Marists All: Issue #51 November 1999
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ISSUE # 51
November 1999
From DAVID HEALY (’64) - Australia: Thank you for the latest edition of
Marists All. Enclosed is a copy of a Mass booklet from the celebration of
Champagnat’s canonization here in Perth, Australia. The booklet was provided
by a colleague, Neville McManus, an ex-monk who served as a Catholic
secondary principal in rural western Australia for many years. Nev is most
impressed by Marists All. Maybe an Australian edition will happen! Perth is
about as far from Esopus and Poughkeepsie as it gets, but my fond memories
dim neither with distance nor time. The education we had was second to none,
and I still have vivid recollections of Latin and Spanish vocabulary tests,
geometry theorem booklets, Macbeth in living b & w on TV.
More significant are images of the many wonderful Marist Brothers who
profoundly influenced my life. Over the years I have had the chance to thank
some of them personally. To the rest, I take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt
“Thanks!” One particularly useful aspect of my Marist Education as the chance
to develop some skill at carpentry. Just being able to observe Brothers John
Berchmans and Peter Hilary in action was an education in itself, and I learned a
lot from watching and in working with contemporaries such as Tom Connors,
George Halpin, John Wesp, John Sheehan, and Ray Faucher. In 1979 when we
built our house in Perth’s northern suburbs, I was able to do a lot of the work
myself. We’ve been here for nearly 20 years, and I still get much satisfaction
from “pottering around” this place.
Kay and I celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary in October. Kay is an Assume,
educated at Perth Catholic schools and the University of Western Australia. Our
four daughters have all followed in her footsteps. Gina, our eldest, working in
New York for most of 1998 before commencing a law degree at UWA this year.
Meg is in her last of a BA in English at the same university, and Anne is in the
second year of a music education degree, also at UWA. Terri will finish high
school this year, and you get no prize for figuring out which tertiary institution
she hopes to attend! All of the children are dual US/Australian nationals, as I am.
The difference is that they perceive themselves as Australians first and foremost.
While having strong affection for Australia, I will feel American to my dying
day.
That said, I’m not blind to the advantages this country offers. Significant
financial aid is provided to Catholic and other non-governmental schools by both
the federal and state governments, and our costs for both health and tertiary
education are significantly less than their American equivalents. In the early 80’s
a friend asked me to attend a one-day course with him on the uses of computers
in education. When the presenter put x = x + 1 on the overhead, I was hooked.
This was my kind of math! I re-trained in Computer Education, got lucky
enough to win a prize in a national programming competition, and continued on
to become a Novell CNE, an experienced Visual Basic programmer and IT
Manager at a Catholic high school. Although I do miss the classroom from time
to time, I doubt I’ll ever return to it. I regard the work ethic instilled by a Marist
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education as fundamental to any success I’ve achieved. We got a lot right at
Esopus and Poughkeepsie in the 60’s! Fraternally in JMJ. (48 Adare Way,
Kingsley WA 6026, Australia)
From BR. PHILIP R. DEGAGNE (’48): I guess this questionnaire is one way
to get to hear from the guy lost in Texas. I have always enjoyed reading the
newsletter, but I never was brave enough to attempt to compete with all the
literary works of so many who have been writing. This August marks my 40th
year of presence and work here in Laredo, Texas. There has always been more
than enough work to be done to keep me busy. I have told myself that if ever I
run out of work I will move on to some other area of the Marist world. So far the
Lord has blessed me and the work I do. I am happy to be where I am, and those I
serve seem satisfied with my efforts.
For 33 years I taught school. Since 1986 I have worked at parish ministry. I am
director of the parish center and supervisor of maintenance. I do a bit of
everything: carpentry, electrical work, maintenance, supervision. It has been a
very pleasant change of pace from teaching.
There are five of us in the Laredo Marist community. Bothers John Allen and
Bob Warren are working in ministry in two different parishes. Tom Coyne has
been teaching math at a public high school for years. For several years now Br.
Joseph Herrera has taught at the same public high school. Brother Joe has also
been directing cursillos for young people.
The trip to Rome for the canonization of our Founder was certainly the highlight
of this year. Three of our Brothers were privileged to take part in the ceremonies.
God bless you and your staff for putting all this material into the hands of so
many people (1511 Cherry Hill Drive, Laredo TX 78041; 956-724-2651)
From BILL (William Nicholas) KELLY (’55): Recently I attended a memorial
service for Ed Miles. I grew up with him in Parkchester and was with him two
years in Esopus, two years in Tyngsboro, and one year at Marist College. John
McGuire was at the service. He gave me your name so that I may receive
Marists All. I would love to hear from school mates known to me while with
FMS from 1952 to 1957. It was nice to read about Br. Charles Filiatrault in the
latest issue of the newsletter. He helped teach me ice hockey in Tyngsboro; I
kept trying to check him, but I just bounced off!
I graduated from Fordham University in 1960 with a degree in psychology, and
in 1963 I joined the FBI. I retired in 1987 and am at present in my own private
security business.
I have been married to Janet for 36 years and have three married children and
three grandchildren, all living in Virginia.
Just a note concerning the result of five years of Marist training. Midst the
problems, setbacks, even tragedies that we all encounter, I have been able to
continue trusting our heavenly Father. This year our 17-day-old granddaughter
had seizures; she had spinal meningitis and blood clots on her brain. Zillions of
prayers by many beautiful friends and relatives were answered. Our “Miracle
Meghan” is now doing well and the danger is over. Some day we’ll know why.
Thy will be done! Perhaps another call from our heavenly Father and a sign of
His love. (284 Colony Street, West Hempstead NY 11552; 516-481-1222)
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From BOB O’HANDLEY (’61): It was great to get back to the Marist Family
Institute of Spirituality. The comments in the August newsletter about the July
weekend are so true. It was wonderful renewing acquaintances and meeting
members of the family I had only heard of by name before. (3 Glenn Cove,
Andover MA 01810; 978-970-0280;
ohandley@mediaone.net
)
From STEPHEN SLACK (’60): While still at West Virginia University I ran
into Bill Reger and Mick Stoehr and learned of the existence of a newsletter, but
I haven’t had contact with anything Marist in almost five years. So your letter of
July 14th offering Marists All took me by surprise. I had met Bill at a cafeteria
table some years ago, and one day Mick ambushed me in a corridor. We passed
one another and a moment later he called my name from behind me. I turned to
see a guy of about 40 who did not look anything like the kid I once had taught in
physics class at CCHS, Wheeling.
After teaching with the Brothers in Wheeling for two years I withdrew on June
6th, 1966.
That fall I began graduate school in physics at Penn State. This sort of endeavor,
as you probably now, is more a matter of perseverance than ability. As I was
finishing off there, I held a faculty position at Emmanuel College, a small
Catholic girls’ school in Boston, so I had to do some commuting. Due to a drop
in enrollment, however, my position at Emmanuel was terminated in 1974 just as
I was ready for the defense of my thesis. Then, about to become eligible for
unemployment compensation, I got a call from the University of California at
San Francisco regarding an opening in the physics of radiation therapy. My
background in nuclear physics made me more qualified than my mentors; in
clinical matters I had a lot to learn. That position lasted a year.
In October of 1975 I was offered a position with the medical physics section of
the radiology department at WVU in Morgantown, WV. I stayed there for 19
years, teaching physics to radiology residents and a graduate level course in
radiation safety. There were some fun aspects to the job, like serving on the
state’s emergency response team for nuclear accidents; that got me two weeks of
training, half of it at the Nevada nuclear test site. Eventually we got a chairman
of radiology that I did not get along with. I told him that if he ever wanted my
resignation all he had to do was ask. In August of ’94 he asked.
Now I am at the Midwest Gamma Knife Center in Kansas City, Missouri. We do
stereotaxic radiosurgery for various types of brain lesions such as cancerous and
non-cancerous tumors, arterio-venous malformations, and trigeminal neuralgia.
This involves putting on a head frame (actually securing it to the patient’s skull),
imaging the head by MRI, CT, or angiography with the head frame and a fiducial
box, then transferring these images to a computer to plan treatment. The
“Gamma Knife” is an array of 201 colimited Cobalt-60 sources arranged on a
hemisphere to produce a sphere of intense radiation from 4 mm to 18 mm in
diameter. The patient is secured in place so that a number of placements of such
spheres will adequately treat a lesion of any shape while giving a relatively low
dose to the rest of the head.
Most of our earliest cases were patients that the neurosurgeons did not want to
risk conventional surgery on, but we are now getting more referrals based on
efficiency and convenience, since our treatment takes only one day and has
essentially no convalescence period. a brochure is enclosed. I’m the one with the
bald head and mustache toward the right of the group picture.
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If this makes it sound as if my career has consumed my whole life, that is close
to being true. I have never married or even come close. You might say that I was
a nerd before Bill Gates made it popular.
Aside from six years on the parish council of the university parish in
Morgantown, my participation in Church activities has been regular but passive.
When I read about the great things the brothers and other missionaries are doing,
like going back to Liberia so soon after the fighting, I get nostalgic and am
sometimes tempted to try to return. Upon a little thought, however, I realize that
at each step of my career God has made it very clear where He has wanted me to
go. The hard part has been that He hasn’t made it very clear what He has wanted
me to do when I got there. So I tend to look for the obvious, do the best I can,
and never look back.
My health has been as good as one might expect. I had a melanoma removed
about twelve years ago and I had a small retinal tear a year later. Aside from that
I’m growing older rather gracefully and have even taken up ballroom dancing.
My regards to all! (4567 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64111)
From BR. JOHN ALLEN (’62): I am a sucker for questionnaires, so I consider
this a very sneaky way of compelling me at long last to submit something to
Marists All. I am beginning my eighth year as pastoral associate at Blessed
Sacrament parish in Laredo. Among other duties I teach two courses in the
diocesan pastoral institute, train altar servers, lectors, and the eucharistic
ministers, and teach a high school CCD class. I am secretary of the Council of
Religious in the diocese of Corpus Christi and am a board member of the local
chapter of the American Red Cross. As of this month I have spent half of my life
in Texas: McAllen, Brownsville, San Antonio, and Laredo. As the TV ad puts it,
“It’s a whole other country!” However, no passport is needed; our doors are
always open to visitors.
Last month I had the opportunity to visit my brother, Father Peter, pastor of
Sacred Heart/Our Lady of Council in Cutchogue/Mattituck on Long Island. I
also visited my brother Steve who now lives in Ramona, California. Steve’s wife
Marcy died last October of cancer; they would have been married 25 years.
(1511 East Cherry Hill Dr., Laredo TX 78041; 956-724-2651)
From TOM “Archie” MOORE (’6 ) Please continue to send me Marists All. I
enjoy reading it cover to cover, even thoug it often brings tears to my eyes.
There’s not much new from me. I have been teaching physics and math for 35
years; I still enjoy my work very much and I’m still effective.
I continue to work in theatre with students. In Pennsylvania drama competition
these students finished in the top three five times since 1990, even gaining first
place three times! I thank Jim Britt for getting me started in drama at Marist
College.
A relatively new hobby of mine is scuba diving. This might shock some who
remember my swimming skills; I may still hold the record for being rescued the
most times from the Hudson River near the old board dock at the juniorate in
Esopus. I have earned advanced Certification and have completed 134 open
water dives; I am fifteen minutes short of having spent four days under water.
On my birthday this year I had my first opportunity to interact with sharks; I
have pictures to prove it.
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I am still single, but engaged, and hope to be married in the coming year. Some
of you may remember that I was always a slow mover! Thanks for all your hard
work keeping in touch with everyone. (1028 Hillside Trail, Johnstown PA
15905; 814-255-3210)
From JOE (Joseph Ambrose) McKIERNAN (’52): This is my initial
contribution to Marists All. Sorry it took so long. I separated from the
congregation in 1962 and began teaching at Harrison High School in
Westchester. I helped found our local teachers’ union and became active on the
state level. I retired in 1995, but have remained active in the teachers’ union,
especially on the state level, doing political action for NYSUT and running
negotiation workshops.
At Harrison I met Marie, the love of my life. She taught foreign languages. We
were married in 1965 and will be celebrating our 34th anniversary in December.
Marie retired from teaching in 1997. We love retirement. It’s been great traveling
with someone who can speak French and Spanish. What with family, traveling,
volunteer work, fixing houses, gardening, and professional activities, there are
not enough hours in a day.
Marie and I have two sons: Joseph, 30, who went from the NYPD to the FDNY,
and Michael, 26, who works as an accountant for Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Both of
our sons enjoyed Buddy Nolan as an English teacher in Tappan Zee High
School. I have also remained close to Bernie Woods and his family.
Reading Marists all over the years has been wonderful. Thanks so much to Dave
and Gus. The flood of memories that return with the myriad stories is heart-
warming. When Mike Kelly mentioned the tar on the chapel roof, all I could
recall was sunburned armpits from the reflection of the silver sheets that were
beneath the tar. Our building projects at the college were definitely a help for
future home owning. We could dig trenches with the best. About ten or so years
ago I decided to replace our cracked front walk and steps with uniloc blocks.
Without hesitation I rented a compressor. After all the months, or was it years, of
drilling in “hernia Gulch” at the college (the area behind and below the chapel,
this was a snap. In about thirty seconds it all came back. To the amazement of
my sons I was back in Hernia Gulch with a jackhammer. At any moment I
expected to see Nilus or Eddie Mike coming around the corner of the house. The
one regret I had about working on the project was not having the opportunity to
learn electrical work. Nilus had only the Chinese brothers doing that work; do
you remember “The Chinese Electric Company?” (1 Key Place, Tappan NY
10893-1010; 914-359-3795)
From DAN (Denis Michael) ST. JACQUESb> (’52): Recently I retired as the
chief U.S officer of one of the largest Japanese financial firms. We were part of
the Mitsubishi group. I was responsible for the maritime specialty; that work had
me travel throughout the Far East, as well as Africa, Europe, Australia, and New
Zealand.
My wife Frances Mary and I have raised four children, and we now have four
grandchildren. Our oldest son and daughter are products of Marist schools - he,
Archbishop Molloy; she, St. Mary, Manhasset. All of the kids took their advance
degrees in the U.S. and the youngest took an additional year at the University of
Salamanca, Spain. Two are involved in confidential work with the police
department, and one is in management with a financial firm; the other is a
marine surveyor in Seattle.
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For the past nine years I have been doing volunteer work at the Mercy Cancer
Care, Hospice, and had the great honor of sitting with two former monks in their
final hours. My hobbies are wood-working, primarily toys for my children and
now for my grandchildren. Recent by-pass and heart valve replacement has
slowed down my lifestyle, but I am optimistic. (106 Sackville Road, Garden City
NY 11530; 516-757-4610)
From VINCENT KENNY (’61): I thoroughly enjoy each issue of Marists All.
Like all of the correspondents to the newsletter I am very, very deeply grateful to
the Brothers for my Marist spirituality; it ha influenced all aspects of my life. At
this time I am teaching at Father Ryan High School in Nashville. Scripture and
art history keep me involved. I also teach in the RCIA program in my parish.
Teaching suits me!
Christine, my bride of twenty-four years, is a Godsend. We are very happy
together. We live in the middle of a woodland far from all our neighbors. It is
quiet and perfect for us. I would very much enjoy hearing from old friends. My
address is: 3785 Perkins Road, Thompson Station TN 37179;
kennyv@fatherryan.org
.
From MARK MORAN (’67): I have spent the better part of the past 25 years as
a bartender in New York City. That calling is its own very special kind of
apostolate; snicker not! Thus, on occasion I’ve administered to such varied
notables as Danny Grogan, Tom (Binsky) Murphy, Dan Brady, Tom McCann,
and Brian O’Reilly. Is there a pattern here? Now, however, I am employed as the
oldest rookie letter carrier in the history of the Floral Park Long Island Post
Office. (Quite the run-on sentence, eh Gus!) It’s exhausting work, but I kind of
enjoy it.
As a member of the last class of “ancients” (Cold Spring ‘63-’66 and Esopus
‘67-’68), I was blessed to be under the tutelage and influence of Br. John
Berchmans for five consecutive years. He truly showed me by his life the
simplicity of goodness the goodness of simplicity. That has carried a lot of
weight and reassurance in my life to this day and hopefully from here on out. My
connection to the Marist life is with me every day. For that I am grateful and
proud. Would love to hear more from those in and around my group.(130-48
122nd Street, South Ozone Park NY 11420; 718-848-2843)
From CRAIG EVANS (’67): I continue in my private practice of psychotherapy
three days a week in my Boston office. In February of 1999 I was granted a
Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from the Graduate School at Tufts
University. I have been the curator of Sandwich Historical Society in the town of
Sandwich, New Hampshire, not far from my home. Currently I am looking for
part-time work in curatorial/collections care. I specialize in textiles and in textile
equipment of the 18th and 19th centuries.
In New Hampshire I live about 20 miles south of Camp Marist, which was just
written up in the local paper honoring their 50th anniversary, a very
complimentary (actually glowing) article about the Marist Brothers fulfilling the
mission of Marcellin Champagnat through this particular apostolate.
I was able to be in Rome for the canonization. As for so many others, it was for
me an intensely memorable experience of fellowship. I am particularly
appreciative to all the brothers who reached out and included me in the various
festivities. The time at the Motherhouse (excuse the deliberate political
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incorrectness, but I do prefer that to “Generalate”) was very impressive, the
crowds of Marists from around the world and all the kids whose lives are
touched by the spirit of Marcellin. The archival exhibit, as you might imagine,
was very important to me.
Thanks for all you do in continuing to provide this vehicle of communication
and connection in the greater Marist world.(1368 Beacon Street (#115),
Brookline MA 02446-2800; 617-734-0184)
From LAURENCE (Stephen Laurence) SULLIVAN (’50): Marists All has
been a great way of staying in touch with the glories of the past, the challenges
of the present, as well as the hopes for the future.
After 32 years in the Department of Religious Studies I retired from Marist
College in May of ’99. I continue on a part-time basis, however, while my wife
Jo-Ann pursues her commitment to students in Special Education at
Poughkeepsie High School. Working at the “Hermitage” for over three decades
has allowed me to stay close to my roots. Living in Staatsburg overlooking the
Hudson and having a beautiful view of the Mansion in Esopus from our kitchen
window has also helped!
Our son Andrew lives and works in Connecticut. He has great hopes for his rock
band “Splice” which has three CD’s to its credit. Prayers and best wishes.(13
Spy Glass Lane, Staatsburg NY 12580; 914-889-8319)
From PAUL (Dominic Mary) LOZEAU (’52): I left the Brother in 1977 and
worked as an insurance agent for one year. Then I was manager of Arco Mini-
Market for two years and of Cumberland Farms for one year. I taught at an
elementary school for five years, and then I was at Notre Dame High School in
Massachusetts as Dean of Students one year. In 1991 I was called to Leesburg,
Florida, by a pastor friend of mine and there I became principal of St. Paul’s
elementary school until January of 1994 when I became ill. I went for a heart
operation; it was a rare case of tumor across the heart. I spent 45 days
recuperating with a left mechanical ventricle valve, a pacemaker, and wires
inside of me; I feel like the million dollar mechanical man. I am doing well.
I have been married to a wonderful nurse’s aide since 1983. I am retired and do a
lot of oil paintings as a Certified Ross Instructor in landscape, seascape, florals,
and wildlife. Thank you for your past letters. I enjoy them greatly. (1351 Dekle
Drive, Leesburg FL 34748; 352-365-1996
From FRANK RIZZA (’67): I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, but here’s
a short biography; graduated from Molloy in 1966, went to novitiate partly
because I wanted to teach, never got to teach until recently. After years in school
I received my doctorate from St. John’s University (1995) in Counselor
Education. I am adjunct professor both at C.W.Post College and at New York
Institute of Technology.
I have been happily married to Marge for almost 28 years. We are heavily
involved in worldwide marriage encounter. We give enrichment weekends for
this wonderful organization. We are also involved in our parish, St. Elizabeth
Seton in Ronkonkoma, New York. our two daughters, Christina and Dawn, still
live at home, but that may change in the near future. Marge and I enjoy white
water rafting. I fish, hunt, and fence (yes, with a sword!). We love to travel.
Unfortunately we are usually away at the time of the annual picnic at the Mount.
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(32 Beaumont Lane, Lake Grove NY 11755; 516-467-2726;
fmcdrizza@aol.com
)
From JOHN ROCHE (’52): I’m still teaching math at a Marist high school,
Christopher Columbus Boys High School, in Miami. I’m getting close to
retirement, but there’s no definite time schedule for that. The newsletter is great;
keep it coming. I would love to know the whereabouts of Jimmy O’Brien ’52.
(9740 SW 100th Avenue, Miami FL 33176; 305-271-3876)
From PHIL HANNIGAN (’60): Since I left in 1967 I haven’t seen many of my
old friends, but there have been some contacts. I met Russ Therriault in the
China Beach Officers Club, Danang Viet Nam, in January of ’70. He was flying
as a back-seater in Marine F4s. He had already bailed out of two perfectly good
airplanes during his flying career due to mid-air collisions. I was glad to see that
he survived Viet Nam.
During a stopover in London in 1978, I tracked down Tim Dooley. He was
working for Merrill-Lynch there, having previously worked for them in Hong
Kong. I never saw him again. He told me that Eddie Weisenback had become an
MIA in Laos (Air America) and that some of his friends had attempted to launch
a search and rescue for him. Eddie is still MIA. I pray for him and for the repose
of Tim’s soul daily.
In 1994, I went to the Marist College reunion, the 30th anniversary of our
graduation. Kevin Finn was the only one of our group that showed up. There
were also two “lay students” from the class. It was wonderful meeting Kevin and
his wife Madeline. I was able to confirm the stories he told his family, while he
was able to confirm my stories. The wives were appreciative but still
incredulous. We got to visit the Finns at their “cottage” in Newport Beach,
California, in 1996.
Also in 1996 we had a great reunion with Cookie Maher, John Reynolds, and
Dick Couto, along with their wives, at a weekend we spent at the homestead of
Ron Diss in Rural Retreat, Virginia. All of them are still involved in education.
Dick Couto is at the University of Richmond, Ron Diss is at Emory and Henry
College, Cookie Maher is teaching high school Spanish on Long Island, and
John Reynolds is the guidance counselor at a high school in Flint, Michigan. I’m
the only teaching dropout. In 1997 Rene Roy came to visit us in Virginia on his
way to/from somewhere. What a guy! since moving to Florida this year I have
seen John Reynolds twice. My contacts are improving.
I enjoyed every minute of being a brother and felt that I lost a lot of what was
excellent and emotionally close in my life when I left. At the time we were given
to understand that if you lost your vocation you pretty well lost your soul. It took
a while to get over that perception. It was also considered a courtesy to not tempt
those who remained in the life by maintaining too much contact with the
Brothers. That I regret. I am glad to see that that older cultural baggage has been
shed and that the community lives and thrives. God bless you all!
After graduating from Marist College in 1964, I taught with the Brothers in
Wheeling for three years, then in 1967 I went off to the USAF Officer Candidate
School. I retired from the air Force as a Lt. Colonel in 1988. A summary of my
career in the service would include Vietnam and Thailand 1968-70, Missile
Launch Officer SAC 1971-76, Tactical Air Operations Officer 1977-84, Europe,
Middle East, North Africa, ending at the Pentagon 1984-88 as Military Sales
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Officer. The last assignment led to a similar job with civil industry in Virginia
and now in Florida. In 1987 I married Martha Butler Gough, a widow with two
grown children. Current status: Happy and content! (11633 Timberline Circle,
Ft. Myers FL 33912; 941-939-8980)
From JOHN HEFFERNAN (’61): I am a high school Guidance Counselor. I
have two sons and a grandson. My wife recently retired from Macy’s. My
hobbies are working out (cycling, jogging) and photography. I saw Dave
Murphy and his wife Elaine recently. They live and work on the Indian
Reservation in Pine Ridge, S. D. (109 Brewery Road, New City NY 10956; 914-
634-5786)
From DICK (Stephen Aloysius) BRANIGAN (’50): I felt so young again
reading the last Marists All. There they were: Castine, Bibeau, Horan, Jambor …
all there for me again as they were at mid-century. It is clear to me now that we
have really not been far apart. I can count on being in the thoughts of guys with
whom I bonded years ago. It is a remarkable happening; without this gem of a
newsletter we might never have been able to celebrate this solidarity.
I’ve retired from 30 years of publications and alumni work at the University of
Wisconsin in Oshkosh. I am active in what might be called a mini-elderhostel
activity out of the continuing education office on campus. I am secretary of the
curriculum committee; among other things I do the quarterly newsletter. I am
still house pianist at our country club, and I do my share at retirement homes in
the area. My wife Pat and I have three grown children, 37, 31, and 27, and two
grandchildren, with two on the way.
I read as much as I can, finding lessons at almost every turn. I am surviving a
test of faith, but still reading for a second time Anglican bishop Spong’s “Why
Christianity Must Change - or Die.” When you agree with a certain slice of
controversial theology, and it tends to upend the comfortable cloak you’ve worn
for years, you ask, “Well, what do I do now!” The tendency to be a smorgasbord
Christian, to pick and choose from the buffet whatever suits you, is tempting.
However, reading alternative views can strengthen your original convictions.
Both Larry Haggerty and Joe Horan have brought up the idea of arranging a
“class of 1950” reunion. Count me in. And I’ll bet Charlie Scott who lives down
the pike from me is also game … and it should be easy enough for Bill Powers
to hop up to Marist College for the celebration. Let’s do it before we all need
walkers. Peace all around. (1814 Fairview Street, Oshkosh WI 54901; 920-233-
2954;
branigan@uwosh.edu
)
From JIM GARGAN (’59): I just got back from three weeks in the Carolinas
and while in the area I just had to go see Augusta Catholic High School. My
friend Terry (John Joseph) McMahon, RIP, used to regale us with many stories
of his days in Augusta. Luckily my wife Ginny and I ran into Brother Joseph
Damian Teston (whose real religious name is H - - - - - -; does anyone remember
that name?) We had never met him before, but we spent a great half hour
reminiscing about things Marist. He told us that the youngest brother in his
community was 72. As we were swapping stories, he said that with only two or
three classmates what the young Brothers of today will miss in the future is all of
the wonderful memories and multiple stories shared with so many people. He’s
right.
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We will be heading up to Esopus on August 15th for a memorial to Tim Dooley
of the class of ’60 who died in 1998, as Tom Hourican informed us in a recent
issue. Speaking of Tim: when we played football together in Tyngsboro, Tim
was quarterback. He sent me out far, and I caught the ball on my right shoulder
pinning it down with my left arm. I described that catch to my son Jim when he
was about four years old. The next year Tim visited us from England. I asked
Jim to tell Tim the story of my great football catch. He did; Tim loved it! (252-
08 60th Avenue, Little Neck NY 11362; 212-785-1646;
garganlaw@msn.com
)
DECEASED: Brother Daniel Andrew Kopecky (’31) died September 15th in
Miami. Since our publication began in 1987 there have been 81 Brothers who
have died, and 38 “formers” on our mailing list have died. May all of our friends
rest in peace, we pray.
From RAY (Paul Wilfred) BLANCHARD (’47): I’m a bit late with this
questionnaire. We just got back from building with Habitat for Humanity in
Michigan’s upper peninsula. We’ve been helping them as much as we can. Last
winter it was in Tucson. Might as well use all of that training that the “Donnelly
Construction Corporation” gave me! Enjoy reading about all the goings on in the
newsletter. Wish more of those around my age would write. Hope that the
newsletter keeps coming. (1201 Jerry Avenue, Durant WI 54736-1726)
From DON GILLESPIE (’65): Although most of those who write for Marists
All are before my time, I am inspired and encouraged tosee the ways so many,
religious and laymen, have managed to commit their lives to the values
embodied in Marist spirituality. I notice that the editors of the newsletter
occasionally feel a need to cajole readers to send articles. I wonder if the
modesty we learned in training discourages some from writing about themselves.
Perhaps, if the reticent among us would view the task as an opportunity to
encourage and support the efforts of others to live according to Marist values,
they would feel freer to write.
I should add that I shared the newsletter with a friend, a former Franciscan friar.
He observed that Marists All keeps connected to the order a cadre of laymen
trained in Marist spirituality. From the entries in the newsletter, it appears that
they are committed to Marist values. My friend concluded that in an age of
declining numbers of religious these laymen can be a great resource for
extending the work of the order.
;Since I have not written since 1989, I will offer a brief update on my own
activities. I completed a PhD in community and clinical psychology at the
University of Maryland, obtained a license in psychology, and practiced for
several years in a state-operated community mental health program in
Westchester County. Owing to cuts in community mental heath service in New
York state, I began to look for other work. Three years ago I took a job as
Director of Institutional Research at Fordham University. The job enables me to
keep my hand in virtually all of the areas that my career has encompassed over
the years: college administration, policy analysis, and psychology. in addition, I
have rich ties to Fordham that I developed as an undergraduate there. I am
delighted to be working at Fordham.(42 Alexander Street, Greenwich CT 06830;
203-869-8239;
ss_gillespie@lars.fordham.edu
EDITORS’ NOTE:
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Responses to the questionnaire in the August issue brought us a sizeable amount
of written material. Thus, we published a special extra issue in September. This
present issue contains more of that material. And there is more! We have decided
to publish another special extra issue this December, not to keep our writers
waiting. The responses we have in hand include writings from 28 people we
have never heard from before, so we continue to have hope … to hear from 175
others who have never responded in any way. Besides the very gratifying
amount of written material, we also received significant financial help -- $1,783
-- to give us the highest balance ever, enough to produce six more issues. How to
continue to draw the written material needed.
Write to:
Gus Nolan, 50 South Randolph Avenue, Poughkeepsie NY 12601;
gusnolan@aol.com
David Kammer, 476 La Playa, Edgewater FL 32141; 904-426-6349
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ISSUE # 51
November 1999
From DAVID HEALY (’64) - Australia: Thank you for the latest edition of
Marists All. Enclosed is a copy of a Mass booklet from the celebration of
Champagnat’s canonization here in Perth, Australia. The booklet was provided
by a colleague, Neville McManus, an ex-monk who served as a Catholic
secondary principal in rural western Australia for many years. Nev is most
impressed by Marists All. Maybe an Australian edition will happen! Perth is
about as far from Esopus and Poughkeepsie as it gets, but my fond memories
dim neither with distance nor time. The education we had was second to none,
and I still have vivid recollections of Latin and Spanish vocabulary tests,
geometry theorem booklets, Macbeth in living b & w on TV.
More significant are images of the many wonderful Marist Brothers who
profoundly influenced my life. Over the years I have had the chance to thank
some of them personally. To the rest, I take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt
“Thanks!” One particularly useful aspect of my Marist Education as the chance
to develop some skill at carpentry. Just being able to observe Brothers John
Berchmans and Peter Hilary in action was an education in itself, and I learned a
lot from watching and in working with contemporaries such as Tom Connors,
George Halpin, John Wesp, John Sheehan, and Ray Faucher. In 1979 when we
built our house in Perth’s northern suburbs, I was able to do a lot of the work
myself. We’ve been here for nearly 20 years, and I still get much satisfaction
from “pottering around” this place.
Kay and I celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary in October. Kay is an Assume,
educated at Perth Catholic schools and the University of Western Australia. Our
four daughters have all followed in her footsteps. Gina, our eldest, working in
New York for most of 1998 before commencing a law degree at UWA this year.
Meg is in her last of a BA in English at the same university, and Anne is in the
second year of a music education degree, also at UWA. Terri will finish high
school this year, and you get no prize for figuring out which tertiary institution
she hopes to attend! All of the children are dual US/Australian nationals, as I am.
The difference is that they perceive themselves as Australians first and foremost.
While having strong affection for Australia, I will feel American to my dying
day.
That said, I’m not blind to the advantages this country offers. Significant
financial aid is provided to Catholic and other non-governmental schools by both
the federal and state governments, and our costs for both health and tertiary
education are significantly less than their American equivalents. In the early 80’s
a friend asked me to attend a one-day course with him on the uses of computers
in education. When the presenter put x = x + 1 on the overhead, I was hooked.
This was my kind of math! I re-trained in Computer Education, got lucky
enough to win a prize in a national programming competition, and continued on
to become a Novell CNE, an experienced Visual Basic programmer and IT
Manager at a Catholic high school. Although I do miss the classroom from time
to time, I doubt I’ll ever return to it. I regard the work ethic instilled by a Marist
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education as fundamental to any success I’ve achieved. We got a lot right at
Esopus and Poughkeepsie in the 60’s! Fraternally in JMJ. (48 Adare Way,
Kingsley WA 6026, Australia)
From BR. PHILIP R. DEGAGNE (’48): I guess this questionnaire is one way
to get to hear from the guy lost in Texas. I have always enjoyed reading the
newsletter, but I never was brave enough to attempt to compete with all the
literary works of so many who have been writing. This August marks my 40th
year of presence and work here in Laredo, Texas. There has always been more
than enough work to be done to keep me busy. I have told myself that if ever I
run out of work I will move on to some other area of the Marist world. So far the
Lord has blessed me and the work I do. I am happy to be where I am, and those I
serve seem satisfied with my efforts.
For 33 years I taught school. Since 1986 I have worked at parish ministry. I am
director of the parish center and supervisor of maintenance. I do a bit of
everything: carpentry, electrical work, maintenance, supervision. It has been a
very pleasant change of pace from teaching.
There are five of us in the Laredo Marist community. Bothers John Allen and
Bob Warren are working in ministry in two different parishes. Tom Coyne has
been teaching math at a public high school for years. For several years now Br.
Joseph Herrera has taught at the same public high school. Brother Joe has also
been directing cursillos for young people.
The trip to Rome for the canonization of our Founder was certainly the highlight
of this year. Three of our Brothers were privileged to take part in the ceremonies.
God bless you and your staff for putting all this material into the hands of so
many people (1511 Cherry Hill Drive, Laredo TX 78041; 956-724-2651)
From BILL (William Nicholas) KELLY (’55): Recently I attended a memorial
service for Ed Miles. I grew up with him in Parkchester and was with him two
years in Esopus, two years in Tyngsboro, and one year at Marist College. John
McGuire was at the service. He gave me your name so that I may receive
Marists All. I would love to hear from school mates known to me while with
FMS from 1952 to 1957. It was nice to read about Br. Charles Filiatrault in the
latest issue of the newsletter. He helped teach me ice hockey in Tyngsboro; I
kept trying to check him, but I just bounced off!
I graduated from Fordham University in 1960 with a degree in psychology, and
in 1963 I joined the FBI. I retired in 1987 and am at present in my own private
security business.
I have been married to Janet for 36 years and have three married children and
three grandchildren, all living in Virginia.
Just a note concerning the result of five years of Marist training. Midst the
problems, setbacks, even tragedies that we all encounter, I have been able to
continue trusting our heavenly Father. This year our 17-day-old granddaughter
had seizures; she had spinal meningitis and blood clots on her brain. Zillions of
prayers by many beautiful friends and relatives were answered. Our “Miracle
Meghan” is now doing well and the danger is over. Some day we’ll know why.
Thy will be done! Perhaps another call from our heavenly Father and a sign of
His love. (284 Colony Street, West Hempstead NY 11552; 516-481-1222)
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From BOB O’HANDLEY (’61): It was great to get back to the Marist Family
Institute of Spirituality. The comments in the August newsletter about the July
weekend are so true. It was wonderful renewing acquaintances and meeting
members of the family I had only heard of by name before. (3 Glenn Cove,
Andover MA 01810; 978-970-0280;
ohandley@mediaone.net
)
From STEPHEN SLACK (’60): While still at West Virginia University I ran
into Bill Reger and Mick Stoehr and learned of the existence of a newsletter, but
I haven’t had contact with anything Marist in almost five years. So your letter of
July 14th offering Marists All took me by surprise. I had met Bill at a cafeteria
table some years ago, and one day Mick ambushed me in a corridor. We passed
one another and a moment later he called my name from behind me. I turned to
see a guy of about 40 who did not look anything like the kid I once had taught in
physics class at CCHS, Wheeling.
After teaching with the Brothers in Wheeling for two years I withdrew on June
6th, 1966.
That fall I began graduate school in physics at Penn State. This sort of endeavor,
as you probably now, is more a matter of perseverance than ability. As I was
finishing off there, I held a faculty position at Emmanuel College, a small
Catholic girls’ school in Boston, so I had to do some commuting. Due to a drop
in enrollment, however, my position at Emmanuel was terminated in 1974 just as
I was ready for the defense of my thesis. Then, about to become eligible for
unemployment compensation, I got a call from the University of California at
San Francisco regarding an opening in the physics of radiation therapy. My
background in nuclear physics made me more qualified than my mentors; in
clinical matters I had a lot to learn. That position lasted a year.
In October of 1975 I was offered a position with the medical physics section of
the radiology department at WVU in Morgantown, WV. I stayed there for 19
years, teaching physics to radiology residents and a graduate level course in
radiation safety. There were some fun aspects to the job, like serving on the
state’s emergency response team for nuclear accidents; that got me two weeks of
training, half of it at the Nevada nuclear test site. Eventually we got a chairman
of radiology that I did not get along with. I told him that if he ever wanted my
resignation all he had to do was ask. In August of ’94 he asked.
Now I am at the Midwest Gamma Knife Center in Kansas City, Missouri. We do
stereotaxic radiosurgery for various types of brain lesions such as cancerous and
non-cancerous tumors, arterio-venous malformations, and trigeminal neuralgia.
This involves putting on a head frame (actually securing it to the patient’s skull),
imaging the head by MRI, CT, or angiography with the head frame and a fiducial
box, then transferring these images to a computer to plan treatment. The
“Gamma Knife” is an array of 201 colimited Cobalt-60 sources arranged on a
hemisphere to produce a sphere of intense radiation from 4 mm to 18 mm in
diameter. The patient is secured in place so that a number of placements of such
spheres will adequately treat a lesion of any shape while giving a relatively low
dose to the rest of the head.
Most of our earliest cases were patients that the neurosurgeons did not want to
risk conventional surgery on, but we are now getting more referrals based on
efficiency and convenience, since our treatment takes only one day and has
essentially no convalescence period. a brochure is enclosed. I’m the one with the
bald head and mustache toward the right of the group picture.
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If this makes it sound as if my career has consumed my whole life, that is close
to being true. I have never married or even come close. You might say that I was
a nerd before Bill Gates made it popular.
Aside from six years on the parish council of the university parish in
Morgantown, my participation in Church activities has been regular but passive.
When I read about the great things the brothers and other missionaries are doing,
like going back to Liberia so soon after the fighting, I get nostalgic and am
sometimes tempted to try to return. Upon a little thought, however, I realize that
at each step of my career God has made it very clear where He has wanted me to
go. The hard part has been that He hasn’t made it very clear what He has wanted
me to do when I got there. So I tend to look for the obvious, do the best I can,
and never look back.
My health has been as good as one might expect. I had a melanoma removed
about twelve years ago and I had a small retinal tear a year later. Aside from that
I’m growing older rather gracefully and have even taken up ballroom dancing.
My regards to all! (4567 Walnut Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64111)
From BR. JOHN ALLEN (’62): I am a sucker for questionnaires, so I consider
this a very sneaky way of compelling me at long last to submit something to
Marists All. I am beginning my eighth year as pastoral associate at Blessed
Sacrament parish in Laredo. Among other duties I teach two courses in the
diocesan pastoral institute, train altar servers, lectors, and the eucharistic
ministers, and teach a high school CCD class. I am secretary of the Council of
Religious in the diocese of Corpus Christi and am a board member of the local
chapter of the American Red Cross. As of this month I have spent half of my life
in Texas: McAllen, Brownsville, San Antonio, and Laredo. As the TV ad puts it,
“It’s a whole other country!” However, no passport is needed; our doors are
always open to visitors.
Last month I had the opportunity to visit my brother, Father Peter, pastor of
Sacred Heart/Our Lady of Council in Cutchogue/Mattituck on Long Island. I
also visited my brother Steve who now lives in Ramona, California. Steve’s wife
Marcy died last October of cancer; they would have been married 25 years.
(1511 East Cherry Hill Dr., Laredo TX 78041; 956-724-2651)
From TOM “Archie” MOORE (’6 ) Please continue to send me Marists All. I
enjoy reading it cover to cover, even thoug it often brings tears to my eyes.
There’s not much new from me. I have been teaching physics and math for 35
years; I still enjoy my work very much and I’m still effective.
I continue to work in theatre with students. In Pennsylvania drama competition
these students finished in the top three five times since 1990, even gaining first
place three times! I thank Jim Britt for getting me started in drama at Marist
College.
A relatively new hobby of mine is scuba diving. This might shock some who
remember my swimming skills; I may still hold the record for being rescued the
most times from the Hudson River near the old board dock at the juniorate in
Esopus. I have earned advanced Certification and have completed 134 open
water dives; I am fifteen minutes short of having spent four days under water.
On my birthday this year I had my first opportunity to interact with sharks; I
have pictures to prove it.
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I am still single, but engaged, and hope to be married in the coming year. Some
of you may remember that I was always a slow mover! Thanks for all your hard
work keeping in touch with everyone. (1028 Hillside Trail, Johnstown PA
15905; 814-255-3210)
From JOE (Joseph Ambrose) McKIERNAN (’52): This is my initial
contribution to Marists All. Sorry it took so long. I separated from the
congregation in 1962 and began teaching at Harrison High School in
Westchester. I helped found our local teachers’ union and became active on the
state level. I retired in 1995, but have remained active in the teachers’ union,
especially on the state level, doing political action for NYSUT and running
negotiation workshops.
At Harrison I met Marie, the love of my life. She taught foreign languages. We
were married in 1965 and will be celebrating our 34th anniversary in December.
Marie retired from teaching in 1997. We love retirement. It’s been great traveling
with someone who can speak French and Spanish. What with family, traveling,
volunteer work, fixing houses, gardening, and professional activities, there are
not enough hours in a day.
Marie and I have two sons: Joseph, 30, who went from the NYPD to the FDNY,
and Michael, 26, who works as an accountant for Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Both of
our sons enjoyed Buddy Nolan as an English teacher in Tappan Zee High
School. I have also remained close to Bernie Woods and his family.
Reading Marists all over the years has been wonderful. Thanks so much to Dave
and Gus. The flood of memories that return with the myriad stories is heart-
warming. When Mike Kelly mentioned the tar on the chapel roof, all I could
recall was sunburned armpits from the reflection of the silver sheets that were
beneath the tar. Our building projects at the college were definitely a help for
future home owning. We could dig trenches with the best. About ten or so years
ago I decided to replace our cracked front walk and steps with uniloc blocks.
Without hesitation I rented a compressor. After all the months, or was it years, of
drilling in “hernia Gulch” at the college (the area behind and below the chapel,
this was a snap. In about thirty seconds it all came back. To the amazement of
my sons I was back in Hernia Gulch with a jackhammer. At any moment I
expected to see Nilus or Eddie Mike coming around the corner of the house. The
one regret I had about working on the project was not having the opportunity to
learn electrical work. Nilus had only the Chinese brothers doing that work; do
you remember “The Chinese Electric Company?” (1 Key Place, Tappan NY
10893-1010; 914-359-3795)
From DAN (Denis Michael) ST. JACQUESb> (’52): Recently I retired as the
chief U.S officer of one of the largest Japanese financial firms. We were part of
the Mitsubishi group. I was responsible for the maritime specialty; that work had
me travel throughout the Far East, as well as Africa, Europe, Australia, and New
Zealand.
My wife Frances Mary and I have raised four children, and we now have four
grandchildren. Our oldest son and daughter are products of Marist schools - he,
Archbishop Molloy; she, St. Mary, Manhasset. All of the kids took their advance
degrees in the U.S. and the youngest took an additional year at the University of
Salamanca, Spain. Two are involved in confidential work with the police
department, and one is in management with a financial firm; the other is a
marine surveyor in Seattle.
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For the past nine years I have been doing volunteer work at the Mercy Cancer
Care, Hospice, and had the great honor of sitting with two former monks in their
final hours. My hobbies are wood-working, primarily toys for my children and
now for my grandchildren. Recent by-pass and heart valve replacement has
slowed down my lifestyle, but I am optimistic. (106 Sackville Road, Garden City
NY 11530; 516-757-4610)
From VINCENT KENNY (’61): I thoroughly enjoy each issue of Marists All.
Like all of the correspondents to the newsletter I am very, very deeply grateful to
the Brothers for my Marist spirituality; it ha influenced all aspects of my life. At
this time I am teaching at Father Ryan High School in Nashville. Scripture and
art history keep me involved. I also teach in the RCIA program in my parish.
Teaching suits me!
Christine, my bride of twenty-four years, is a Godsend. We are very happy
together. We live in the middle of a woodland far from all our neighbors. It is
quiet and perfect for us. I would very much enjoy hearing from old friends. My
address is: 3785 Perkins Road, Thompson Station TN 37179;
kennyv@fatherryan.org
.
From MARK MORAN (’67): I have spent the better part of the past 25 years as
a bartender in New York City. That calling is its own very special kind of
apostolate; snicker not! Thus, on occasion I’ve administered to such varied
notables as Danny Grogan, Tom (Binsky) Murphy, Dan Brady, Tom McCann,
and Brian O’Reilly. Is there a pattern here? Now, however, I am employed as the
oldest rookie letter carrier in the history of the Floral Park Long Island Post
Office. (Quite the run-on sentence, eh Gus!) It’s exhausting work, but I kind of
enjoy it.
As a member of the last class of “ancients” (Cold Spring ‘63-’66 and Esopus
‘67-’68), I was blessed to be under the tutelage and influence of Br. John
Berchmans for five consecutive years. He truly showed me by his life the
simplicity of goodness the goodness of simplicity. That has carried a lot of
weight and reassurance in my life to this day and hopefully from here on out. My
connection to the Marist life is with me every day. For that I am grateful and
proud. Would love to hear more from those in and around my group.(130-48
122nd Street, South Ozone Park NY 11420; 718-848-2843)
From CRAIG EVANS (’67): I continue in my private practice of psychotherapy
three days a week in my Boston office. In February of 1999 I was granted a
Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from the Graduate School at Tufts
University. I have been the curator of Sandwich Historical Society in the town of
Sandwich, New Hampshire, not far from my home. Currently I am looking for
part-time work in curatorial/collections care. I specialize in textiles and in textile
equipment of the 18th and 19th centuries.
In New Hampshire I live about 20 miles south of Camp Marist, which was just
written up in the local paper honoring their 50th anniversary, a very
complimentary (actually glowing) article about the Marist Brothers fulfilling the
mission of Marcellin Champagnat through this particular apostolate.
I was able to be in Rome for the canonization. As for so many others, it was for
me an intensely memorable experience of fellowship. I am particularly
appreciative to all the brothers who reached out and included me in the various
festivities. The time at the Motherhouse (excuse the deliberate political
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incorrectness, but I do prefer that to “Generalate”) was very impressive, the
crowds of Marists from around the world and all the kids whose lives are
touched by the spirit of Marcellin. The archival exhibit, as you might imagine,
was very important to me.
Thanks for all you do in continuing to provide this vehicle of communication
and connection in the greater Marist world.(1368 Beacon Street (#115),
Brookline MA 02446-2800; 617-734-0184)
From LAURENCE (Stephen Laurence) SULLIVAN (’50): Marists All has
been a great way of staying in touch with the glories of the past, the challenges
of the present, as well as the hopes for the future.
After 32 years in the Department of Religious Studies I retired from Marist
College in May of ’99. I continue on a part-time basis, however, while my wife
Jo-Ann pursues her commitment to students in Special Education at
Poughkeepsie High School. Working at the “Hermitage” for over three decades
has allowed me to stay close to my roots. Living in Staatsburg overlooking the
Hudson and having a beautiful view of the Mansion in Esopus from our kitchen
window has also helped!
Our son Andrew lives and works in Connecticut. He has great hopes for his rock
band “Splice” which has three CD’s to its credit. Prayers and best wishes.(13
Spy Glass Lane, Staatsburg NY 12580; 914-889-8319)
From PAUL (Dominic Mary) LOZEAU (’52): I left the Brother in 1977 and
worked as an insurance agent for one year. Then I was manager of Arco Mini-
Market for two years and of Cumberland Farms for one year. I taught at an
elementary school for five years, and then I was at Notre Dame High School in
Massachusetts as Dean of Students one year. In 1991 I was called to Leesburg,
Florida, by a pastor friend of mine and there I became principal of St. Paul’s
elementary school until January of 1994 when I became ill. I went for a heart
operation; it was a rare case of tumor across the heart. I spent 45 days
recuperating with a left mechanical ventricle valve, a pacemaker, and wires
inside of me; I feel like the million dollar mechanical man. I am doing well.
I have been married to a wonderful nurse’s aide since 1983. I am retired and do a
lot of oil paintings as a Certified Ross Instructor in landscape, seascape, florals,
and wildlife. Thank you for your past letters. I enjoy them greatly. (1351 Dekle
Drive, Leesburg FL 34748; 352-365-1996
From FRANK RIZZA (’67): I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging, but here’s
a short biography; graduated from Molloy in 1966, went to novitiate partly
because I wanted to teach, never got to teach until recently. After years in school
I received my doctorate from St. John’s University (1995) in Counselor
Education. I am adjunct professor both at C.W.Post College and at New York
Institute of Technology.
I have been happily married to Marge for almost 28 years. We are heavily
involved in worldwide marriage encounter. We give enrichment weekends for
this wonderful organization. We are also involved in our parish, St. Elizabeth
Seton in Ronkonkoma, New York. our two daughters, Christina and Dawn, still
live at home, but that may change in the near future. Marge and I enjoy white
water rafting. I fish, hunt, and fence (yes, with a sword!). We love to travel.
Unfortunately we are usually away at the time of the annual picnic at the Mount.
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(32 Beaumont Lane, Lake Grove NY 11755; 516-467-2726;
fmcdrizza@aol.com
)
From JOHN ROCHE (’52): I’m still teaching math at a Marist high school,
Christopher Columbus Boys High School, in Miami. I’m getting close to
retirement, but there’s no definite time schedule for that. The newsletter is great;
keep it coming. I would love to know the whereabouts of Jimmy O’Brien ’52.
(9740 SW 100th Avenue, Miami FL 33176; 305-271-3876)
From PHIL HANNIGAN (’60): Since I left in 1967 I haven’t seen many of my
old friends, but there have been some contacts. I met Russ Therriault in the
China Beach Officers Club, Danang Viet Nam, in January of ’70. He was flying
as a back-seater in Marine F4s. He had already bailed out of two perfectly good
airplanes during his flying career due to mid-air collisions. I was glad to see that
he survived Viet Nam.
During a stopover in London in 1978, I tracked down Tim Dooley. He was
working for Merrill-Lynch there, having previously worked for them in Hong
Kong. I never saw him again. He told me that Eddie Weisenback had become an
MIA in Laos (Air America) and that some of his friends had attempted to launch
a search and rescue for him. Eddie is still MIA. I pray for him and for the repose
of Tim’s soul daily.
In 1994, I went to the Marist College reunion, the 30th anniversary of our
graduation. Kevin Finn was the only one of our group that showed up. There
were also two “lay students” from the class. It was wonderful meeting Kevin and
his wife Madeline. I was able to confirm the stories he told his family, while he
was able to confirm my stories. The wives were appreciative but still
incredulous. We got to visit the Finns at their “cottage” in Newport Beach,
California, in 1996.
Also in 1996 we had a great reunion with Cookie Maher, John Reynolds, and
Dick Couto, along with their wives, at a weekend we spent at the homestead of
Ron Diss in Rural Retreat, Virginia. All of them are still involved in education.
Dick Couto is at the University of Richmond, Ron Diss is at Emory and Henry
College, Cookie Maher is teaching high school Spanish on Long Island, and
John Reynolds is the guidance counselor at a high school in Flint, Michigan. I’m
the only teaching dropout. In 1997 Rene Roy came to visit us in Virginia on his
way to/from somewhere. What a guy! since moving to Florida this year I have
seen John Reynolds twice. My contacts are improving.
I enjoyed every minute of being a brother and felt that I lost a lot of what was
excellent and emotionally close in my life when I left. At the time we were given
to understand that if you lost your vocation you pretty well lost your soul. It took
a while to get over that perception. It was also considered a courtesy to not tempt
those who remained in the life by maintaining too much contact with the
Brothers. That I regret. I am glad to see that that older cultural baggage has been
shed and that the community lives and thrives. God bless you all!
After graduating from Marist College in 1964, I taught with the Brothers in
Wheeling for three years, then in 1967 I went off to the USAF Officer Candidate
School. I retired from the air Force as a Lt. Colonel in 1988. A summary of my
career in the service would include Vietnam and Thailand 1968-70, Missile
Launch Officer SAC 1971-76, Tactical Air Operations Officer 1977-84, Europe,
Middle East, North Africa, ending at the Pentagon 1984-88 as Military Sales
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Officer. The last assignment led to a similar job with civil industry in Virginia
and now in Florida. In 1987 I married Martha Butler Gough, a widow with two
grown children. Current status: Happy and content! (11633 Timberline Circle,
Ft. Myers FL 33912; 941-939-8980)
From JOHN HEFFERNAN (’61): I am a high school Guidance Counselor. I
have two sons and a grandson. My wife recently retired from Macy’s. My
hobbies are working out (cycling, jogging) and photography. I saw Dave
Murphy and his wife Elaine recently. They live and work on the Indian
Reservation in Pine Ridge, S. D. (109 Brewery Road, New City NY 10956; 914-
634-5786)
From DICK (Stephen Aloysius) BRANIGAN (’50): I felt so young again
reading the last Marists All. There they were: Castine, Bibeau, Horan, Jambor …
all there for me again as they were at mid-century. It is clear to me now that we
have really not been far apart. I can count on being in the thoughts of guys with
whom I bonded years ago. It is a remarkable happening; without this gem of a
newsletter we might never have been able to celebrate this solidarity.
I’ve retired from 30 years of publications and alumni work at the University of
Wisconsin in Oshkosh. I am active in what might be called a mini-elderhostel
activity out of the continuing education office on campus. I am secretary of the
curriculum committee; among other things I do the quarterly newsletter. I am
still house pianist at our country club, and I do my share at retirement homes in
the area. My wife Pat and I have three grown children, 37, 31, and 27, and two
grandchildren, with two on the way.
I read as much as I can, finding lessons at almost every turn. I am surviving a
test of faith, but still reading for a second time Anglican bishop Spong’s “Why
Christianity Must Change - or Die.” When you agree with a certain slice of
controversial theology, and it tends to upend the comfortable cloak you’ve worn
for years, you ask, “Well, what do I do now!” The tendency to be a smorgasbord
Christian, to pick and choose from the buffet whatever suits you, is tempting.
However, reading alternative views can strengthen your original convictions.
Both Larry Haggerty and Joe Horan have brought up the idea of arranging a
“class of 1950” reunion. Count me in. And I’ll bet Charlie Scott who lives down
the pike from me is also game … and it should be easy enough for Bill Powers
to hop up to Marist College for the celebration. Let’s do it before we all need
walkers. Peace all around. (1814 Fairview Street, Oshkosh WI 54901; 920-233-
2954;
branigan@uwosh.edu
)
From JIM GARGAN (’59): I just got back from three weeks in the Carolinas
and while in the area I just had to go see Augusta Catholic High School. My
friend Terry (John Joseph) McMahon, RIP, used to regale us with many stories
of his days in Augusta. Luckily my wife Ginny and I ran into Brother Joseph
Damian Teston (whose real religious name is H - - - - - -; does anyone remember
that name?) We had never met him before, but we spent a great half hour
reminiscing about things Marist. He told us that the youngest brother in his
community was 72. As we were swapping stories, he said that with only two or
three classmates what the young Brothers of today will miss in the future is all of
the wonderful memories and multiple stories shared with so many people. He’s
right.
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We will be heading up to Esopus on August 15th for a memorial to Tim Dooley
of the class of ’60 who died in 1998, as Tom Hourican informed us in a recent
issue. Speaking of Tim: when we played football together in Tyngsboro, Tim
was quarterback. He sent me out far, and I caught the ball on my right shoulder
pinning it down with my left arm. I described that catch to my son Jim when he
was about four years old. The next year Tim visited us from England. I asked
Jim to tell Tim the story of my great football catch. He did; Tim loved it! (252-
08 60th Avenue, Little Neck NY 11362; 212-785-1646;
garganlaw@msn.com
)
DECEASED: Brother Daniel Andrew Kopecky (’31) died September 15th in
Miami. Since our publication began in 1987 there have been 81 Brothers who
have died, and 38 “formers” on our mailing list have died. May all of our friends
rest in peace, we pray.
From RAY (Paul Wilfred) BLANCHARD (’47): I’m a bit late with this
questionnaire. We just got back from building with Habitat for Humanity in
Michigan’s upper peninsula. We’ve been helping them as much as we can. Last
winter it was in Tucson. Might as well use all of that training that the “Donnelly
Construction Corporation” gave me! Enjoy reading about all the goings on in the
newsletter. Wish more of those around my age would write. Hope that the
newsletter keeps coming. (1201 Jerry Avenue, Durant WI 54736-1726)
From DON GILLESPIE (’65): Although most of those who write for Marists
All are before my time, I am inspired and encouraged tosee the ways so many,
religious and laymen, have managed to commit their lives to the values
embodied in Marist spirituality. I notice that the editors of the newsletter
occasionally feel a need to cajole readers to send articles. I wonder if the
modesty we learned in training discourages some from writing about themselves.
Perhaps, if the reticent among us would view the task as an opportunity to
encourage and support the efforts of others to live according to Marist values,
they would feel freer to write.
I should add that I shared the newsletter with a friend, a former Franciscan friar.
He observed that Marists All keeps connected to the order a cadre of laymen
trained in Marist spirituality. From the entries in the newsletter, it appears that
they are committed to Marist values. My friend concluded that in an age of
declining numbers of religious these laymen can be a great resource for
extending the work of the order.
;Since I have not written since 1989, I will offer a brief update on my own
activities. I completed a PhD in community and clinical psychology at the
University of Maryland, obtained a license in psychology, and practiced for
several years in a state-operated community mental health program in
Westchester County. Owing to cuts in community mental heath service in New
York state, I began to look for other work. Three years ago I took a job as
Director of Institutional Research at Fordham University. The job enables me to
keep my hand in virtually all of the areas that my career has encompassed over
the years: college administration, policy analysis, and psychology. in addition, I
have rich ties to Fordham that I developed as an undergraduate there. I am
delighted to be working at Fordham.(42 Alexander Street, Greenwich CT 06830;
203-869-8239;
ss_gillespie@lars.fordham.edu
EDITORS’ NOTE:
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Responses to the questionnaire in the August issue brought us a sizeable amount
of written material. Thus, we published a special extra issue in September. This
present issue contains more of that material. And there is more! We have decided
to publish another special extra issue this December, not to keep our writers
waiting. The responses we have in hand include writings from 28 people we
have never heard from before, so we continue to have hope … to hear from 175
others who have never responded in any way. Besides the very gratifying
amount of written material, we also received significant financial help -- $1,783
-- to give us the highest balance ever, enough to produce six more issues. How to
continue to draw the written material needed.
Write to:
Gus Nolan, 50 South Randolph Avenue, Poughkeepsie NY 12601;
gusnolan@aol.com
David Kammer, 476 La Playa, Edgewater FL 32141; 904-426-6349