-71 and set the new speed record at 3.25+ Mach. While taking the photo with Fr. Hesburgh, Matt Cashore said Hesburgh was sure to remind the Angels of his own flying experience.)

A few weeks later, Larry wrote that he “hosted Tom Condon and Mike Long ‘64 for the Oklahoma game. On game day, first thing we did was go to the formal dedication of the new rugby field, NE of the Stepan Center. Given that the place was full of former rugby players, I expected the newspaper story to have the lead-in: ‘Among the injured were…’ Had a whole bunch from the Great ’68 there — too many to recall. While at the Great ’68 tailgate party, four vehicles down, somebody collapsed, and Dr. Steve Anderson rushed over and stabilized the patient until the EMTs and ambulance arrived. Well done, Doctor! At first, I thought the patient may have had some of my ex-wife’s cooking. Saw former gridders Dave Martin and Kevin Rassas. They both look like they could still play. Given how we played against OU, we could have used them.”

When Beth Ann Fennelly ’93, the poet and now novelist, came to Chicago in October for a booksigning of The Tilted World, she was able to acknowledge the familiar Tom McKenna from Carmel, IN, Tom McKenna of Chicago and an embarrassed but interested Mary Pat as “my Notre Dame hecklers.” Mary Pat knew what she was in for: she knew of the banter when Beth Ann discussed her poetry during our 40^th reunion. Tom McCann was supposed to round out the Toms trio but failed to appear. This recent disinterest in a modern Catholic writer reveals the same failing Tom showed years ago in Professor Frank O’Malley’s class, when Tom McCann dragged Tom Etten down with him. Whether this lack of interest extends to the modern Catholic writers among the classmates is uncertain. We have numbers of poets: Michael R. Ryan, Pat Hermann, the prolific Don Hynes ’69, occasional writers Forrest Hainline, Ken Beirne, and Jim Davis. Jim O’Rourke is an oft-published sage of marketing communication. John O’Connor wrote about Watergate. Tom Condon of the Hartford Courant recently added to his list of awards for editorial writing. Larry “Monk”) Forness is the straight-talking author of books on sports medicine and U.S. security subjects. One of our novelists is recently deceased Eddie Kurtz, whose seven novels include Sex and Gravity. Anyone reading that novel in a public place should sit with people wearing Big 10 clothing so that no one is able to read over a shoulder. If Eddie was following the adage “write about what you know,” the boy had given himself quite an education. A chapter that has the Eddie hero going to confession on a whim in St. Patrick’s Cathedral is Catholic, but not quite in the spirit of the late Professor Ralph McInerny.
(Eddie Kurtz’s brother Tommy has created a posthumous website containing all of Eddie’s films, novels and other works: See http://eddiekurtz.homestead.com/index.html .)

Jim Hutchinson, making a good recovery from surgery in Rochester, NY has been sending play suggestions to Coach Kelly – and, in mid-season, with good effect.

Please send news to: Tom Figel, 1054 West North Shore, Apt. 3-E, Chicago, IL 60626, tel. 312-223-9536 (Lake Effect Communications, LLC), tfigel@lake-effect.com.

ND Class of 1968

News of the classmates and those they love

Category Archives: Class notes submitted to ND Magazine