Maureen Murphy Oral History Transcript
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Part of Maureen Murphy Oral History
content
Maureen Murphy
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Transcribed by William Dougherty
For the Marist College Archives and Special Collections
Transcript – Maureen Murphy
Interviewee:
Maureen Murphy
Interviewer:
Gus Nolan
Interview Date:
27 August 2011
Location:
James Cannavino Library
Subject Headings:
Murphy, Maureen
Marist College Alumni
Marist College (Poughkeepsie N.Y.)
Rowing
English
Summary:
Maureen reflects on her time growing up Long Island before coming to Marist to
major in English. She speaks about how her time at Marst allowed her to blossom and continue
into new activities like the first female crew team at Marist. Maureen also talks about how she
used her education working for airlines, and then continued it to become a teacher. Maureen ends
with he reflection on if College is still worth it or not. Maureen is also joined by her husband
Ray.
00:08
Gus Nolan:
Today is Wednesday the 27th of August we have the opportunity to interview
Maureen Murphy and she and her husband have come from in Long Island New York and good
after noon.
00:21
Maureen Murphy:
Hi Gus how are you and just let me say I'm so happy to be here and so
happy that you invited me.
00:27
GN:
It's just a thrill to have you back and to have same Maureen that was here years ago.
00:31
MM:
The thrill is mine isn’t that the expression “the thrill is mine?”
00:35
GN:
Could you Maureen the first part of this is before Marist sure so give me a thumbnail
review of your early years, where you born in grade school where to go up as etc.
00:46
MM:
OK I was youngest of five children and grew up in Westbury New York went to
Catholic elementary, Catholic high school, Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville Long Island
and that brought me to Marist.
00:58
GN:
Well you're jumping a little bit now we have to see you get you through high school
what did you do activities in high school did you were you in art club drama.
01:07
MM:
You know let me tell you something about that because Gus this is one of the things
that Ray and I were talking about on the way up I went to a huge catholic high school in Long
Island I mean big and I have to tell you I was very shy I participated in like the very small groups
with believe it or not like the religion club or I would do like you know different activities. It was
not until I came to Marist that I became more and active participation in things.
01:39
GN:
So you were quiet though school.
01:41
MM:
Much quieter in high school and I sometimes looking back I think it was a because I
was just you know shy kid and the school was so big I felt like Marist I just was so comfortable
and I blossomed more here at Marist to tell you the truth.
01:58
GN:
Were you in the family.
01:59
MM:
I am the Youngest of five.
02:01
GN:
Well maybe that's why you were kept quite.
02:03
MM:
It could be You know there was a lot going on and I was the last one and they just
sent me on that bus.
02:11
GN:
Trinity there was a treasure there her name was sister Janene.
02:17
MM:
Oh gosh I don't remember sister Janene.
02:19
GN:
She's was my sister.
02:21
MM:
What Dominica.
02:22
GN:
Yeah Janene Nolan.
02:24
MM:
Really yeah?
02:26
GN:
So, she was there for about twenty years I guess which would cover well maybe not
when you there.
02:32
MM:
What did she teach?
02:33
GN:
She collected the money for tuition.
02:35
MM:
Oh my dad would have known her no my dad would have known her isn't that
funny.
02:41
GN:
Just a sidebar about how about the summers did you work in the summer work in a
bakeries or some place?
02:50
MM: Oh my goodness did I work I work everywhere I worked at a beach stand I worked
in a supermarket I worked supper market in a movie theater I did telemarketing I even when I
was like gosh I was a make a Babysitter I was always into the work piece always making money
for school making always.
03:07
GN:
What you do with the money did you travel any?
03:09
MM:
You know what I've always loved travelling and younger as a younger child we took
small vacations you know you take a drive to the Adirondacks or the Poconos as a family, but
from age fourteen when I was fourteen years old my mother gave me a trip with her just my
mom and myself being the youngest sometime good things you know you wait long enough
something exciting happened. We went to England, Ireland, Scotland just the two of us I was
fourteen it was right before freshman year in high school, and I will tell you that I was
transformative. I said to my mom that I know what I was going to be when I grew up but I was
going to work for an airline and why is that way because I could travel and I kept to my word.
When I graduated from Marist that's what I did I first we'll get to this Gus, but that's what I first
did from hell or high water I was going to work for an airline and I did because I wanted to
travel.
04:11
GN:
Good ok so you're a woman was focused and you stay on problem how does it come
to pass then getting out of trinity you come to Marist did you know anybody here.
04:26
MM:
Had a very good friend whose older brother went to Marist and I Looking back on
its very vivid I remember I had cataloging a catalog in my room and my parents and you can go
away to school but it can't be too far you know that was like the parameters. So, when my good
friend's older brother went to Marist we came up to visit it I said wow mom is only two hours
away and it's small and my parents liked it and then my girlfriend said she would go with me in
the two of us packed our bags and went together and that's how we picked it really play primarily
because I think it was and so I was going to be away but I wasn’t going to be.
05:10
GN:
That far away.
05:10
MM:
Right.
05:13
GN:
But what about was there a risk I mean Marist was not well known when you were
coming here.
05:19
MM:
You know what this is my standard thing that I always laugh about thirty five years
ago you could say in some circles that you went to Marist college and you add a little addendum
and you would say it's a small school up in Poughkeepsie Dutchess County New York. And
people go oh yeah Marist you know type of thing I no longer is that necessary. But I think that
the biggest draw was that we had visited the campaigns if I may say my parents or maybe that
the Catholic reference I have to tell you. Chapel was the big draw.
05:55
GN:
The brothers walking around some of them with Cassocks still.
05:58
MM:
Yeah and my parents felt. Very safe sending me to this school.
06:04
GN:
Little did they know Brown Derby.
06:08
MM:
And Franks and the whole thing. Talk about how times have changed this is going to
interrupt not my brother above me but the brother above that he went to Kentucky on a football
scholarship. That was ok he could go you know.
06:24
GN:
Part if the jock thing.
06:26
MM:
Exactly.
06:27
GN:
And when it came to Marist than let's begin from the beginning what did you study
was there a major.
06:35
MM:
Oh I knew and now to talk about focus and I have had this conversation my father
he's looking down now I said to him I am majoring in English and I'm going to take French ok
and says that he said to me, ‘oh that's fine, Maureen but you do need to know that when you get
out of college you need to be able to be employable you sure you want to major in English
because I'm thinking maybe you should get teacher certification and then you know a minor in
English or something.’ And I said no no I'm majoring in English and again he just you know I
am not getting anywhere with her I know I'm going to let our major and I never looked back. I
wanted to major in English that’s all I ever wanted.
07:24
GN:
Let's go through who did you meet in there your George Sommer was not exactly
easiest person to get along with.
07:29
MM:
No he was a little intimidating and he scared me a little bit. Oh yeah honest with you
Gus he definitely scared me and plus the fact you know the deal your at that registrar wish I
could remember what was the hall that you register and the lady was Donohue and you registrar.
07:46
GN:
Nancy Donohue and you register.
07:00
MM:
Thank you and you'd be online you know you well you know I have to take English
history part two or I am going to take Shakespeare and invariably someone will say that's Dr.
Sommer do you know what you're getting into, and I would say I know but I have to you know.
Now I am a teacher now blabla I'm a little bit more mature than it was then again we're cleaning
out our basement and I for one who knows why. Probably have your handwriting I have this
folder of papers and there's old term paper that I wrote for Dr. Sommer I must have saved it
because he wrote a and did like all nice little things in the old typewriter print you know before
that and I'm thinking I probably saved this paper to show my other Marist friends you know I
survived Dr. Sommer so to speak.
08:42
GN:
They want given out often.
08:43
MM:
I wasn't a scholar I wasn't a scholar I probably just tried who knows.
08:48
GN:
You looked at him nicely and he responded you know he was he liked good students
and my recollection is indeed you must have been because use you would not have persevered
the course with that team landing was a little.
09:06
MM:
He was tough and then I had Louis and then, oh gosh I'm never forget this I don't
know if I'm getting off to tangent I will remember Dr. Schroeder.
09:18
GN:
John Schroeder for speech.
09:22
MM:
And I was in a group and this is so vivid I will tell you why this is important because
later on I said I started we will get to it but I worked in business before I became a teacher and I
took speech and in the group of students in that class were dominantly business students it was
that her section I got in here and the truth be told there may have been three or four women in all.
I was so oh god I was so nervous how I am I going to talking in front of all these guys but you
had to do you had all these different topics I got a card and he said Maureen just talk about your
favorite author. I talked just about F Scott Fitzgerald.
10:08
GN:
F Scott Fitzgerald long island
10:09
MM:
Because I knew some I could you know and I'll never forget it, in front of all these
kids my husband will know the names out of the you know I had no the names they were
actually impressed with it that I could top gear and when it was over and I realized that I could
do it. I learned a lesson that if you do know what you're talking about you can do it. because
another situation in that very same class either you had to speak exprelanitil about topics and he
gave me something that I knew nothing about and he was so kind I couldn't I couldn't keep up
with the flow. He's called me over and he says sometimes dear you just say there's so much more
I could have said but knows not the time was that the sweets thing to because he intuited this was
not a comfortable zone for me but I did learn that lesson and if you do know what you're talking
about it sure makes it a lot easier.
11:16
GN:
How about other people to did you have Zuccarello, Dr. Balch, or Jerry White.
11:22
MM:
Did I have Roscoe Balch for something.
11:25
GN:
History.
11:27
MM:
Maybe I don't remember.
11:28
GN:
It would be old history wouldn't be anything long time ago.
11:33
MM:
I had Tang for Asian history I liked that and Madam Greg.
11:41
GN:
Oh yeah for French.
11:43
MM:
For French.
11:44
GN:
How was your French accent was excitable.
11:46
MM:
Très bien well actually I loved it I loved it so much I love it so much but I will tell
you, you know I was I love the part about Marist I don't know the kids would say this now that
you would see your professors all over and I skipped want to her classes and it was advance
French and you know Gus those classes are small if you skip the class that was very bad. Yeah
plus the fact that if there's ten students in the class or something let's say fifteen you skip Madam
Greg know.
12:17
GN:
Its very obvious.
12:18
MM:
Yeah I skipped it. Slept late. Walked out of the cafeteria and here she was like was
yesterday thirty five years walking toward me and I said oh my God what are the chances of that
to see the impression that it may be because there was my professor the gilt I enjoyed those
classes.
12:41
GN:
That's good to hear. Now at Marist.
12:45
MM:
Of course this guy Gus Nolan he was fun to.
12:48
GN:
Well what was the drama class did you do out of town with me or?
12:53
MM:
No I didn't do out of town we had a like I used to do a lot of the anthology and you
would expose me to a lot of different playwrights you know it Ibsen,
Waiting for Good,
see this
words retrieval right now, but play of the twenties plays of the forties just I loved it and up until
that time I never read American Theater you know in high school I don't really think I read into
any great depth. You know.
13:25
GN:
Ok other things now about the activities were you in student government I was on.
13:29
MM:
Freshman Future Council with Pat Forsyth oh what was his first name Pat Forsyth
yes it was he. Yeah Freshman Future Council with my girlfriend yeah it was fun.
13:45
GN:
For one year.
13:47
MM:
Freshman just a freshman right.
13:50
GN:
It says some about did you do. Crew as well.
13:53
MM:
Yes I was on the first women's crew team who could believe that right.
13:57
GN:
How did you do that.
13:58
MM:
I'll tell you my two good friends, and you know who to this day we're still friends.
I'll tell you that story we knew some of the male rowers ok obviously everybody know the male
rowers on campus, and one of them was an upper classmen and he has some connection to
starting this women’s crew team and would work with the male coach to try to get one boat, and
look it look around the campus at the time at the time it was very small who can we get and he
asked my girlfriend Phyllis and she said Maureen let’s try it and I love the sports I loved it you
know.
14:40
GN:
You did the running and everything in the morning the training.
14:42
MM:
I did I did and I'm not being selfish facing I was probably the worst one on the team
you know what I mean I'm not just trying to say that there were.
14:52
GN:
Once your oar in the water you gotta pull it like the others.
14:55
MM:
There was one boat I think they started so small one boat then maybe a couple extra
people I wasn't trust me I wasn't going to any kind of trials or anything I think they were happy
just to field a team.
15:08
GN:
Well and did you go to any.
15:12
MM:
We went Connecticut we went to the Head of the Charles oh it was a wonderful,
wonderful experiences.
15:16
GN:
And did you row on the Hudson here.
15:19
MM:
Yes oh absolutely that's where we practice and we would run down that hill in the
cold and it was a great experience.
15:29
GN:
Well you the first woman that I’ve talk to now in this whole list that has been on crew
I guess there was one other boat later on now.
15:38
MM:
Oh yeah now it's quite a big thing right I remember calling home and I saying mom
and dad they go what.
15:48
GN:
What is crew no body there to applaud you in the morning when you're running and
nobody there to see you finish the race but there's a certain esthetic ambience.
16:02
MM:
Oh absolutely and truthfully it's a beautiful I mean I love I love you know when the
Olympics you loved to watching and anytime you see them on the water it's a beautiful sport.
16:12
GN:
Ok continuing on about Marist at this time not to many woman here any woman
teaches Madam Greg was probably it, or maybe.
16:12
MM:
Senora Malave-Stoiber was my Spanish took two years of Spanish as well, and
women teachers oh yeah oh I took my senior year again art history with this woman whose last
name starts with P.
16:46
GN:
In the athletic department?
16:48
MM:
No art history.
16:50
GN:
Not Fisher but there’s another Dr. whatever her name is I forget now myself.
16:57
MM:
I took art history and I loved it and I and I was another good nice experience
because as one of her things I remember just recalling this recently I was at the Metropolitan I
had a over vacation going to the MET an study paintings and I loved it she was small and
denotive and her name escapes me right now I think it starts with a p.
17:23
GN:
Yeah I can. Later on there I remember the problems their trying to storing the slides
that they had for you know where were they going to be stored were the part of the art
department or part of the library and I remember getting it discussions about that.
17:38
MM:
I took that clearly as an elective with as senior year with elective Dr. Miringoff who
went off to channel four fame.
17:48
GN:
All yeah. Public opinion.
17:51
MM:
Yeah I would actually I could have been in his first class here I could have been his
first or second here.
17:58
GN:
Did you go up to one of the elections and take the exits?
18:02
MM:
No Gus you what it was the nason start of his career it was intro to politics one of
the things I had to do was go into Poughkeepsie an attendance a city council meeting and I will
say when I came up here I was probably not the last alumni but probably the alumni before that I
was walking and I run into him and I introduce myself and said hello yatayat and I said you had
to be a baby when I hear when I hear because I was in your first class and he said something
crazy like you know Maureen believe it or not and I was like twenty five he did I was like
nineteen and you know what my first thought was I was afraid of him and he was twenty five I
mean I think about then how you have so little respect still teacher student I had a great you
know what I mean.
19:00
GN:
He was a Ph D. Out of MIT yeah.
19:02
MM:
Exactly.
19:04
GN:
That’s why we took him in here little Jewish boy but he managed to.
19:09
MM:
Yeah he sure did
I do think that I may have been his first section here ever bless his
heart.
19:14
GN:
We'll have to pursue that a little more talk a little bit about some of the assignments
that that you found unique or interesting or whether any they could be an English or they could
be in well they do any papers George Sommers papers.
19:29
MM:
Yeah, I did the papers well I was an English major so clearly that was a very
significant part of my tenure here because I was always on that Olivetti and typing and blah blah
and to this day I never or rarely wrote out a paper I would just type it. I was that type of them and
I think that I learned because of the number of papers that I had to do being an English major.
Yes I learned to write.
20:04
GN:
Every term at least one major one small reports on books.
20:10
MM:
I did I learn to write. I flip back being a language major, I laugh at this one of my
funniest things was that, and my husband will laugh at this too. Because I was a language major I
had to performance in a language performance I had a sing Guantanamera in the auditory to the
whole language department in Spanish think about it. Yes signal that did I want to do that no, did
I do it, had to do it to this day yo saro.
20:45
GN:
Well it is such a thing is the hardest thing is you had to do.
20:51
MM:
Doctor Sommers papers clearly were probably the speech part was hard. I never
found the language part hard because I really that was I loved it, and I'm going to tell you the
truth we didn't have to take back in the day science and I didn't have to take like statistic and
things like that I had a very liberal arts education I took topic in biology class I didn't take a lab
you know.
21:28
GN:
Do remember was it a sixty-sixty. Did you have to take sixty that you wanted and
sixty the department there was no core.
21:36
MM:
No and I can remember that Gus to be honest with you I know I had a certain
number of foreign language that's why it took two years of Spanish to tell you the truth but I felt
like I felt whether or not this the education that I received is what kids are it’s not what they're
getting today I got a true liberal arts education that I don't regret it for a minute and I got what I
wanted.
22:02
GN:
Good hold on today I want to get back to that later out what I want to say now is
moving on from Marist to have to Marist and so life after you employed and mention that you
have some friendships still that you had in Marist is that true?
22:22
MM:
Totally scarily true I will say that three weeks ago Gus I had, Ray and I hosted in my
backyard our annual summer barbecue if you will and at that barbecue, were six couple twelve
people only two of the twelve to not graduate from Marist and one couple were a way that week.
So it would have been another amazing, amazing relationships that have sustained me to this
day.
22:58
GN:
Now this is a part of the problem what would you say you what the ingredients that
caused that kind of a bond-ship while you were here that lasted so because we needed it today.
23:10
MM:
One of the things that I think looking back probably is proximity truth of it is that
many of the women that I became close to and friends friendly with back in the day if you well
they will live on Long Island so on the vacations, on Christmas vacation summer vacation I
could still go see my girlfriend Barbara now you know when you're growing up you hang around
with the kids that are within your town to maybe the next town of that way and you know what I
mean I could now that I'm driving and I know this I could hang around with the kid from you
know that why I think and I think that there are a lot and I think that there are a lot of Common
values to tell you the truth. You know.
23:50
GN:
On campus are very friendly with the girls and guys I mean there were mutual kind of
living together. Suffering together whether they got George Sommer who was very demanding
on somewhat in significant things like where do you put the [Inaudible] you put it on the bottom
of the page right or at the end and you know writing and had to be two space between them
technical stuff that would drive you crazy.
24:19
MM:
The funny part about that is that I was the only one that was an English major I was
the only one looking back two psychology. Oh I'm going to correct you Barba my girlfriend
Barba was a French major, but I was the only that was an English major had psychology, had
science, and they became teachers and I was not in that at all.
24:44
GN:
Did you know Dr. Belanger, Joseph Belanger?
24:47
MM:
Yes I never I didn't, but my good friend Barbara did she lived in, she went abroad
because she was the French major.
24:56
GN:
She was a French. The business of the experiences at Marist I guess the most general
is the liberal arts education when you graduated you didn't go into teaching you went in to
business.
25:16
MM:
Here's what I did. I am go back in time a little bit I told you I wanted to travel I
wanted to meet people. I was a very good I had my French so I'm going to work with airlines
now in order to do that you have to get your foot in the door as everybody knows yes. I
graduated, I used to announce flights at Kennedy airport TWA Flight 800 is now arriving from
Paris, and if they had customers that sometimes were at the ticket booth and there was no one
around who could speak French I could help them they say [Jumbling in French] I could help
them a little bit there. And guess what that job was a part time job and because I didn't make any
money a part time job I did that in tandem with like did tad and whatever and I just worked my
way up and when I retired from their I had a pretty good job.
26:20
GN:
Where did you go did you live in New York?
26:23
MM:
I lived at home, and then for I lived at home with mom and dad and then I got
married.
26:27
GN:
Ok, in the airline business did you go up to a front office or you are just?
26:34
MM:
Oh no I became the manager of reservations operations for the entire airline. Oh and
I ended up I started off at Kennedy airport as I said part time then they said to me, “Do you want
to be,” you know they must have saw something that they you know to want to be in a ministry
assist and I said, “Yeah sure I still have my airline passes I can still go to Arizona sure I'll do
that,” and you know a lucky fortunately whatever it is it evolves.
27:13
GN:
It was the French that went along with it?
27:15
MM:
I think that it was good and I also think that Gus I think that I was doing something
that I loved and I worked hard and they could see that I could write and I could be organized and
I don't know what can I said.
27:36
GN:
You were at the right place at the right time.
27:37
MM:
Yeah exactly and I was comfortable working with the boys I'm going to tell you
because the airline at that time management was almost all male.
27:51
GN:
But the waitress were flying aloft?
27:54
MM:
they were flying aloft they would cringe if they heard you say the word waitress
Gus, but you absolutely right.
28:01
GN:
What do they call them?
28:02
MM:
Flight attendants.
28:04
GN:
Ok now, but those days. Why would you give up a nice job in the air lines to become
a teacher?
28:13
MM:
I am going to tell you why. So here I am working in Manhattan. This is so much
here I am working in Manhattan and I'm loving it. I am married at the time. Ray has just
completed his M.B.A. by going at night he went to Marist he goes to St John's University
M.B.A. at night and truthfully the two of us were just married there's not a lot of money both of
us are not going to graduated.
28:40
GN:
How many years after Marist?
28:42
MM:
Ten years.
28:44
GN:
Marry ten years after?
28:45
MM:
Yes.
28:47
Ray Murphy:
No we were married a year after.
28:49
MM:
Oh yeah we married a year after I'm sorry I miss understood. So, now we're married
ten years and we don't have children. Yeah, and he finishes M.B.A. and he says to Ray says to
me, “You know Maureen you know I'm finished now finally cause you know a back is so
expense you do want to go back for your for a Masters.” And I said, “You know I do, but just
being if you don't mind being a brat that I was for my father.” I say “Yeah but you know what
but I don't think I want to go for business.” And I'll tell you in the in the interim I had gone to a
now gone to a community college and taken a business course to just sort of get my feet just to
stay in the academic just to stay in the academics it was inexpensive and I could do cause I
always liked school. So he says, “well what do you want to do blabla.” I said, “You know what I
think I’m going try education. I'll start and see how I like it you know I'm going to get all get my
master’s in education.” I actually looked into the fact that if I got a master's education. I thought
that ultimately it might even help me to be in a training department for human resources still
within the parameters of the business world so let me dabble and see what have, where this goes.
I started taking these education courses did not like them a love them.
30:23
GN:
And how many years did it take?
30:24
MM:
It took me a long time I'll tell you why because I got interrupted by having a baby,
and I had got half way through had my baby stayed home for a while, and I worked part time as a
teaching assistant, finished my degree at night doing my student teaching, and now I've been
teaching twelve years, eleven years, no no take that back take that back eleven in one place
fifteen years.
30:47
GN:
Where were you teaching? Where did you get this job to teach?
30:52
MM:
First job I taught was in a small Catholic school somebody say oh look at this person
I’ll hire her.
31:01
GN:
They forgot to pay you.
31:03
MM:
Yah they forgot to pay me, it was me it was my stewardship you know it's ok I did
that for awhile.
31:09
GN:
Give you a place to go.
31:11
MM:
Your right and it was it was a good experience though, because I'll never forget the
woman that hired me for my first teaching position business in any event I got hired there I
worked there I think three four years and then now I'm in the public school system in long island
I teach first grade in Roslyn New York which is a very…
31:31
GN:
Step back you teach what?
31:33
MM:
The first grade.
31:34
GN:
In elementary school, so you deal with the little ones is not a contrast wouldn’t you
want or you teach them how to read and write?
31:44
MM:
Yeah it was total contrast Gus, but I’m going to say this is one of my greatest,
greatest, what I would say my blessings in life because I do not think that I would have been the
teacher I am today had I done it at twenty one. Alright I follow my passion then and I feel like
I'm following it now very good I mean I feel that's like that like a life's blessing you said, but I
was able to really look back in my life say I had again risky to say this to have the courage to
change careers and follow where my heart led me.
32:30
GN:
Yeah, yeah, I'm missing something here that because one hand I hear of the liberal
arts and you talk about your books and grammar, writing papers, and reading in plays and so
there's an openness of ideas and so on and then you have to transfer all of that down to a very
munt level of saying.
32:51
MM:
For the first Grade you mean?
32:52
GN:
To approach them. Respectful language maybe.
32:57
MM:
Right, I hear you. these little children though oh I how do I put it into words.
33:08
GN:
How many are there? Typical class?
33:12
MM:
Oh, nineteen too twenty-three. Ok it's management to and dealing with the parents
and speaking. I'm not finish though I'm hoping that my story's not finished I am gonna tell you
why because I'm still going to school I just finished a week of Columbia are I've been taking all
these courses through Harvard has this online program that you can so I'm hoping that my story's
not over I would like to continue and be a teacher, now.
33:47
GN:
Oh well I don't mean to dismiss what you're doing is not it's a matter that to get
yourself into that and of course I couldn’t go in to high school to teach I mean that would drive
me crazy.
33:03
MM:
I don't want to teach anybody in high school that's about my hip.
33:10
GN:
But I would see you come in and the college arena readily I mean just in a little talk
with you.
34:17
MM:
Oh you know Gus that's very nice of you to say because truthfully that I like I say
that I feel like that chapter is still a potential for me and I'm still thinking about that one of the,
and I will say too probably one of my most rewarding part aspect I love hosting student teacher’s
in my building that's very rewarding for me you know when they come and they’re with you for
the whole semester.
34:45
GN:
Are you on a Ph D. program?
34:46
MM:
No, no.
34:50
GN:
Well look into it because you know two or three more years you know who doesn't
like you should come up here more often. Comment on your liberal arts experiences again give
me two plays that you really liked or stories or novels or short stories.
35:10
MM:
Well-loved everything about Gatsby
cause I was in thrilled with all his stories.
35:15
GN:
The Great Gatsby
.
35:16
MM:
F. Fitzgerald everything about that I loved. That Theodore Dreiser,
Sister Carrie
was one of my favorite books I can’t get rid of that. That's downstairs you know Mark Twain.
35:28
GN:
Did we do
An American Tragedy
to?
35:29
MM:
We did you know. What I don't know if I did
An American Tragedy
with you, but I
that home on the shelf too so I you know being a reader I still I don’t know.
35:44
GN:
Changing gear again. Changes at Marist you come on here on the campus you
compare where it was when you came in and where it is now.
35:58
MM:
Some mind-blowing experience.
35:59
GN:
Yeah. It is the structure is this building do you remember the Donnelly building, do
you remember the library, where was it?
36:09
MM:
In Fontaine.
36:12
GN
Oh was it fountain? No, it was in Donnelly.
36:16
MM:
Was the round building?
36:18
GN:
And was the Brother Adrian Perreault was a librarian. Small little guy. Dictator.
36:26
MM:
See no I did not have that recollection sorry to support you on that I would have like
to support you on that.
36:34
GN:
I don't need it I just throwing some names out that.
36:37
MM:
You know and I'm sure this is not the case now. You would sometimes go to the
Vassar library, I had to go the Vassar to get a particular sonnet or something for one Dr.
Sommers classes yeah, and I was a big deal because you had to get a ride to go over there and
see if you can borrow this you know remember no internet, and I'm sure that's not the case now
at the Marist library.
37:08
GN:
Now I was even going to compare with you the do you remember going to the
PMLA.
37:13
MM:
No.
37:14
GN:
The modern language association readers guide to periodical.
37:19
MM: T
he
periodical guide of course.
37:20
GN:
Yeah. And taking out and looking up something have something you know.
37:24
MM:
I did that in graduate school I remember doing that long ago begin looking for
educational articles.
37:29
GN:
You went to the shelf and pulled the book you know what they do now, and they get
a printout of the damn thing and I am saying you lose the joy of going down the column to find
that the book is no there or you open it and the pages are missing.
37:46
MM:
The green books.
37:48
GN:
Just aside bar again George Sommers he has past away.
37:54
MM: W
e did see that in The alumni news.
37:56
GN:
I just had lunch with Ann his wife two days ago, she sold the house in Cape Cod, and
she's now living in Florida near her son Chrissy the youngest and you know talks with Joy of the
days of old you know when George was running high.
38:17
MM:
You talk to her again you tell her that you ran into me and I found this paper and
clearly getting that A and one of those remarks clearly gave me like aw maybe I wasn't such a
bad anyway.
38:29
GN:
There was a woman Carole Ireland here about three weeks ago she graduated in
seventy two I think you know, and it was another one of those stories about oh oh George
Sommer you know was so he had made his imprint in the English department, and anybody who
came through to this day back to Marist. What would you say about the students do you know
anything about the kind of students that are a college now you have dealings with?
38:59
MM:
You mean the kids today just at Marist?
39:01
GN:
No Comparing kids today with what to do any coming to Marist.
39:08
MM:
Oh, I have two of my friend’s kids graduated from Marist two my friends' kids
graduated, and I have another good friend who's nice and planning to come here it's a very
popular is it very popular and we laugh and on Long Island you can see cars all the time with the
Marist. Yeah, you know we talked about it before when I went here, and you said were you go
Marist you say oh it's a small school now you graduate from Marist they go oh what was it like.
My kid is you know looking at that or my nephew was looking at that it’s hard to get into.
39:51
GN:
I wouldn't be able to get into here much less teacher. I don't think I would get in, A,
couldn't afford it and B, I wouldn't be able to pass the entrances exam.
39:58
MM:
Well you know that was another thing I guess Marist was affordable too in fact I
think it was three thousand dollars a year.
40:08
GN:
Yeah, now it’s only like forty-one, but what money you know students structure.
40:19
MM:
It was it was just very you knew everybody on campus.
40:25
GN:
Let me put it this way. Marist now in the public arena the public opinion polls your
friend there Miringoff you're seeing that constantly all kinds of ways.
40:38
MM:
All the time on channel four and the athletic team the basketball team is on the
news.
40:44
GN:
The girls.
40:45
MM:
Yeah. Oh how about that. Yeah how about that.
40:50
GN:
They won about three years ago they went to Sweet sixteen.
40:55
MM:
That was big news.
40:56
GN:
Incredible what would you tell the president is now if you had a chance about the day
in which we live. What should be maintained at Marist what do you.
41:12
MM:
I think you know its funny right before I met with you Gus I was sitting out on the
veranda there in the Adirondack chair I just remarked what a vision that the president on down
everybody who has had for this school how wonderful it is that they've maintained the vision to
take it from this to that, and how wonderful, but I would hope, and I don't think this will happen I
hope that you would still maintain the what I loved about it the intimacy of the relationship
because in light to me the truth of it has it's how we deal with one another and learned a lot about
that on a small campus seeing your professors and yeah, and just the atmosphere you would hate
for it to get to big and lose that lack of that interpersonal skills because at the end of the day
that’s what people successful I think. Who I am I to say but there's such a big piece of it there
and look at this campus and as I did I said wow what a vision that they had in every part of how
they built the buildings and everything seems to go together and it seems a physically is a warm
place you hope that the interior are reflecting that you know because you cannot you can bottle
what I had here for those four years. You know the relationships and all that.
42:45
GN:
So good to hear you say that, but the thrust is to try to bring it down that what’s
happening now is that the kids will come out of class and they're right on their phones calling
home, their girlfriends, or boyfriends of it yesterday and there not talking to the people next to
them. So you know that's one of the difficulties we have to try to they make great efforts for it. I
mean I had asked one Debbie Bell who is in charge of the dean of students do the students get a
chance to use of facilities like we have stadium here with light on you know we have a big
basketball court over there we have a swimming pool. Oh says, “Gus you know they have
intermural till two am in the morning on a field I don't come to see it.” Their schedule I mean
college kids the day is kind of switched so they're living in another part of the day. And they’re
really working hard to do that you know.
43:49
MM:
Yeah because it is an important component.
43:52
GN:
Right, right and I was talking to the president the other day and the next thrust is to
put it on old dining room out over The Hudson like up to the bridge to the views Hudson be more
dramatic but to make situations where they can eat together more you know round tables rather
square tables little thing like that makes so opportunity’s.
44:17
MM:
When we were here in our cafeteria we would go to dinner in cafeteria you would
know it's just about not personally everybody that you know by face just you know everyone in
that dining hall pretty much I would saying may not know all the names but you knew them
because you will see them all the time just as I saw madam Greg as I came right out of there.
44:44
GN:
That's part of it. Ok, the last question let me see where we are 45 min into it in the
times of which we have. How would you answer this political question. Is college worth it, is
college worth it you know financially is college worth it in terms of the time spent and doing
these things is college worth it? And I mean because other people will say if it's to make a living
you know you don't need this
42:21
MM:
You know I almost don't even like the answer that question I'm going to tell you
why because many people the popular answer I think now is that it's not worth it when you're
being charged forty five thousand dollars a year and you're going to get out and not find a job
and been debit for a hundred thousand dollars with our economy and you could be being you can
be you know a craft person and makes more money than you do in a professional capacity and
there there's so much being said about that and that there's no job security let's say to her a white
collar job etcetera, etcetera. Having said all of that, there's a part of me Gus that I have to the
idealist and education is an education and a liberal arts education makes you who you are and
gives to the soul and gives the education is so important. I'll never forget my husband's mother
said no matter what and she grew up in the depression she was very poor and she put herself
through nursing school and she said education is the one thing in the world. Unknowns and
really take from you know once you get it is inside of you. So despite all the naysayers who say
is it worth it once it's in the it's worth it to me I don't know if I made sense but.
46:47
GN:
What it does because once you see the other side of that is you go can’t go away.
46:51
MM:
But you have to want to do it.
46:54
GN:
You have to want to do it that’s true but the other side of it is to make a lot of money
don't go to college and go to work right away and what to do with the money. You drink, drugs
you know you don't how to go to the theater you know how to analyze a book you don't know to.
47:13
MM:
Well that's it, and you know what I said this again you can you can argue in my case
was at luck was it being, was it working hard whatever was thirty five years ago my father said
to me “I am I sending you to school just to be an English major you have to be able to get a job.”
And I said to him the brat that I was “I said Dad I'm not going to college just to get a job.” And
he said, “you better be able to support yourself,” cause he was you he was practical one of five
kids grow up in the depression he worked hard he you know it was his money I was spending
let's be honest. So I mean, but he gave in to me I was lucky. Thank you.
47:58
GN:
That a giving you the freedom to do it you know and you're following your own
thrust of course had a lot to do with it.
48:07
MM:
But then the biggest thing for the have to want to do it you know.
48:12
GN:
And again you know almost coming back to where you were talking about the first
grade thinking about getting kids to learn how to read what a wonderful thing it because the
really you know once they start to read they want to read everything if they.
48:30
MM:
Do you know what you know I have to tell you get these people and in September
and I hate September cause they come in and in June I cry. Cause they’re reading and you look at
their faces and you say wow I got them to do that their really reading. And the moms and the
dads are like my child is reading it's wonderful.
48:51
GN:
And that's only one part the other part don't spit. Share all this other stuff you know
don't forget to flush you know there are other basics that and if you don't go to school who
sometimes you don’t learn that there are people out in the world who really don't know that and
so that’s it well is there anything we didn't say.
49:12
MM:
No, I hope I didn't talk too much?
49:15
GN:
No, no we’ve only talk for fifty minutes and we have ten minutes if you still want to
talk about.
49:26
MM:
I was saying on the way up here to you know the crew part that you touched upon
too, but I love to the ladies point intermural to because it was a small school I couldn’t do in high
school.
49:37
GN:
Volleyball.
49:38
MM:
I did everything I did volleyball I did basketball, touch football I had fun. You know
the intimate surroundings I felt comfortable.
49:47
GN:
Did we have the McCann center?
49:49
MM:
No sadly this husband of mine he played basketball for Mr. Pietro and Ray played
varsity basketball for four years here and much to his chagrin the new gym did not arrive until
well after his departure we don't hold it against them.
50:09
GN:
No but you see we had a small bin box at they could play of awhile and you can sit
along with corridors of it you wouldn’t be on the court and a watch a game from there you know
right so that was one part of it and then of course they had tremendous travel arrangements for
that team they used to get on cars and they go to Philadelphia and St. Peter would make
sandwiches I understand.
50:38
MM:
Yeah, Ray, remembering that.
50:40
RM:
Blondies and cookies.
50:46
MM:
I will tell you an interesting story we were up in Alaska my husband and I like to
travel we travel we try to travel a lot so were in Alaska and were taking a taxi cab I guess from
Anchorage airport to the hotel and the land of the midnight sun and the cab driver where you
from I'm from New York my husband is in the car he knew Mr. Pietro
51:09
GN:
Yeah playing basketball.
51:11
MM:
So funny I'm in Alaska and there is a guy who goes you played for Ron Pietro I
know Ron Pietro. Alaska is a very small place within a very big place.
51:21
GN:
Yeah and you know and I did a myself and my wife did a trip to Alaska you know we
thought we saw Alaska you know we flew in to Anchorage wherever it is and we took the boat
up you know and it goes up like a day or two journey. Then I turned around and it goes back you
know and covers that much of Alaska which its bigger than continental USA. You know the
whole from Alaska islands and you seen this little bit of it and you think oh I have been to
Alaska. Even there we tock a helicopter I one time will there and land on one of the ice thing you
know we were hoping it would be cancelled because it was dark and over cast and sometimes if
it's raining hard they won’t go up you know let it rain because we had gotten the tickets and then
it was like I don’t know if I really want to go on this thing but I did but we did and what an
experience it was to see that.
52:25
MM:
At all this with great Gus I'm very flattered to be here I in enjoyed it very much and
its great to see the stomping.
52:30
GN:
Ground is a great ride nice having you back. Yeah maybe sometimes we'll get Ray
here.
52:33
MM:
Oh sure he would love to.
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Transcribed by William Dougherty
For the Marist College Archives and Special Collections
Transcript – Maureen Murphy
Interviewee:
Maureen Murphy
Interviewer:
Gus Nolan
Interview Date:
27 August 2011
Location:
James Cannavino Library
Subject Headings:
Murphy, Maureen
Marist College Alumni
Marist College (Poughkeepsie N.Y.)
Rowing
English
Summary:
Maureen reflects on her time growing up Long Island before coming to Marist to
major in English. She speaks about how her time at Marst allowed her to blossom and continue
into new activities like the first female crew team at Marist. Maureen also talks about how she
used her education working for airlines, and then continued it to become a teacher. Maureen ends
with he reflection on if College is still worth it or not. Maureen is also joined by her husband
Ray.
00:08
Gus Nolan:
Today is Wednesday the 27th of August we have the opportunity to interview
Maureen Murphy and she and her husband have come from in Long Island New York and good
after noon.
00:21
Maureen Murphy:
Hi Gus how are you and just let me say I'm so happy to be here and so
happy that you invited me.
00:27
GN:
It's just a thrill to have you back and to have same Maureen that was here years ago.
00:31
MM:
The thrill is mine isn’t that the expression “the thrill is mine?”
00:35
GN:
Could you Maureen the first part of this is before Marist sure so give me a thumbnail
review of your early years, where you born in grade school where to go up as etc.
00:46
MM:
OK I was youngest of five children and grew up in Westbury New York went to
Catholic elementary, Catholic high school, Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville Long Island
and that brought me to Marist.
00:58
GN:
Well you're jumping a little bit now we have to see you get you through high school
what did you do activities in high school did you were you in art club drama.
01:07
MM:
You know let me tell you something about that because Gus this is one of the things
that Ray and I were talking about on the way up I went to a huge catholic high school in Long
Island I mean big and I have to tell you I was very shy I participated in like the very small groups
with believe it or not like the religion club or I would do like you know different activities. It was
not until I came to Marist that I became more and active participation in things.
01:39
GN:
So you were quiet though school.
01:41
MM:
Much quieter in high school and I sometimes looking back I think it was a because I
was just you know shy kid and the school was so big I felt like Marist I just was so comfortable
and I blossomed more here at Marist to tell you the truth.
01:58
GN:
Were you in the family.
01:59
MM:
I am the Youngest of five.
02:01
GN:
Well maybe that's why you were kept quite.
02:03
MM:
It could be You know there was a lot going on and I was the last one and they just
sent me on that bus.
02:11
GN:
Trinity there was a treasure there her name was sister Janene.
02:17
MM:
Oh gosh I don't remember sister Janene.
02:19
GN:
She's was my sister.
02:21
MM:
What Dominica.
02:22
GN:
Yeah Janene Nolan.
02:24
MM:
Really yeah?
02:26
GN:
So, she was there for about twenty years I guess which would cover well maybe not
when you there.
02:32
MM:
What did she teach?
02:33
GN:
She collected the money for tuition.
02:35
MM:
Oh my dad would have known her no my dad would have known her isn't that
funny.
02:41
GN:
Just a sidebar about how about the summers did you work in the summer work in a
bakeries or some place?
02:50
MM: Oh my goodness did I work I work everywhere I worked at a beach stand I worked
in a supermarket I worked supper market in a movie theater I did telemarketing I even when I
was like gosh I was a make a Babysitter I was always into the work piece always making money
for school making always.
03:07
GN:
What you do with the money did you travel any?
03:09
MM:
You know what I've always loved travelling and younger as a younger child we took
small vacations you know you take a drive to the Adirondacks or the Poconos as a family, but
from age fourteen when I was fourteen years old my mother gave me a trip with her just my
mom and myself being the youngest sometime good things you know you wait long enough
something exciting happened. We went to England, Ireland, Scotland just the two of us I was
fourteen it was right before freshman year in high school, and I will tell you that I was
transformative. I said to my mom that I know what I was going to be when I grew up but I was
going to work for an airline and why is that way because I could travel and I kept to my word.
When I graduated from Marist that's what I did I first we'll get to this Gus, but that's what I first
did from hell or high water I was going to work for an airline and I did because I wanted to
travel.
04:11
GN:
Good ok so you're a woman was focused and you stay on problem how does it come
to pass then getting out of trinity you come to Marist did you know anybody here.
04:26
MM:
Had a very good friend whose older brother went to Marist and I Looking back on
its very vivid I remember I had cataloging a catalog in my room and my parents and you can go
away to school but it can't be too far you know that was like the parameters. So, when my good
friend's older brother went to Marist we came up to visit it I said wow mom is only two hours
away and it's small and my parents liked it and then my girlfriend said she would go with me in
the two of us packed our bags and went together and that's how we picked it really play primarily
because I think it was and so I was going to be away but I wasn’t going to be.
05:10
GN:
That far away.
05:10
MM:
Right.
05:13
GN:
But what about was there a risk I mean Marist was not well known when you were
coming here.
05:19
MM:
You know what this is my standard thing that I always laugh about thirty five years
ago you could say in some circles that you went to Marist college and you add a little addendum
and you would say it's a small school up in Poughkeepsie Dutchess County New York. And
people go oh yeah Marist you know type of thing I no longer is that necessary. But I think that
the biggest draw was that we had visited the campaigns if I may say my parents or maybe that
the Catholic reference I have to tell you. Chapel was the big draw.
05:55
GN:
The brothers walking around some of them with Cassocks still.
05:58
MM:
Yeah and my parents felt. Very safe sending me to this school.
06:04
GN:
Little did they know Brown Derby.
06:08
MM:
And Franks and the whole thing. Talk about how times have changed this is going to
interrupt not my brother above me but the brother above that he went to Kentucky on a football
scholarship. That was ok he could go you know.
06:24
GN:
Part if the jock thing.
06:26
MM:
Exactly.
06:27
GN:
And when it came to Marist than let's begin from the beginning what did you study
was there a major.
06:35
MM:
Oh I knew and now to talk about focus and I have had this conversation my father
he's looking down now I said to him I am majoring in English and I'm going to take French ok
and says that he said to me, ‘oh that's fine, Maureen but you do need to know that when you get
out of college you need to be able to be employable you sure you want to major in English
because I'm thinking maybe you should get teacher certification and then you know a minor in
English or something.’ And I said no no I'm majoring in English and again he just you know I
am not getting anywhere with her I know I'm going to let our major and I never looked back. I
wanted to major in English that’s all I ever wanted.
07:24
GN:
Let's go through who did you meet in there your George Sommer was not exactly
easiest person to get along with.
07:29
MM:
No he was a little intimidating and he scared me a little bit. Oh yeah honest with you
Gus he definitely scared me and plus the fact you know the deal your at that registrar wish I
could remember what was the hall that you register and the lady was Donohue and you registrar.
07:46
GN:
Nancy Donohue and you register.
07:00
MM:
Thank you and you'd be online you know you well you know I have to take English
history part two or I am going to take Shakespeare and invariably someone will say that's Dr.
Sommer do you know what you're getting into, and I would say I know but I have to you know.
Now I am a teacher now blabla I'm a little bit more mature than it was then again we're cleaning
out our basement and I for one who knows why. Probably have your handwriting I have this
folder of papers and there's old term paper that I wrote for Dr. Sommer I must have saved it
because he wrote a and did like all nice little things in the old typewriter print you know before
that and I'm thinking I probably saved this paper to show my other Marist friends you know I
survived Dr. Sommer so to speak.
08:42
GN:
They want given out often.
08:43
MM:
I wasn't a scholar I wasn't a scholar I probably just tried who knows.
08:48
GN:
You looked at him nicely and he responded you know he was he liked good students
and my recollection is indeed you must have been because use you would not have persevered
the course with that team landing was a little.
09:06
MM:
He was tough and then I had Louis and then, oh gosh I'm never forget this I don't
know if I'm getting off to tangent I will remember Dr. Schroeder.
09:18
GN:
John Schroeder for speech.
09:22
MM:
And I was in a group and this is so vivid I will tell you why this is important because
later on I said I started we will get to it but I worked in business before I became a teacher and I
took speech and in the group of students in that class were dominantly business students it was
that her section I got in here and the truth be told there may have been three or four women in all.
I was so oh god I was so nervous how I am I going to talking in front of all these guys but you
had to do you had all these different topics I got a card and he said Maureen just talk about your
favorite author. I talked just about F Scott Fitzgerald.
10:08
GN:
F Scott Fitzgerald long island
10:09
MM:
Because I knew some I could you know and I'll never forget it, in front of all these
kids my husband will know the names out of the you know I had no the names they were
actually impressed with it that I could top gear and when it was over and I realized that I could
do it. I learned a lesson that if you do know what you're talking about you can do it. because
another situation in that very same class either you had to speak exprelanitil about topics and he
gave me something that I knew nothing about and he was so kind I couldn't I couldn't keep up
with the flow. He's called me over and he says sometimes dear you just say there's so much more
I could have said but knows not the time was that the sweets thing to because he intuited this was
not a comfortable zone for me but I did learn that lesson and if you do know what you're talking
about it sure makes it a lot easier.
11:16
GN:
How about other people to did you have Zuccarello, Dr. Balch, or Jerry White.
11:22
MM:
Did I have Roscoe Balch for something.
11:25
GN:
History.
11:27
MM:
Maybe I don't remember.
11:28
GN:
It would be old history wouldn't be anything long time ago.
11:33
MM:
I had Tang for Asian history I liked that and Madam Greg.
11:41
GN:
Oh yeah for French.
11:43
MM:
For French.
11:44
GN:
How was your French accent was excitable.
11:46
MM:
Très bien well actually I loved it I loved it so much I love it so much but I will tell
you, you know I was I love the part about Marist I don't know the kids would say this now that
you would see your professors all over and I skipped want to her classes and it was advance
French and you know Gus those classes are small if you skip the class that was very bad. Yeah
plus the fact that if there's ten students in the class or something let's say fifteen you skip Madam
Greg know.
12:17
GN:
Its very obvious.
12:18
MM:
Yeah I skipped it. Slept late. Walked out of the cafeteria and here she was like was
yesterday thirty five years walking toward me and I said oh my God what are the chances of that
to see the impression that it may be because there was my professor the gilt I enjoyed those
classes.
12:41
GN:
That's good to hear. Now at Marist.
12:45
MM:
Of course this guy Gus Nolan he was fun to.
12:48
GN:
Well what was the drama class did you do out of town with me or?
12:53
MM:
No I didn't do out of town we had a like I used to do a lot of the anthology and you
would expose me to a lot of different playwrights you know it Ibsen,
Waiting for Good,
see this
words retrieval right now, but play of the twenties plays of the forties just I loved it and up until
that time I never read American Theater you know in high school I don't really think I read into
any great depth. You know.
13:25
GN:
Ok other things now about the activities were you in student government I was on.
13:29
MM:
Freshman Future Council with Pat Forsyth oh what was his first name Pat Forsyth
yes it was he. Yeah Freshman Future Council with my girlfriend yeah it was fun.
13:45
GN:
For one year.
13:47
MM:
Freshman just a freshman right.
13:50
GN:
It says some about did you do. Crew as well.
13:53
MM:
Yes I was on the first women's crew team who could believe that right.
13:57
GN:
How did you do that.
13:58
MM:
I'll tell you my two good friends, and you know who to this day we're still friends.
I'll tell you that story we knew some of the male rowers ok obviously everybody know the male
rowers on campus, and one of them was an upper classmen and he has some connection to
starting this women’s crew team and would work with the male coach to try to get one boat, and
look it look around the campus at the time at the time it was very small who can we get and he
asked my girlfriend Phyllis and she said Maureen let’s try it and I love the sports I loved it you
know.
14:40
GN:
You did the running and everything in the morning the training.
14:42
MM:
I did I did and I'm not being selfish facing I was probably the worst one on the team
you know what I mean I'm not just trying to say that there were.
14:52
GN:
Once your oar in the water you gotta pull it like the others.
14:55
MM:
There was one boat I think they started so small one boat then maybe a couple extra
people I wasn't trust me I wasn't going to any kind of trials or anything I think they were happy
just to field a team.
15:08
GN:
Well and did you go to any.
15:12
MM:
We went Connecticut we went to the Head of the Charles oh it was a wonderful,
wonderful experiences.
15:16
GN:
And did you row on the Hudson here.
15:19
MM:
Yes oh absolutely that's where we practice and we would run down that hill in the
cold and it was a great experience.
15:29
GN:
Well you the first woman that I’ve talk to now in this whole list that has been on crew
I guess there was one other boat later on now.
15:38
MM:
Oh yeah now it's quite a big thing right I remember calling home and I saying mom
and dad they go what.
15:48
GN:
What is crew no body there to applaud you in the morning when you're running and
nobody there to see you finish the race but there's a certain esthetic ambience.
16:02
MM:
Oh absolutely and truthfully it's a beautiful I mean I love I love you know when the
Olympics you loved to watching and anytime you see them on the water it's a beautiful sport.
16:12
GN:
Ok continuing on about Marist at this time not to many woman here any woman
teaches Madam Greg was probably it, or maybe.
16:12
MM:
Senora Malave-Stoiber was my Spanish took two years of Spanish as well, and
women teachers oh yeah oh I took my senior year again art history with this woman whose last
name starts with P.
16:46
GN:
In the athletic department?
16:48
MM:
No art history.
16:50
GN:
Not Fisher but there’s another Dr. whatever her name is I forget now myself.
16:57
MM:
I took art history and I loved it and I and I was another good nice experience
because as one of her things I remember just recalling this recently I was at the Metropolitan I
had a over vacation going to the MET an study paintings and I loved it she was small and
denotive and her name escapes me right now I think it starts with a p.
17:23
GN:
Yeah I can. Later on there I remember the problems their trying to storing the slides
that they had for you know where were they going to be stored were the part of the art
department or part of the library and I remember getting it discussions about that.
17:38
MM:
I took that clearly as an elective with as senior year with elective Dr. Miringoff who
went off to channel four fame.
17:48
GN:
All yeah. Public opinion.
17:51
MM:
Yeah I would actually I could have been in his first class here I could have been his
first or second here.
17:58
GN:
Did you go up to one of the elections and take the exits?
18:02
MM:
No Gus you what it was the nason start of his career it was intro to politics one of
the things I had to do was go into Poughkeepsie an attendance a city council meeting and I will
say when I came up here I was probably not the last alumni but probably the alumni before that I
was walking and I run into him and I introduce myself and said hello yatayat and I said you had
to be a baby when I hear when I hear because I was in your first class and he said something
crazy like you know Maureen believe it or not and I was like twenty five he did I was like
nineteen and you know what my first thought was I was afraid of him and he was twenty five I
mean I think about then how you have so little respect still teacher student I had a great you
know what I mean.
19:00
GN:
He was a Ph D. Out of MIT yeah.
19:02
MM:
Exactly.
19:04
GN:
That’s why we took him in here little Jewish boy but he managed to.
19:09
MM:
Yeah he sure did
I do think that I may have been his first section here ever bless his
heart.
19:14
GN:
We'll have to pursue that a little more talk a little bit about some of the assignments
that that you found unique or interesting or whether any they could be an English or they could
be in well they do any papers George Sommers papers.
19:29
MM:
Yeah, I did the papers well I was an English major so clearly that was a very
significant part of my tenure here because I was always on that Olivetti and typing and blah blah
and to this day I never or rarely wrote out a paper I would just type it. I was that type of them and
I think that I learned because of the number of papers that I had to do being an English major.
Yes I learned to write.
20:04
GN:
Every term at least one major one small reports on books.
20:10
MM:
I did I learn to write. I flip back being a language major, I laugh at this one of my
funniest things was that, and my husband will laugh at this too. Because I was a language major I
had to performance in a language performance I had a sing Guantanamera in the auditory to the
whole language department in Spanish think about it. Yes signal that did I want to do that no, did
I do it, had to do it to this day yo saro.
20:45
GN:
Well it is such a thing is the hardest thing is you had to do.
20:51
MM:
Doctor Sommers papers clearly were probably the speech part was hard. I never
found the language part hard because I really that was I loved it, and I'm going to tell you the
truth we didn't have to take back in the day science and I didn't have to take like statistic and
things like that I had a very liberal arts education I took topic in biology class I didn't take a lab
you know.
21:28
GN:
Do remember was it a sixty-sixty. Did you have to take sixty that you wanted and
sixty the department there was no core.
21:36
MM:
No and I can remember that Gus to be honest with you I know I had a certain
number of foreign language that's why it took two years of Spanish to tell you the truth but I felt
like I felt whether or not this the education that I received is what kids are it’s not what they're
getting today I got a true liberal arts education that I don't regret it for a minute and I got what I
wanted.
22:02
GN:
Good hold on today I want to get back to that later out what I want to say now is
moving on from Marist to have to Marist and so life after you employed and mention that you
have some friendships still that you had in Marist is that true?
22:22
MM:
Totally scarily true I will say that three weeks ago Gus I had, Ray and I hosted in my
backyard our annual summer barbecue if you will and at that barbecue, were six couple twelve
people only two of the twelve to not graduate from Marist and one couple were a way that week.
So it would have been another amazing, amazing relationships that have sustained me to this
day.
22:58
GN:
Now this is a part of the problem what would you say you what the ingredients that
caused that kind of a bond-ship while you were here that lasted so because we needed it today.
23:10
MM:
One of the things that I think looking back probably is proximity truth of it is that
many of the women that I became close to and friends friendly with back in the day if you well
they will live on Long Island so on the vacations, on Christmas vacation summer vacation I
could still go see my girlfriend Barbara now you know when you're growing up you hang around
with the kids that are within your town to maybe the next town of that way and you know what I
mean I could now that I'm driving and I know this I could hang around with the kid from you
know that why I think and I think that there are a lot and I think that there are a lot of Common
values to tell you the truth. You know.
23:50
GN:
On campus are very friendly with the girls and guys I mean there were mutual kind of
living together. Suffering together whether they got George Sommer who was very demanding
on somewhat in significant things like where do you put the [Inaudible] you put it on the bottom
of the page right or at the end and you know writing and had to be two space between them
technical stuff that would drive you crazy.
24:19
MM:
The funny part about that is that I was the only one that was an English major I was
the only one looking back two psychology. Oh I'm going to correct you Barba my girlfriend
Barba was a French major, but I was the only that was an English major had psychology, had
science, and they became teachers and I was not in that at all.
24:44
GN:
Did you know Dr. Belanger, Joseph Belanger?
24:47
MM:
Yes I never I didn't, but my good friend Barbara did she lived in, she went abroad
because she was the French major.
24:56
GN:
She was a French. The business of the experiences at Marist I guess the most general
is the liberal arts education when you graduated you didn't go into teaching you went in to
business.
25:16
MM:
Here's what I did. I am go back in time a little bit I told you I wanted to travel I
wanted to meet people. I was a very good I had my French so I'm going to work with airlines
now in order to do that you have to get your foot in the door as everybody knows yes. I
graduated, I used to announce flights at Kennedy airport TWA Flight 800 is now arriving from
Paris, and if they had customers that sometimes were at the ticket booth and there was no one
around who could speak French I could help them they say [Jumbling in French] I could help
them a little bit there. And guess what that job was a part time job and because I didn't make any
money a part time job I did that in tandem with like did tad and whatever and I just worked my
way up and when I retired from their I had a pretty good job.
26:20
GN:
Where did you go did you live in New York?
26:23
MM:
I lived at home, and then for I lived at home with mom and dad and then I got
married.
26:27
GN:
Ok, in the airline business did you go up to a front office or you are just?
26:34
MM:
Oh no I became the manager of reservations operations for the entire airline. Oh and
I ended up I started off at Kennedy airport as I said part time then they said to me, “Do you want
to be,” you know they must have saw something that they you know to want to be in a ministry
assist and I said, “Yeah sure I still have my airline passes I can still go to Arizona sure I'll do
that,” and you know a lucky fortunately whatever it is it evolves.
27:13
GN:
It was the French that went along with it?
27:15
MM:
I think that it was good and I also think that Gus I think that I was doing something
that I loved and I worked hard and they could see that I could write and I could be organized and
I don't know what can I said.
27:36
GN:
You were at the right place at the right time.
27:37
MM:
Yeah exactly and I was comfortable working with the boys I'm going to tell you
because the airline at that time management was almost all male.
27:51
GN:
But the waitress were flying aloft?
27:54
MM:
they were flying aloft they would cringe if they heard you say the word waitress
Gus, but you absolutely right.
28:01
GN:
What do they call them?
28:02
MM:
Flight attendants.
28:04
GN:
Ok now, but those days. Why would you give up a nice job in the air lines to become
a teacher?
28:13
MM:
I am going to tell you why. So here I am working in Manhattan. This is so much
here I am working in Manhattan and I'm loving it. I am married at the time. Ray has just
completed his M.B.A. by going at night he went to Marist he goes to St John's University
M.B.A. at night and truthfully the two of us were just married there's not a lot of money both of
us are not going to graduated.
28:40
GN:
How many years after Marist?
28:42
MM:
Ten years.
28:44
GN:
Marry ten years after?
28:45
MM:
Yes.
28:47
Ray Murphy:
No we were married a year after.
28:49
MM:
Oh yeah we married a year after I'm sorry I miss understood. So, now we're married
ten years and we don't have children. Yeah, and he finishes M.B.A. and he says to Ray says to
me, “You know Maureen you know I'm finished now finally cause you know a back is so
expense you do want to go back for your for a Masters.” And I said, “You know I do, but just
being if you don't mind being a brat that I was for my father.” I say “Yeah but you know what
but I don't think I want to go for business.” And I'll tell you in the in the interim I had gone to a
now gone to a community college and taken a business course to just sort of get my feet just to
stay in the academic just to stay in the academics it was inexpensive and I could do cause I
always liked school. So he says, “well what do you want to do blabla.” I said, “You know what I
think I’m going try education. I'll start and see how I like it you know I'm going to get all get my
master’s in education.” I actually looked into the fact that if I got a master's education. I thought
that ultimately it might even help me to be in a training department for human resources still
within the parameters of the business world so let me dabble and see what have, where this goes.
I started taking these education courses did not like them a love them.
30:23
GN:
And how many years did it take?
30:24
MM:
It took me a long time I'll tell you why because I got interrupted by having a baby,
and I had got half way through had my baby stayed home for a while, and I worked part time as a
teaching assistant, finished my degree at night doing my student teaching, and now I've been
teaching twelve years, eleven years, no no take that back take that back eleven in one place
fifteen years.
30:47
GN:
Where were you teaching? Where did you get this job to teach?
30:52
MM:
First job I taught was in a small Catholic school somebody say oh look at this person
I’ll hire her.
31:01
GN:
They forgot to pay you.
31:03
MM:
Yah they forgot to pay me, it was me it was my stewardship you know it's ok I did
that for awhile.
31:09
GN:
Give you a place to go.
31:11
MM:
Your right and it was it was a good experience though, because I'll never forget the
woman that hired me for my first teaching position business in any event I got hired there I
worked there I think three four years and then now I'm in the public school system in long island
I teach first grade in Roslyn New York which is a very…
31:31
GN:
Step back you teach what?
31:33
MM:
The first grade.
31:34
GN:
In elementary school, so you deal with the little ones is not a contrast wouldn’t you
want or you teach them how to read and write?
31:44
MM:
Yeah it was total contrast Gus, but I’m going to say this is one of my greatest,
greatest, what I would say my blessings in life because I do not think that I would have been the
teacher I am today had I done it at twenty one. Alright I follow my passion then and I feel like
I'm following it now very good I mean I feel that's like that like a life's blessing you said, but I
was able to really look back in my life say I had again risky to say this to have the courage to
change careers and follow where my heart led me.
32:30
GN:
Yeah, yeah, I'm missing something here that because one hand I hear of the liberal
arts and you talk about your books and grammar, writing papers, and reading in plays and so
there's an openness of ideas and so on and then you have to transfer all of that down to a very
munt level of saying.
32:51
MM:
For the first Grade you mean?
32:52
GN:
To approach them. Respectful language maybe.
32:57
MM:
Right, I hear you. these little children though oh I how do I put it into words.
33:08
GN:
How many are there? Typical class?
33:12
MM:
Oh, nineteen too twenty-three. Ok it's management to and dealing with the parents
and speaking. I'm not finish though I'm hoping that my story's not finished I am gonna tell you
why because I'm still going to school I just finished a week of Columbia are I've been taking all
these courses through Harvard has this online program that you can so I'm hoping that my story's
not over I would like to continue and be a teacher, now.
33:47
GN:
Oh well I don't mean to dismiss what you're doing is not it's a matter that to get
yourself into that and of course I couldn’t go in to high school to teach I mean that would drive
me crazy.
33:03
MM:
I don't want to teach anybody in high school that's about my hip.
33:10
GN:
But I would see you come in and the college arena readily I mean just in a little talk
with you.
34:17
MM:
Oh you know Gus that's very nice of you to say because truthfully that I like I say
that I feel like that chapter is still a potential for me and I'm still thinking about that one of the,
and I will say too probably one of my most rewarding part aspect I love hosting student teacher’s
in my building that's very rewarding for me you know when they come and they’re with you for
the whole semester.
34:45
GN:
Are you on a Ph D. program?
34:46
MM:
No, no.
34:50
GN:
Well look into it because you know two or three more years you know who doesn't
like you should come up here more often. Comment on your liberal arts experiences again give
me two plays that you really liked or stories or novels or short stories.
35:10
MM:
Well-loved everything about Gatsby
cause I was in thrilled with all his stories.
35:15
GN:
The Great Gatsby
.
35:16
MM:
F. Fitzgerald everything about that I loved. That Theodore Dreiser,
Sister Carrie
was one of my favorite books I can’t get rid of that. That's downstairs you know Mark Twain.
35:28
GN:
Did we do
An American Tragedy
to?
35:29
MM:
We did you know. What I don't know if I did
An American Tragedy
with you, but I
that home on the shelf too so I you know being a reader I still I don’t know.
35:44
GN:
Changing gear again. Changes at Marist you come on here on the campus you
compare where it was when you came in and where it is now.
35:58
MM:
Some mind-blowing experience.
35:59
GN:
Yeah. It is the structure is this building do you remember the Donnelly building, do
you remember the library, where was it?
36:09
MM:
In Fontaine.
36:12
GN
Oh was it fountain? No, it was in Donnelly.
36:16
MM:
Was the round building?
36:18
GN:
And was the Brother Adrian Perreault was a librarian. Small little guy. Dictator.
36:26
MM:
See no I did not have that recollection sorry to support you on that I would have like
to support you on that.
36:34
GN:
I don't need it I just throwing some names out that.
36:37
MM:
You know and I'm sure this is not the case now. You would sometimes go to the
Vassar library, I had to go the Vassar to get a particular sonnet or something for one Dr.
Sommers classes yeah, and I was a big deal because you had to get a ride to go over there and
see if you can borrow this you know remember no internet, and I'm sure that's not the case now
at the Marist library.
37:08
GN:
Now I was even going to compare with you the do you remember going to the
PMLA.
37:13
MM:
No.
37:14
GN:
The modern language association readers guide to periodical.
37:19
MM: T
he
periodical guide of course.
37:20
GN:
Yeah. And taking out and looking up something have something you know.
37:24
MM:
I did that in graduate school I remember doing that long ago begin looking for
educational articles.
37:29
GN:
You went to the shelf and pulled the book you know what they do now, and they get
a printout of the damn thing and I am saying you lose the joy of going down the column to find
that the book is no there or you open it and the pages are missing.
37:46
MM:
The green books.
37:48
GN:
Just aside bar again George Sommers he has past away.
37:54
MM: W
e did see that in The alumni news.
37:56
GN:
I just had lunch with Ann his wife two days ago, she sold the house in Cape Cod, and
she's now living in Florida near her son Chrissy the youngest and you know talks with Joy of the
days of old you know when George was running high.
38:17
MM:
You talk to her again you tell her that you ran into me and I found this paper and
clearly getting that A and one of those remarks clearly gave me like aw maybe I wasn't such a
bad anyway.
38:29
GN:
There was a woman Carole Ireland here about three weeks ago she graduated in
seventy two I think you know, and it was another one of those stories about oh oh George
Sommer you know was so he had made his imprint in the English department, and anybody who
came through to this day back to Marist. What would you say about the students do you know
anything about the kind of students that are a college now you have dealings with?
38:59
MM:
You mean the kids today just at Marist?
39:01
GN:
No Comparing kids today with what to do any coming to Marist.
39:08
MM:
Oh, I have two of my friend’s kids graduated from Marist two my friends' kids
graduated, and I have another good friend who's nice and planning to come here it's a very
popular is it very popular and we laugh and on Long Island you can see cars all the time with the
Marist. Yeah, you know we talked about it before when I went here, and you said were you go
Marist you say oh it's a small school now you graduate from Marist they go oh what was it like.
My kid is you know looking at that or my nephew was looking at that it’s hard to get into.
39:51
GN:
I wouldn't be able to get into here much less teacher. I don't think I would get in, A,
couldn't afford it and B, I wouldn't be able to pass the entrances exam.
39:58
MM:
Well you know that was another thing I guess Marist was affordable too in fact I
think it was three thousand dollars a year.
40:08
GN:
Yeah, now it’s only like forty-one, but what money you know students structure.
40:19
MM:
It was it was just very you knew everybody on campus.
40:25
GN:
Let me put it this way. Marist now in the public arena the public opinion polls your
friend there Miringoff you're seeing that constantly all kinds of ways.
40:38
MM:
All the time on channel four and the athletic team the basketball team is on the
news.
40:44
GN:
The girls.
40:45
MM:
Yeah. Oh how about that. Yeah how about that.
40:50
GN:
They won about three years ago they went to Sweet sixteen.
40:55
MM:
That was big news.
40:56
GN:
Incredible what would you tell the president is now if you had a chance about the day
in which we live. What should be maintained at Marist what do you.
41:12
MM:
I think you know its funny right before I met with you Gus I was sitting out on the
veranda there in the Adirondack chair I just remarked what a vision that the president on down
everybody who has had for this school how wonderful it is that they've maintained the vision to
take it from this to that, and how wonderful, but I would hope, and I don't think this will happen I
hope that you would still maintain the what I loved about it the intimacy of the relationship
because in light to me the truth of it has it's how we deal with one another and learned a lot about
that on a small campus seeing your professors and yeah, and just the atmosphere you would hate
for it to get to big and lose that lack of that interpersonal skills because at the end of the day
that’s what people successful I think. Who I am I to say but there's such a big piece of it there
and look at this campus and as I did I said wow what a vision that they had in every part of how
they built the buildings and everything seems to go together and it seems a physically is a warm
place you hope that the interior are reflecting that you know because you cannot you can bottle
what I had here for those four years. You know the relationships and all that.
42:45
GN:
So good to hear you say that, but the thrust is to try to bring it down that what’s
happening now is that the kids will come out of class and they're right on their phones calling
home, their girlfriends, or boyfriends of it yesterday and there not talking to the people next to
them. So you know that's one of the difficulties we have to try to they make great efforts for it. I
mean I had asked one Debbie Bell who is in charge of the dean of students do the students get a
chance to use of facilities like we have stadium here with light on you know we have a big
basketball court over there we have a swimming pool. Oh says, “Gus you know they have
intermural till two am in the morning on a field I don't come to see it.” Their schedule I mean
college kids the day is kind of switched so they're living in another part of the day. And they’re
really working hard to do that you know.
43:49
MM:
Yeah because it is an important component.
43:52
GN:
Right, right and I was talking to the president the other day and the next thrust is to
put it on old dining room out over The Hudson like up to the bridge to the views Hudson be more
dramatic but to make situations where they can eat together more you know round tables rather
square tables little thing like that makes so opportunity’s.
44:17
MM:
When we were here in our cafeteria we would go to dinner in cafeteria you would
know it's just about not personally everybody that you know by face just you know everyone in
that dining hall pretty much I would saying may not know all the names but you knew them
because you will see them all the time just as I saw madam Greg as I came right out of there.
44:44
GN:
That's part of it. Ok, the last question let me see where we are 45 min into it in the
times of which we have. How would you answer this political question. Is college worth it, is
college worth it you know financially is college worth it in terms of the time spent and doing
these things is college worth it? And I mean because other people will say if it's to make a living
you know you don't need this
42:21
MM:
You know I almost don't even like the answer that question I'm going to tell you
why because many people the popular answer I think now is that it's not worth it when you're
being charged forty five thousand dollars a year and you're going to get out and not find a job
and been debit for a hundred thousand dollars with our economy and you could be being you can
be you know a craft person and makes more money than you do in a professional capacity and
there there's so much being said about that and that there's no job security let's say to her a white
collar job etcetera, etcetera. Having said all of that, there's a part of me Gus that I have to the
idealist and education is an education and a liberal arts education makes you who you are and
gives to the soul and gives the education is so important. I'll never forget my husband's mother
said no matter what and she grew up in the depression she was very poor and she put herself
through nursing school and she said education is the one thing in the world. Unknowns and
really take from you know once you get it is inside of you. So despite all the naysayers who say
is it worth it once it's in the it's worth it to me I don't know if I made sense but.
46:47
GN:
What it does because once you see the other side of that is you go can’t go away.
46:51
MM:
But you have to want to do it.
46:54
GN:
You have to want to do it that’s true but the other side of it is to make a lot of money
don't go to college and go to work right away and what to do with the money. You drink, drugs
you know you don't how to go to the theater you know how to analyze a book you don't know to.
47:13
MM:
Well that's it, and you know what I said this again you can you can argue in my case
was at luck was it being, was it working hard whatever was thirty five years ago my father said
to me “I am I sending you to school just to be an English major you have to be able to get a job.”
And I said to him the brat that I was “I said Dad I'm not going to college just to get a job.” And
he said, “you better be able to support yourself,” cause he was you he was practical one of five
kids grow up in the depression he worked hard he you know it was his money I was spending
let's be honest. So I mean, but he gave in to me I was lucky. Thank you.
47:58
GN:
That a giving you the freedom to do it you know and you're following your own
thrust of course had a lot to do with it.
48:07
MM:
But then the biggest thing for the have to want to do it you know.
48:12
GN:
And again you know almost coming back to where you were talking about the first
grade thinking about getting kids to learn how to read what a wonderful thing it because the
really you know once they start to read they want to read everything if they.
48:30
MM:
Do you know what you know I have to tell you get these people and in September
and I hate September cause they come in and in June I cry. Cause they’re reading and you look at
their faces and you say wow I got them to do that their really reading. And the moms and the
dads are like my child is reading it's wonderful.
48:51
GN:
And that's only one part the other part don't spit. Share all this other stuff you know
don't forget to flush you know there are other basics that and if you don't go to school who
sometimes you don’t learn that there are people out in the world who really don't know that and
so that’s it well is there anything we didn't say.
49:12
MM:
No, I hope I didn't talk too much?
49:15
GN:
No, no we’ve only talk for fifty minutes and we have ten minutes if you still want to
talk about.
49:26
MM:
I was saying on the way up here to you know the crew part that you touched upon
too, but I love to the ladies point intermural to because it was a small school I couldn’t do in high
school.
49:37
GN:
Volleyball.
49:38
MM:
I did everything I did volleyball I did basketball, touch football I had fun. You know
the intimate surroundings I felt comfortable.
49:47
GN:
Did we have the McCann center?
49:49
MM:
No sadly this husband of mine he played basketball for Mr. Pietro and Ray played
varsity basketball for four years here and much to his chagrin the new gym did not arrive until
well after his departure we don't hold it against them.
50:09
GN:
No but you see we had a small bin box at they could play of awhile and you can sit
along with corridors of it you wouldn’t be on the court and a watch a game from there you know
right so that was one part of it and then of course they had tremendous travel arrangements for
that team they used to get on cars and they go to Philadelphia and St. Peter would make
sandwiches I understand.
50:38
MM:
Yeah, Ray, remembering that.
50:40
RM:
Blondies and cookies.
50:46
MM:
I will tell you an interesting story we were up in Alaska my husband and I like to
travel we travel we try to travel a lot so were in Alaska and were taking a taxi cab I guess from
Anchorage airport to the hotel and the land of the midnight sun and the cab driver where you
from I'm from New York my husband is in the car he knew Mr. Pietro
51:09
GN:
Yeah playing basketball.
51:11
MM:
So funny I'm in Alaska and there is a guy who goes you played for Ron Pietro I
know Ron Pietro. Alaska is a very small place within a very big place.
51:21
GN:
Yeah and you know and I did a myself and my wife did a trip to Alaska you know we
thought we saw Alaska you know we flew in to Anchorage wherever it is and we took the boat
up you know and it goes up like a day or two journey. Then I turned around and it goes back you
know and covers that much of Alaska which its bigger than continental USA. You know the
whole from Alaska islands and you seen this little bit of it and you think oh I have been to
Alaska. Even there we tock a helicopter I one time will there and land on one of the ice thing you
know we were hoping it would be cancelled because it was dark and over cast and sometimes if
it's raining hard they won’t go up you know let it rain because we had gotten the tickets and then
it was like I don’t know if I really want to go on this thing but I did but we did and what an
experience it was to see that.
52:25
MM:
At all this with great Gus I'm very flattered to be here I in enjoyed it very much and
its great to see the stomping.
52:30
GN:
Ground is a great ride nice having you back. Yeah maybe sometimes we'll get Ray
here.
52:33
MM:
Oh sure he would love to.