Class Notes 1975

   
 

Rick Rea

 6854 Ardale Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63123
314.769.9051
col.rickrea@charter.net
   
   
summer 2009

Hello, classmates! Well, Dave Vtipil’s trivia question in my last column was so good that no one came up with even a guess as to the correct answer. Hmm, maybe his question will be a good topic of conversation at our 35th Reunion next June! Hope you are enjoying your summer and taking some time out from your career to spend time with friends and family. I just received an e-mail with some really funny religious cartoons and a wish for a happy Easter from Fr. Neal Buckon. Not sure where in the world (literally) he is as of this writing, but the last I heard he was in Afghanistan serving the U.S. Army and his fellow troops. ... Received a nice e-mail from the alumni office sent by Rita (Henninger) Danks, who recently was on a trip to Chiapas, Mexico, with the Witness for Peace Delegation sponsored by the UCC Justice Jubilee Committee, Church of the Brethren and Equal Exchange (a fair trade company). There were 18 delegates from all over the U.S. who met with many human rights and NGO Organizations during their stay. “While spending time with coffee farmers in their small village, we learned about the intense work involved in producing organic coffees for the U.S. and the very small amount of money these farmers make per year (about $600 U.S.). One of our most moving days was a visit to the small town of Acteal, where the government massacred 45 pacifists as they prayed in church in the late ’90s. To this day, the masterminds of the killing have not been brought to justice. We learned about the negative effects of NAFTA and other U.S. laws on the poorest of the poor in our neighboring country. The current human rights abuses in this area are overwhelming.” You can contact Rita in Kirkland, OH, at 440-256-0423 or - danks12@msn.com if you would like more information. ... Since it is almost baseball season as of this writing, here is a baseball trivia question this time. During our years in Cleveland, the Indians had a player that sported such a big Afro hairstyle that it was very hard for him to wear his helmet while batting. Who was this player? The first classmate to e-mail me the correct answer will be recognized in my next column. While you are e-mailing the answer, how about some personal news? C U at JCU in 2010! Pray for peace, RR
   
   
spring 2009

Hello classmates! Hope all of you are enjoying the spring thaw. The answer to the trivia question from my last column’s “brain teaser” is Humble Pie. Dave Vtipil answered first. Dave has been living in Pittsburgh since graduation working for Allegheny County for the past 20 years. He and wife Barb have been married for 30 years, live in North Hills, and have no children. Dave has had a number of health issues from polycystic kidney disease including kidney failure and a transplant in 2001 plus a mitral valve replacement in 2004 but has recovered and enjoys fly fishing, fly tying, and hiking out West. He thanks his organ donor for the ability to do these things and asks all of us to sign an organ donor card. He belongs to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at his parish and feels his years at JCU have lead to this calling. Dave was one of the first male Murphy Hall residents in 1971 and would like to hear from other “Murphy Hall men ’71.” You can contact Dave at david.vtipil@verizon.net. ... George Christoph also answered and e-mailed some news. He is presently controller/CFO of Life Services Management which manages over 20 different companies and properties including eight assisted living communities; one in his home town of Erie, PA, and three in the suburban Cleveland area. He still has many fond memories of Pacelli Hall, the Business School, JCU tennis team, and would love to hear by e-mail from anyone in these groups. Like many of us he is busy all the time, works way too many hours and is thankful for his college education that gave him an excellent basis for being successful yet grounded. You can e-mail George at georgec@walsdc.com. ... Tom Tassone also e-mailed the correct answer alas with no news. ... I received an interesting newspaper article on Ken O’Keefe from JCU. Ken is the offensive coordinator for the University of Iowa’s football team. “Keefer” had previous head coaching stints at a high school in Fort Worth, TX, Worcester (Mass.) Academy, Allegheny College, and Fordham University. He still speaks fondly of Jerry Schweickert ’60 who taught him to “love his players.” Ken coached college all-star football players in exhibition games in Moscow, Russia, in the early 1990s. During this time, the mayor of Northern Moscow called and asked him if he would teach younger kids to play football so he ran camps for two years. He later helped form an organization that brought amateur teams from Moscow to the U.S. He has been to Russia five times on football trips and “loved every minute of it.” Ken and wife Joanne have a daughter Meghan, a junior soccer player at John Carroll, and a son Brendan in Iowa City. ... My next trivia question is a request from Dave Vtipil. “There was a great snowball battle in front of Murphy Hall in the winter of ’71-72 with about 200 participants. A priest who lived in the front of the hall on the first floor took pictures of the participants to bust us or to scare us away. Well it worked and the participants scattered in a hurry. Can anyone remember the priest’s name?” E-mail your answer (or guess) with some news and you’ll be in my next column. ... I just received news that Fr. Frank Lihvar, S.J., died from cancer at age 81. He was a Jesuit for 60 years and a member of the John Carroll Community for nearly 40 years. Fr. Lihvar began teaching Latin and Greek at John Carroll University in the fall of 1970. Upon retirement in 2000 he became Professor Emeritus. Pray for peace. Hi Sam! RR
   
   
winter 2008

Hello classmates! Okay, here’s the answer to the trivia question from my last column. During our freshman orientation week at JCU we were treated to a great concert at Blossom Music Center. What band was the headliner at that concert? The Fifth Dimension! The first classmate to e-mail me the correct answer was Gary Knuth who remembered listening to that great concert with us under the stars. Gary told me he would like to hear more about all the delinquents that lived in “Bizarre Manor” and “Reet Zeet.” Okay if any of you know what Gary is talking about how about e-mailing me some info about yourself with a translation. Gary has been working in the field of rehabilitation since graduation. He received an M.Ed from Kent State and he is currently the executive director of United Disability Services in Akron, OH. Gary and his wife, Laurie, live in the smallest village in Ohio, Sugar Bush Knolls and have five children (all grown). Gary still has close ties in Pittsburgh and is a big Steelers fan! ... Ed Jindra e-mailed me the correct answer with some personal news. Ed and his wife just celebrated their 35th anniversary. They have three grown children, two of which are Ohio State grads who are still suffering from the West Coast drubbing at the hands of USC! Ed is in his 36th year of retail management and is currently with Gabriel Brothers out of Morgantown, WV. Ed asked for a shout to Bill Charske from the old Kline Studio in the Ad Building and something about “Chef’s World.” Another translation is necessary please. ... Melissa and I just finished moving from our apartment to our house so our lives have been quite hectic. We did take a weekend off from unpacking and rearranging to catch a Blues game and see Jim Gaffigan at the Fox Theater. If Gaffigan comes to your town don’t miss him; laughing is great medicine! My granddaughter, Isabell, will soon be a year old and looking forward to her first holidays. Since this column will, hopefully, be in your hands around Christmas, Melissa and I hope all of you have a wonderful Holiday Season; Ed Jindra says hello to all the rest of his 1975 mates and have a great holiday season as well and peace as always. When you have some free time over the holidays, how about sending me some news for my next column? ... Here’s the next trivia question. During their first tour of America, this British band sold out most of their concerts. Upon being sold out at Cleveland’s Public Hall they scheduled an evening concert at John Carroll that sold out so quickly they scheduled an afternoon concert that same day to a sellout crowd as well. Who was this famous British band? Hint: Their hit single that they played during this tour as an encore made a reference to the fact that a physician isn’t necessary. The first classmate to e-mail me the correct answer will be recognized in my next column! ... Pray for peace. Hi Sam! RR

   
   
fall 2008 Hello classmates! This year ‘s flooding in the Midwest reminds us of the “500 Year” flood we had in 1993. Not to worry, Melissa and I are “high and dry” here in South St. Louis County. Well the easy answer to the trivia question in my last column turned out to be quite ironic (or timely if the case.) Which U-Club member was president of the Student Union our freshman year? Of course, Tim Russert ’72. Kathleen Lynch was the first classmate to e-mail the correct answer. Along with her correct answer she gave me the following update on herself. She ‘s lived outside of Washington, DC, in Falls Church, VA, for more than 25 years with her husband, John Blaney ’73. They have three grown children, Anne, Neil, and Cara. John is a senior vice president at a consulting firm, ICF Inc., and has been working in his company’s London office for most of the past year. Kathleen is the executive director of the Folger Institute-Folger Shakespeare Library and she says that 25 years, 35 years, they can go by awfully fast. So true Kathleen! ... Melissa and I were in Las Vegas for a four-day vacation when the news of Tim Russert’s death was broadcast. For the record I wrote my last column in early April with the trivia question about Tim. Bill McGah e-mailed me that he thought it ironic that there is a picture of Fr. Joe Schell with his arm around Tim’s shoulder on page 63 of the summer 2008 issue of John Carroll magazine. What I remember most about Tim on campus was that when he walked past you he always said “Hi” and if you got a chance to speak with him he would look you in the eye and listen to you as if you were the most important person in his life; quite a gift. Tim’s national presence was a beacon for his Jesuit education at John Carroll and though this beacon has been extinguished, his light will shine on. ... On the local front I recently joined the Commemorative Air Force and its local Wing in St. Charles, MO. I am now referred to in Commemorative Air Force circles as Colonel Rick Rea. The Commemorative Air Force based in Midland, TX, maintains and flies World War II era Warbirds. Our Wing currently flies and maintains three aircraft at Smartt Field in St. Charles, MO. Anyone interested in getting involved with the Commemorative Air Force or a local Wing see - www.commemorativeairforce.org - for more information. ... Okay, here’s the trivia question for this issue: During our Freshman Orientation Week at JCU we were treated to a great concert at Blossom Music Center. What band was the headliner at that concert? The first classmate to e-mail me the correct answer will be recognized in my next column! ... Pray for peace. Hi Sam! RR
   
   
summer 2008 Hello classmates! Frank Magliochetti was the first to e-mail me the correct answer to the trivia question in my last column - Fr. Henry Birkenhauer, SJ, was our commencement speaker. Frank and wife Bonnie live in Media, Pa. He is the Northeast regional business manager for Jennie-O Turkey Store. They have two daughters: Sarah and Katie. Frank is active in leadership roles with his parish, the Knights of Columbus, and volunteering as a reading tutor. Irene Tschismadia Wander ’72 and ’75G (Biology) guessed that Bob Hope was our commencement speaker. John Randall guessed that George H. W. Bush was our commencement speaker. As if John! John his wife Karen and son Jack recently met with Mike Messina, Ph.D., wife Karen and daughter Claire, John’s goddaughter, for dinner in Chicago. (Mike, John asked me to make sure to include Ph.D. after your name.) John and family live in Naperville, Ill., where he works for FedEx Ground in the safety department. ... Gary Saracene guessed our speaker was the Bishop of Cleveland. Gary is an insurance broker of health plans at S. A. Nichols Brokerage and has four boys. He lives in Cincinnati and would like to get together with John Carroll alums in the area “to try and get a City Club going.” Contact Gary’s - gary@sanb1.com. ... Our class prez, Joe Bertolone, e-mailed me the real story and it’s great. Joe tried to recruit Bob Hope to speak at commencement but Mr. Hope was booked so Joe decided to ask Fr. Birkenhauer to finish our “personal education.” Joe scheduled an appointment with Fr. B and took two cans of Budweiser with him in his sport coat. Joe said to Fr. B “the senior class would be honored if you would be our commencement speaker.” “Joe, I would be honored,” Fr. B said and asked Joe to shake on it. Joe replied “how about we drink on it?” and pulled the two cans of Bud out of his pockets; to which Fr. B said “let’s do it in style” went to his cabinet and took out two pilsner glasses with the JCU seal on them and they proceeded to down the beer to close the deal. Joe’s a ninth grade guidance counselor and head wrestling coach at Archbishop McCarthy H.S. in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Joe’s son, Christian, is a vacation planner for Carnival Cruise Lines and Joe is hinting at a Class of ’75 Cruise! ... I received a nice e-mail from Sandra Perroni, “Rick: Living so far away it is good to hear what is going on with the ’75 gang, and I love to read your column. Keep it comin’.” Thanks Sandra! ... Okay my new trivia question is fairly easy once more: which UClub member was president of the Student Union our freshman year? The first class member to e-mail me the correct answer will be recognized! ... Fr. Neal Buckon, USA, was recently deployed on a 90-day tour of duty in Iraq, circuit riding, providing the sacraments and pastoral care to Catholic men and women serving our country during Lent and Easter. He writes, “Last July we had a reunion of sorts for JCU at Fort Sill, Okla. Lieutenant General Carter Ham ’76, married to Christi Ignaut Ham, came to Fort Sill to give COL Dom Pompelia command of the 75th Fires Brigade. Greg Biada’s daughter, Kristen Wills, was also present for the Change of Command. She lives at Fort Sill with her husband, CPT Tony Wills. I have been serving at Fort Sill as the Garrison Chaplain since July 2006.” Remember Fr. Neal in your prayers and pray for peace. Hi Sam! RR
   
   
spring 2008

Hello classmates! This past January 2 was my one-year anniversary as a Cyber Representative with AT&T. In the 33 years since graduating in marketing, this is the first job I’ve had that is truly marketing. Using AT&T’s print and internet resources and a consultative approach I put together marketing programs for businesses throughout the United States. My last column generated some e-mails -- could it have been the first trivia question that I used in the column that racked your brains or just the quality of my Journal-ism? Either way my first e-mail was from Tom Tassone with a pretty good guess at the trivia question regarding the Streak-A-Thon during finals in 1974. Tom guessed Bob Bunga, Bob Zola ’74 and Pete Deluca with the IBGs were behind the shenanigans but don’t forget my clue stated that the culprits were members of rival fraternities. Tom has been a resident of Downers Grove, Ill., since 1984 and has worked for 26 years in transportation sales; the last 15 years in national account sales management with YRC Regional Transportation based in Chicago. His wife, Rosemary, is a career teacher currently teaching elementary (my dear Watson) reading. They have two daughters: Jacquelyn, a sophomore at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., and Julianna who is in the eighth grade. ... I received an e-mail from Darrel Bilancini between Christmas and New Year’s. Darrel has been a resident of the fair city of Avon Lake, Ohio, for the past 22 years with his wife, Cindy, a registered nurse and their daughters, Angela (24), Anne (20) and Alana (18). Darrel has been sending his hard-earned tuition money to the College of Wooster and Miami of Ohio. In November 2005 Darrel was elected judge of the Avon Lake Municipal Court (a part-time court) which allows him to continue his practice with Savoy and Bilancini in Elyria, Ohio, where he is a trial attorney in insurance defense law. Darrel is generously donating his time and talent to the local Kiwanis Club and St. Joseph’s Church in Avon Lake. If you’re caught speeding through Avon Lake pray you don’t appear in front of Judge Bilancini or he’ll throw the book at you! ... Right after New Year’s I received a nice e-mail from Susan (Sonchik) Marine, Ph.D., who has worked for 21 years as a chemist in industry.  For the past 10 years she’s been an associate professor in the chemistry department at Miami University Middletown in Middletown, Ohio. When she wrote she was in the process of moving to Luxembourg where she will be teaching chemistry in art this coming semester. Her inspiration for this project began when she was a student at Carroll. There was a physics and art class for credit in physics or art to help students meet the liberal education requirements. During this class the students made and displayed several interesting artistic items as they studied physics. Her experience served as the inspiration for her chemistry in art class! Her students in Middletown loved it so much she is offering it with a mini-tour from her campus in Differdange, Luxembourg, this semester. Susan thanks JCU for the inspiration! ... Okay since there were no correct answers to the trivia question e-mailed to me -- The two guys responsible for the show were Rick Shina ’74 and Ed Donnelly. Since my first trivia question stumped all of you I decided to make the next one easier. Who was the commencement speaker at our graduation in 1975? The first classmate to e-mail me the answer (along with some news) will be recognized in my next column! I hope you all have a terrific 2008 and pray for peace. Hi Sam! RR
   
   
fall 2007

Hello classmates! Well my last column did stir some controversy. I was just doing some “wordplay” to see if anyone who read my column was really paying attention! I did get an e-mail from John Luskin, a criminal defense attorney in Cleveland and law director for the City of Willoughby Hills, informing me that Sue Calihan is not the chief of police of Cleveland (duh!) but she is a retired captain of police from the City of Cleveland Heights (and so is he). Sue is now chief bailiff for the Lyndhurst Municipal Court; congrats Sue! ... I received a nice e-mail from Peggy (Byrne) Hausser ’77 - phausser@msn.com - and she commented that reading my column was fun -- it brings back great memories of times living in Murphy Hall from ’73 to’75. Peggy is director of sales for Restaurant Associates. ... I am listening to Game Five of the American League Baseball playoffs while I am typing to meet my column deadline and the Tribe is losing to the Bosox. Maybe this year they can get that last strikeout and win the World Series. My son, Brian, and daughter-in-law, Dayna, are expecting my first granddaughter, Isabell, any day now. She will be the first great-grandchild for my folks and boy are they excited. Melissa and I just returned from a week’s vacation in Destin, FL; a perfect week on the beach with no rain. We’ve had so much going on in our lives that we realized we hadn’t taken a week off for three years. ... As I go to press, the City of Atlanta is running out of drinking water due to a severe drought; but there’s no Global Warming and the environment if okay, right? I’m attending a college fair at St. Louis University to help Dan Butler from JCU admission for a few hours to talk with high school students and their parents about John Carroll. If you value your Jesuit education as much as I do and want to help John Carroll how about volunteering for the Alumni-in-Admission program? Rebecca Dinnen ’93 heads it up and it could be as simple as volunteering for a local “Call Night” to speak with prospective students about the benefits of attending John Carroll University. I used to do “Call Nights” when Melissa and I lived in Detroit and they are fun. Great to see the picture of the AKY “mini reunion” that was held during Reunion Weekend last summer in the last magazine! I pledged a lot of those guys in spring 1973 and Bob Larocca ’73 was my big brother. Speaking of the old days, I am going to include a trivia question in my column from now on so here’s the first one: During spring finals in 1974 John Carroll held the first Streak-A-Thon on the Quad (for you younger folks “streaking” was running as fast as you could through the Quad wearing nothing but shoes and socks and a bag on your head.) -- a very popular activity at the time. Every television station in Cleveland was on hand to tape video for the 11 o’clock news; from the waist up of course. Towards the end of the show two guys (hint they were members of different fraternities) did a choreographed “two-step” for the cameras right across the Quad from Rodman. WHO WERE THEY? The first member of the class of 1975 that e-mails me the correct answer will be recognized in my next column. Hope the holidays are good to all of you! How about some news with your guesses to the trivia question? Pray for peace, RR
   
   
summer 2007

Hello classmates! I received a couple of blurbs from the alumni office since my last column. Blaise Roncagli is living in University Heights, OH, with his family and twin eight-year-old sons Kyle and Connor. A classmate Cary Seidman ’75 MA received an organization award for Excellence in Inquiry-Based Science Teaching at the 2007 Annual Conference of the National Science Teachers Association in St. Louis. The award was based on the programs he has developed for the seventh and eight grades at the Ruffing Montessori School in Cleveland Heights ... should have given me a call Cary when you were in town! ... Vic “Doc” Cook and his bride, Debbie ’76, celebrated the wedding of their son Jeffrey in August in Columbus, OH. ... Melissa and I finally sold our house in Pennsylvania so we took the proceeds and did something we always wanted to do -- we took some time off work and made the Grand Tour of Europe. The capitals of those countries were spectacular! We especially enjoyed our audience with Pope Benedict at the Vatican; he is such an intelligent man and, like my wife Melissa, he loves sauerkraut! We have returned to St. Louis but had to get a smaller apartment (after spending the money on our trip) and our cats had to get jobs to help us make the rent. After taking my vacation, AT&T realized how much they missed me (and what a valuable employee I have become) so they made me CEO. ... Mike “Toes” Riley is the new dean of the School of Law at the University of Maine ... Charlie Beringer is awaiting his appointment as the new dean of the Boler School of Business ... Rick “Rip” Rudnicki is the president of the Steel Service Center Institute ... Annette St. John O’Brien will be running against her brother Chris for Mercer County (PA) Judge in September ... Sue Calihan is the new chief of police for the City of Cleveland and Ed Donnelly is the new CEO of KeyCorp. Okay I warned you in my last column so here’s the deal; which of the above text is fact or fiction? Drop me a line or e-mail me your answers and, by the way, include some real news for my next column okay? Pray for peace, RR
   
   
spring 2007

Hello classmates! Melissa and I are settling into our new digs in St. Louis. We still have not sold our former digs in Hermitage, PA. If anyone is planning a move to the Shenango Valley (right!) we’ll make you a heck of a deal! My son, Brian, and daughter-in-law, Dayna, recently informed me that I will be a grandfather towards the end of October! Didn’t we just graduate? This past week NBC’s 30 Rock had an episode with a story line in Cleveland. There were a lot of nice scenes of the Cleveland area but I didn’t see any of the Mad Hatter at Cleveland State (drum roll please, get it?) Didn’t we just graduate? My pleas for news went unanswered this time but I will be glad to put ANYTHING -- ANYTHING -- ANYTHING in my next column so e-mail me some NEWS -- NEWS -- NEWS or I’ll have to make some up and embarrass you! ... The Alumni Office notified me that Betsy L. Billings passed away on March 9. Remember her in your prayers and pray for peace. ... RR
   
winter 2007 Hello classmates! It is fun to live in (or near) a town that has won a World Championship. In 2006 Melissa and I lived within an hour’s drive of Pittsburgh when the Steelers won the Super Bowl. We moved to St. Louis late in 2006 and the Cardinals win the World Series! See a pattern here? Many of our friends in Chicago and Cleveland have asked us to move there next so the Cubs and Indians will benefit from our presence! I just started a new career with AT&T here in St. Louis. I am an Internet sales consultant for AT&T YellowPages.com. Melissa is working in her old neighborhood as an associate dentist with South St. Louis Dental Group. ... Speaking of moving to Chicago that is exactly what Rob Ondrus - robondrus@aol.com - has done! Rob, his wife Beth and kids are back in Naperville after five years “down in Dixieland” (Fayetteville, GA.) He is director of procurement for Monarch Foods and I bet he has some good recipes for barbeque right Rob? ... I received an e-mail from a long, lost fraternity brother and classmate just before Christmas. Mike “Toes” Riley - michael.t.riley@maine.edu - is living in Portland, ME, with his fiancé, Erin. Mike and Erin welcomed a daughter, Delia Ruth, into their lives this past September. Mike is in his last semester at the University of Maine School of Law to “constructively channel my ever-growing outrage over the general state of America.” Erin is in her second year of law school at Maine. See what happens when you date a co-ed! ... Hey Ed Donnelly and Charlie Beringer how about some Cleveland news? I would appreciate some news from classmates in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Buffalo, Chicago or anywhere! Have you moved, started a new career, retired, received an award, have new grandkids, traveled somewhere cool or started a new hobby? Contact me and I will post your news in the next issue of the Journal. ... Happy St. Patrick’s Day and don’t drink too much green beer! Pray for peace, RR
   
fall 2006
Hello classmates! The leaves are turning in St. Louis and there is a chill in the air. These bring back fond memories of the fall activities on campus: football, soccer and rugby games, Homecoming, concerts, mixers and mid-term exams (yuck!). Melissa and I just completed a move to St. Louis from Sharon, PA. This was my 14th move since graduation. You don’t realize how much stuff you own until you move it! .I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nancy Hudec for the years she served as our class columnist. She did a great job! ... Bill McGah reports from Kansas City (Leawood, KS) where he has lived for the past ten years. He is employed as a district sales manager for Sun Steel, Chicago Heights, IL, an Esmark Company, and he is the president of the mid-America chapter of the Metals Service Center Institute, a national trade organization of over 300 member companies. His wife, Ann, finally retired from substitute teaching. Their son, Patrick, graduated from Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA in 2006 and is now in graduate school (mechanical engineering) at the University of Washington in Seattle. Their son, Peter, is a sophomore economics major at Claremont McKenna College, in Claremont, CA. ... I recently received an e-mail from Rosemary Bilchak. She and husband Gordon MacAlpine are living in Hotchkiss, CO. ... Sue Navish wrote that she is now living in Nevillewood, PA. ... Joyce (Tianello) Snodgrass e-mailed that she is living in Leander, TX, and would like to hear from fellow Murphy Hall residents from ’71-’73 -- joycets@peoplepc.com. ... Thanks to fellow AKY brother and class columnist Gerry Patno ’73, and the summer issue of the Journal, I received some news about Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis. She is the new president of her high school alma mater, St. Joseph Academy, on Cleveland’s Westside. I remember Alma Mater wasn’t she a barmaid at Spotty’s or was it the Lemon Tree? ... While I lived in Sharon, I was an assistant coach under head coach Sam Mastrian ’76 for the West Middlesex Area girls’ varsity basketball team. Sam and his family are doing well. ... I also rubbed elbows on occasion with Annette St. John O’Brien and her husband, Hugh, at a local watering hole catching up with each other’s news. ... This past June the Army named Brig. Gen. Carter F. Ham ’76, husband of Christi (Ignaut) Ham, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, “The Big Red One,” which recently moved back to Ft. Riley, KS, after spending 11 years in Germany. Carter has been at the Pentagon since March 2005 serving as deputy director of regional operations. ... Fellow business majors may want to send a card to Dr. Art Noetzel ’38 and congratulate him on his 90th birthday. His “Business Policies” class was one of the best. ... Must close for now. This column will only be as good as the info/notes/updates I get FROM YOU so how about some news??? Pray for peace, RR
   
summer 2006
The Class of ’75 really does need you! If you’d like to help everyone stay in touch by writing your class column, please send a note of interest to journal@jcu.edu.
   
winter 2006
Last column by Nancy Hudec ---- No news is good news; if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all; all is quiet on the western (eastern, southern and northern) front. Any way you slice it, I’m short on news, views and interesting to do’s from our class. ... Molly (Spellman) Curl did report in with word that she and her family is thriving in Richardson, TX. She also forwarded a picture with her husband and sons taken on a recent cruise. A good-looking bunch. No over boards reported. ... Rather than go overboard myself and, as I once did, invent some interesting news, I’m throwing the ball in your courts. It’s time to pass on this column. It’s a good way to keep in touch with your classmates and attempt to relive those JCU days (and nights). The rewards are out of this world and compensation is from “on high.” So if you are interested in becoming our class columnist, jump right in and either contact the journal@jcu.edu or me. ... Nancy
   
summer 2005
Inquiring minds want to know; how was our 30th Reunion? Who was there, how did they look and what kind of party was it? It’s all he said or she said. I wasn’t there. I was in Rome with my family and a pope named Benedict. I had a choice: Rome and Positano or University Heights and the quad. I’m all for “on ward on John Carroll,” but the Coliseum and St. Peter’s had it all over Wasmer field and a tent on the quad. But from what I’ve heard and overheard, the tent on the quad was clutch. The open bar in Saturday’s tent wasn’t. So push came to shove and Dave Segerson and Ed Donnelly passed the hat. Thanks to their salesmanship and everyone’s open wallets the open bar was extended until 11 p.m. and the party took on a life of its own. From Donna and Mike Sell to Mary and Dave Segerson, Jack Metzger, Kevin Kane, Rick and Melissa Rea, Joe Bertolone, Ben Hunsinger, Ed and Mary Kay DeGrandis-Donnelly, Mike Pawlak, Mike (least changed) and Karen Messina, Vic and Debbie ’76 Cook, Charlie Beringer, Bob Zotti, Mary Kay and Tom ’73 Malone, Ed and Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis, Lorraine Summers, and Tony Dorsch and wife (footnote Hillbrook gang) a good time was had by all. The verdict on who was better represented Clevelanders or out of towners is still out. What isn’t out is the verdict that the women still looked pretty good. (The JCU Web site has a variety of pictures supporting this statement) All that exercise and good eating paid off! Imagine if there had been more JCU coeds in attendance and the ole Hillbrook gang had been represented. So there you have it. It wasn’t cast of thousands but the cast of characters that attended were pleased with the weekend. By all accounts it was a weekend that got off to a weak start Friday night but geared up Saturday morning with Bloody Marys at Pizzazz (old Manners). Hard to believe they could have been as good or as healing as those in the Flats a few Reunions ago. My sources swear by them so I’ll give it to the Bloodys in the Heights. As part of a tribute to our freshman year in the Heights, the class favors were umbrellas and rain hats. Was there ever a more watery (all puns intended) time in your life than freshman year at JCU? The only better gift would have been duffers, but you can’t go back. Duffers never looked that good in the ’70s no need to think they’d be any better today. Some of you, and I think Mary Lou Murphy is one; probably still have your old duffers. Save them for the 35th! Nancy
 
spring 2005
Reunion 2005: It’s the homeboys (and girls) vs. the out-of-towners, or “those of us that stayed” vs. “those of us that got out of Dodge." It’s a challenge of the non-celebrity kind, the JCU kind. Can the locals carry the Reunion? Or will out-of-towners put us to shame? The choice is yours, but the column is mine and my money is on the Cleveland faithful. No doubt out of town committee members Joe Bertolone, Molly Gibbons Robinson, and Mike Crotty can be convincing, but the Cleveland contingency has Joan Konewecke Ursic, and Dave Segerson answering the call. Have you gotten yours? Call that is. If not there’s always time and always room for one more. This is an ala carte event. You can pick and choose when you want to come, where you want to stay and who you want to come with (some of us do still have youngsters). This is the year to see Cleveland. We’ve had ten straight days of sun. That’s more sun than we had our entire freshman year. Maybe even freshman and sophomore year combined. JCU has blossomed. You won’t recognize the place, or some of your classmates. This is not the John Carroll you grew up on. Did you know JCU has a football stadium? A real live big time stadium. Much has changed, but not Murphy Hall. Take a trip to Reunion and revisit the dorm where men in leather jackets cleaned the bathroom and cigarette butts were put out between the bricks (don’t even tell me you don’t remember). It’s amazing the place is still standing after what it has been through over the years. That and the fact most of you haven’t been back, is reason enough to get you back to Reunion 2005 -- 30 years is reason enough. Get going, get back to JCU and “Back To Campus.” Looking forward to you at Reunion 2005!!! Nancy
 
winter 2005
Hard to believe it’s been almost 34 years since some of us snuck up to the Murphy Hall roof to catch some rays, listened to Kate Crowley Kelly ’74 blast “Goodbye Joe” from her window or headed out to the JCU sign for some laughter and libations. If that doesn’t take you back how about Saga food fights, the purple lounge, open dorm discussions with Dean DeCrane and nightly animal calls from the windows of Dolan Hall. You can relive all this and then some when you head to our 30th Reunion in June. Rick Rea is our official Reunion chairman and Mike Messina is webmaster. Gift chairman is Jack Metzger. ... Jack is a commercial realtor with Coldwell Banker in Columbus and reports that he has four kids and two Xs. His oldest son is 25 and working in Scottsdale and the youngest is 5 years old. Sounds familiar. ... Anyways Jack, Rick and Mike are working hard at making this year’s reunion one you’ll be talking about for the next 30 years. No excuses for bailing out. The “I have a new baby” doesn’t work at our ages nor does “I’ll come if so and so comes.” Be brave come on your own! Come and find out about Lorraine Summers Wagner’s wedding last November. Not only was this her first wedding but also it was a mini JCU reunion in itself. Ed Donnelly and Mary Kay DeGrandis-Donnelly were there along with, Sue Navish, Ken and Kathy Laino and Jollie Bennett (bridesmaid). Of course other alumni were there, but full details will only be available at the reunion. No word on if Lorraine is bringing pictures. ... Elsewhere in the news, I had dinner with Mary Lou O’Brien Murphy in Chicago in the fall and she reports all is status quo with the Hillbrook gang. Personally speaking my oldest son Mike ’01 is getting married in July to JCU co-ed Meredith Lewis ’02. Another JCU two-some, wonder if there’s any research on how many alumni are married to alumni? ... Last but not least condolences go out to Mary Kay Hutchinson Malone on the death of her father. ... Nancy
   
fall 2004 Last column I promised Ann Marie Castele Bill’s e-mail address to anyone who sent in news. Why I thought it was a fair trade is beyond me, but as we all get a little older we do get quirkier. I do have some news, but so far no requests for the e-mail address. So Ann Marie’s crying jags aside, here is the latest. At the top of the news is Charlie Beringer’s refusal of the Reunion Committee chairmanship. You heard it here first, Charlie has finally been pushed too far and he said no way, no how (in a nice way of course). Rumor also has it neither JoJo Bertolone or Ed Donnelly are making any noise about stepping up to the plate. The good news is that Rick Rea is planning on attending his first reunion next June 17-19. He also attended the first meeting Homecoming Weekend. Could he be the man for the job? His former employer that made steel tubing for the automotive industry is OTB. Thus Rick is a man without a company. As of this writing he’s looking for a new job, as a busy man in Heritage Pennsylvania he’s been spotted managing his wife Melissa’s dental office, working as a golf swing coach at Kennedy Catholic and working with the JCU Alumni-in-Admission program. Bet you never even knew there was such a JCU program. So Rick Rea could be a big 30th Reunion player. ... Elsewhere in the news is JoJo still coaching and working away in Florida. Word has it he was at JCU for Homecoming, but being as I was at Dayton’s Parents Weekend, I cannot confirm that. What I can confirm is that I can’t find Sandra Perroni’s e-mail address for Anne Paskert Teubl. Anne e-mailed trying to get in touch with her old roomie and hopefully Sandra will read this, e-mail me and then I’ll e-mail Anne. Whew! and you thought this was a cake job I have here. Anne did say she’s been happily married for 26 years with two daughters (and a husband I presume). One daughter is at Toledo U and one at Ohio State, so sorry about the Buckeyes this year. ... So there you have it, not much news, but still something to read. I’m off. Start thinking Reunion!! Nancy
   
summer 2004 According to a recent Plain Dealer article (you remember Cleveland’s outstanding daily newspaper don’t you?) as us aging baby boomers move closer to becoming the dearly departed, charities are edging closer to collecting what is left behind; a slice of our estates. In what is being billed as one of the greatest wealth transfers in U.S. history, isn’t it good to know JCU is on the cutting edge? The Committed to Carroll campaign exceeded fund raising expectations. Our spot as the Harvard of the Midwest is secure. Whew ... With that in mind how can you miss our 30-year reunion next summer? Who knows maybe “committed to Carroll” could be committed to refurbishing the dorms. What better time to check things out than next summers’ reunion weekend. ... Charlie Beringer checked out this past summer’s 30-year reunion crowd and reported slim pickings, although he did see Ed Donnelly, Molly and Dave ’74 Robinson, Joe ’74 and Joan Konewecke Ursic and Kevin Kane. The pickings might have been slim, but not all reunion attendees. Start your diets now our 30th is coming up ... better than a diet, start a novena. Maybe prayer can do what those reunion phone calls don’t. No word on if Santiago Chile resident Sandra Perroni will make the reunion trip but she’s made it as my most faithful e-mailer. Sandy is a U.S. Embassy employee in Chile and wants to know where in the world is her former roomie Anne Paskert? Dan Bonder is in Cleveland’s financial world at the Cleveland Financial Group. An attorney with an MBA, Dan and wife Joanne (met thru a Beta Tau Sigma glee club concert, and he’s still singing her praises) have three sons. Their oldest Bryan is a senior chemistry major at Kenyon College, Adam is in the engineering program at Rochester Institute of Technology and Eric is a sophomore at Orange High School. Last time I wrote family information in this column I sent Bill McGah and his wife into orbit, this time I’m back on earth with Dan’s e-mail right in front of me ... Ann Marie Castele Bill e-mailed in her Palmer Arkansas address and e-mail address, but to get it you’ll have to e-mail me with at least one thing I can mention about you or someone you knew and loved at JCU. Not that I’m desperate for news, just resourceful. ... Last but not least congratulations to this year’s alumni medal recipient Beverly Hawk! ... Nancy
   
spring 2004 Next year at this time we’ll be the 30-year class at reunion weekend. Hard to believe it’s been 30 years since the IKYs ruled the chapel steps, the Dean of Students declared open dorms “a near occasion of sin,” and Saga food fights were a cafeteria sport. It’s been even longer since duffers were required head wear, Lanz nightgowns required sleepwear and everyone was required to sign in and out of the dorms. We’re at that point in life where remembering what happened 30 years ago is easier than remembering 30 minutes ago. If you meet a new person today you’ll have to work on remembering their name tomorrow. But John Carroll names of yesterday will be with you forever. Who can forget Wendy, Weekend, Wheaties, W.A. or M.P.? How about Packy, Corky, JoJo, LuLu, Murph, the Devil or Boy Wonder? If those names don’t take you back, what about Rat, Snake, Hawk or Spike? There’s something in a name and some names you just can’t forget. Who could forget Mary Fisco Cangelosi or Mary Pat “M.P.” Gavin? Fisco reports that her daughter, Nikki, got married last June and is expecting a baby in August. Daughter Holly is a teacher in Cleveland Heights and daughter Cristy works at a salon in Easton, OH. Her former cohort in crime, M.P. is a paralegal who returned to her Pittsburg roots. ... Barbara Norris Varone reports that she is a third year evening law student at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She plans to graduate next spring and practice Intellectual Property Law. ... Another Clevelander making news is Lorraine Summers. Summers is planning a fall wedding. Congrats ... Don’t hesitate to send in your news, good bad or indifferent, I’ll take it all ... Nancy
   
winter 2004 Seems like a long time since we’ve had some class news, but for some it hasn’t been long enough. Case in point is Bill McGah’s wife Ann Noll McGah who has brought to mind and my e-mail that son Patrick is “a man, a very manly lacrosse-playing man (no specifics given) studying mechanical engineering and living in Gonzaga’s all boys dorm, Desmet Hall.” In fact he’s so manly that “one of Ann’s friends asked if the late Barry White answered their phone, but it was just Pat or Patrick.” ... McGahs live in Leawood, KS and it wasn’t a boy named Sue but a man named Patrick: looks like a columnist mistake ... Every now and then St. John and his Wort comes back and bites you ... Blame is here, keep making those checks out to the Jesuits. ... Always making it into this column is Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis. Not that she isn’t a name worth mentioning, but could someone else step up to the plate? Corrigan was recognized by the Irish American Archives Society (happens when you’re 50) for being an American Greetings Corporation “Senior “(there’s that 50 thing again)Vice-President and one of the “100 most powerful Irish Americans in Corporate America.” ... That’s a hard act to follow but Bill McNamara is trying his best with last summer’s Dateline program feature. It’s been awhile (7/14/03) but JCU news is still good no matter how old, McNamara shared his views on economic recovery and employment transition in his position as national sales manager for Tri-Turn Technologies. Kudos to Bill and his four sons sitting proud in front of the TV, one a freshman at JCU, one at Cleveland’s St. Ignatius High School and two at Cleveland’s St. Gregory the Great grade school. ... Although not a 1975 graduate, Denise Turski ’76 was a Hillbrook regular and a friend to many in our class. Denise died in a recent fire in her Chicago condominium. A successful podiatrist she was eulogized by her friend Sue Finnerty. Sue did a wonderful job and we will all remember Denise in our own special way. Nancy
   
summer 2003 Is Charlie Beringer becoming the 1975 version of a Don Shula or a Tim Russert? What propelled the man behind the camera to go in front of the lens? Nothing less than being a recipient of this year’s alumni service medal. This past May Beringer was honored for his years of service to the ole blue and gold. Those years included some pretty memorable phone calls for reunion weekends. Has anyone not received a reunion phone call from Charlie? A certain Murphy named Dan was reported to have received so many reunion calls that he promised to come if Charlie just stopped calling. To see pictures and hear brief audio segments of the 2003 Alumni Awards dinner visit http://www.jcu.edu/alumni/news/awards03.htm. ... That aside, Ed Donnelly often working side by side with Charlie, was one a select few invited to the alumni awards dinner. As a reporter on the spot at the right spot, Donnelly reports that Molly and Robby Robinson, Mary Kay and Tom ’73 Malone, Bob the Rock LaRocca ’73, Elaine Yeip ’76 and Judge Anne Mannen ’77 were there to cheer Charlie on. Congratulations Charlie and many thanks for all your hard work. ... A sincere thank you is also extended to those of you whose cards and calls have rescued this issue’s column. Bill McGah called to report he and his family are adjusting to life in Salt Lake City after seven hot and humid years in Kansas City. Daughter Pat is continuing the Jesuit tradition at Gonzaga University and son Peter is a high school football and track star. ... Rita Henninger Danks was a star of sorts in El Salvador this past March. Danks served as an international election observer for the country’s elections. She was part of a delegation representing 42 countries. Danks also teaches Spanish at Kirtland High School. ... Neal Buckon has been busy teaching soldiers about the power of prayer in Iraq. Army Major Buckon has been serving as a Catholic chaplain in the war with Iraq. ... Jim McSherry has been busy here in the states with McSherry & Associates 2, Inc. Started just last September, the executive search firm reestablishes the practice founded by his father in 1977. McSherry and wife Peggy Prunty have four children and live in Naperville, IL. ... Here in Cleveland John Carroll’s graduation is over and only a few class members had graduates. Congratulations to Maririta Greene Devlin and Judge Mark Devlin for Brian, Vic and Debbie ’76 (Utlak) Cook for son Jeff and Nancy and John ’72 Hudec for daughter Amy (now Chicago bound). Nancy
   
spring 2003 Ole JCU has taken that “onward onward” thing to heart. You’d hardly recognize the old stomping grounds. The Ad building is now tucked behind a monstrous structure that has replaced the science building and engulfed the library. It’s all tastefully done but quite the addition to the alma mater. But while some things have changed others have remained the same, namely the John Carroll sign. Wonder if students still enjoy a few libations behind it. Chances are that too has changed with the times. … People wise there are no Tim Russerts or Don Shulas in our class, but I know there are a few of you worth talking about. Spill. I’m desperate for news and only an e-mail away. Two issues ago what news I had was online, and since I never saw it you might not of either. So here’s a recap: Ellen Murphy O’Hanlon moved to Quincy, IL … Susan Marguerite Doyle is a real estate mogul on the north side of Chicago … Ed Donnelly continues his run in private banking for KeyBank … Sue Finnerty is alive and well and another big shot at KeyBank in the land of Cleve … Joe Bertolone transferred to Florida and Linda Repasky Beardsworth ’74 is living in London … If that isn’t enough how about Mary Greene Devlin and Mark Devlin’s son Brian is a senior at JCU and a good friend of my daughter, Amy, also a senior. Small world … John P. Gartland was named partner at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP in the Columbus, OH office. He practices litigation representing clients on environmental regulatory and litigation matters. John is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for environmental expertise. ... Small news and quick reading. Send those cards, letters and e-mails and things will surely be looking up for next issue. Nancy
   
summer 2002 Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis is one of five Cleveland women that received this year’s Women of Achievement Award from the YWCA. The award honors her outstanding leadership, accomplishments and commitments in career and community, and her ability to serve as a role model for other women. Oh and by the way, Mary Ann is senior vice-president for American Greetings Corporation, a board of directors member at JCU and a board member at St. Joseph Academy in Cleveland. ... Hard to believe she was once a JCU co-ed sporting the infamous duffer. Believe it or not there are quite a few of you who have gone on to illustrious careers. Then again there’s a few of us banking on our kids having illustrious careers. Nothing wrong with hearing “I’d like to thank my mom and dad.” ... No word on who he thanked but James Brazdil now Dr. James Brazdil is also an award winner. Doc won the Herman Pines Award in Catalysis from the Catalysis Club of Chicago for research on the development of catalyst and chemical process technology for BP’s acrylonitrile business. Wondering what this all means? Me too. My computer didn’t even recognize “acrylonitrile.” Suffice it to say this is over my head and probably yours too, but it sure sounds important. ... Just in case you were wondering what’s happened to Benjamin Pentz, here’s the latest. Benjamin is a pediatrician and living in Niles, Ohio. He and his wife Margaret have two children Stephanie (13) and Andrew (11). ... Condolences go out to Cathy ’75 “Swanee” Schuba and husband Chris ’74 on the loss of their daughter, Rose. Our thoughts and prayers are with your entire family. ... Nancy
   
spring 2002 It was mid February and Cleveland was being just Cleveland. You remember don’t you? Dark, dreary and rainy. LTV steel had gone belly up, the Flats continue going down the tubes and the last department store pulled out of downtown. I, like the city was doomed. My deadline was four days away and I had no news. Could it be that no one in the class of 1975 was doing anything even remotely interesting? Ready to throw in my class column towel my five-year old and I decided to visit my parents in Florida. No need brooding in dark and dreary when warm and sunny is a plane ride away. With the burden of class correspondent failure weighing heavy upon my shoulders Maggie and I settled down for a two-hour plane ride. Then; what to my wondering eyes should appear but a Donnelly named Eddie; could class news be near? Bad rhyming aside, Ed and I spent the trip sharing libations and laughs. Unfortunately, Ed was not chock full of news. I came away with three news items. Ed and wife Mary Kay were joining Larry Meathe ’74 and his wife for dinner on the weekend, Charlie Beringer has not been spotted since the reunion but Sue Finnerty has. Sue is doing great and living on “Chickadee” Lane in Lyndhurst. … Also on my updated address list is Bob Briggs. An executive consultant for IBM Global Services Bob, his wife, Jackie, and their three children live in Greenwood, IN. … Susan Marguerite Doyle reports that Ellen Murphy O’Hanlon is moving to Quincy, IL from Beantown. ... No word on a new address. … Congratulations to David Chrien and his family on the continued skating success of daughter Lauren. Lauren is a proficient ice dancer who is also an Olympic Dreamer. Keep watching. Four years from now this JCU connection could be a star at the winter games. ... Nancy
   
 

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