class notes
Greetings to my classmates of 1941. I hope that everyone fared well during the snowy month of February here in New England, and for those who are in warmer climates, I hope that you enjoyed the warmth. • I sadly must report the recent passing of our classmate Joseph Skelsey on November 25, 2012, and Madeline Galvani, widow of our late classmate Francis Galvani, on January 15, 2013. May they rest in God’s eternal peace. • My best to all my dear classmates. AMDG.
For the next 49 years, he had a successful practice in Revere and then enjoyed a happy retirement in Fryeburg, ME. He is survived by his son, John, and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his two wives, Grace and June. A spiritual enrollment of sympathy has been sent to his family. • Two days later, on November 29, we lost Bob Muse. Bob was a Marine Corps fighter pilot, earning among other awards the Distinguished Flying Cross. He had a truly memorable experience at the Battle of Okinawa, downing a kamikaze that was ready to hit and probably sink a cruiser. Forty-four years later, after much research, the crew of that ship contacted him and made him an honorary member for saving their ship. After the war, Bob earned a law degree and had a successful career as a trial lawyer. He was one of only eight recipients of the Massachusetts Bar’s Courageous Advocacy Award, in recognition of his pro bono service in getting delayed justice to gain freedom for a wrongly convicted person. He is survived by his wife, Mary Beatty Muse, JD’50, retired probate court justice; 11 children; 36 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Seven of his children are lawyers, and as father and mentor, he taught them that justice is something worth fighting for. A spiritual enrollment has been sent to the family. • Two days later, on December 1, Jim Hawco left to join our beloved classmates for eternal rest. Jim was a unique member of our class, because he was the salutatorian at our commencement, a role that is reserved by tradition and rule for the person who, as a student, had the second best academic record in the class. Jim joined the Navy and served as a gunnery officer on destroyers. He was awarded a Silver Star and discharged with the Pacific Ribbon, holding 12 campaign stars. After the war, he joined the business world and had a very successful and satisfying career. If you have a copy of the 50th anniversary report of the Class of ’42, look at it to see Jim’s philosophy of life. I had an unpleasant surprise when I received word of Jim’s passing; I had just sent him a copy of Bob Muse’s obituary because a year or so ago, he had called me for Bob’s phone number. His family will receive a spiritual enrollment of sympathy. • I have used up my allotted space, so I’ll close, hoping to see some classmates at our 71st anniversary lunch.
Your participation matters.
Your participation matters.
Your participation matters.
1939
Correspondent: Class Notes editor classnotes@bc.edu We would like to express our deepest appreciation to John Donovan, MA’41, who has served as correspondent for the Class of ’39 so long and so well, as he retires his pen with this issue. And with great sadness, we also offer him sincere sympathy on the loss of his wife, Mary, who passed away on January 4. John’s connection to Boston College spans more than three-quarters of a century: he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology from BC and is one of the founding members of the Sociology Department, where he taught full-time from 1952 until 1988, when he turned 70, and part-time as an emeritus professor until 2002. John served in the Army during World War II and was awarded a Bronze Star. He then taught at Fordham University, and completed his PhD from Harvard before returning to the Heights. John recently moved from his longtime home in Westborough to Walpole; you can write to him at Crosbey House 124, 180 Main Street, Walpole, MA 02081, or jddboppa@graber.org, or phone him at 508-366-4782. We will miss the quiet wisdom, gentle humor, and indomitably positive perspective John brought to these pages for more than 25 years, and we wish him well.
Your participation matters.
1941
Correspondent: John M. Callahan 3 Preacher Road Milton, MA 02186; 617-698-2082
1942
Correspondent: John C. Fitzgerald johnfitz85@verizon.net 22 Joyce Road Hyde Park, MA 02136-3807; 617-364-2309 Ave, alma mater, I have no good news to report. Laetare Sunday will have passed by the time you see this, so that will have to wait. Sadly, our roll call of deceased classmates has taken a dramatic increase. Since our last report, Leo Benecchi passed to the Lord on November 27. After medical school, Leo served in the Army Medical Corps in Korea.
1943 reunion year
Correspondent: Ernest E. Santosuosso 73 Waldron Road Braintree, MA 02184; 781-848-3730
Your participation matters.
1944
Correspondent: Gerard L. Kirby kirbyjerry143@gmail.com PO Box 1493 Duxbury, MA 02331; 781-934-0229 50 52 class class notes notes
How quickly the days go by. Each one seems to offer a new challenge, some joy, some sadness. It’s when they offer up an irony that is too difficult to understand that we are stunned into silence. This one for example: You will remember that a few months ago I gave a shout-out to Bill Kelley, MBA’61. A few days later he called, and we had a great chat, the first since 1944. And no doubt you also remember from that same account that Bill and Tom Hazlett both lived on the Cape and had hoped for a reunion, because they hadn’t seen each other since 1945—and more importantly, because Bill and Audrey Kelley were best man and maid of honor at Tom and Ginny Hazlett’s wedding in 1945. And now, before an anxiously awaited reunion could take place, Bill Kelley passed away on February 3. Life is so unfair. It deals in extremes. The beginnings and the endings. And the endings are still a shock, even at this age. So now a shout-out to Audrey, to offer our sincere sympathy. We join you in this all but unbearable sadness. • So life goes on, and we pick ourselves up and go along with it because we don’t know what else to do. And after each jolt, we look for some joy and a brighter note. And there is always some to be found: Ed Thomas, for one, brings good news. After a busy life as a dentist, and after setting up several offices, Ed is now enjoying life on the Cape in the summer and in Naples, FL, in the winter. Ed’s 8 children and 20 grandchildren are nonstop diversions, visiting him at both his Cape and his Naples homes. • As for me, my continuing education continues. Last semester I was brought to my knees trying to understand the philosophy of Spinoza. Why I thought I could master this I don’t know. In any case, for this semester I have chosen a simpler course: I am studying the islands of the Mediterranean. Nice work, no? • Peace.
Your participation matters.
1945
Correspondent: David Hern hernfern@juno.com 40 Landseer Street West Roxbury, MA 02132-2915; 617-325-6827 This corner received an inquiry recently about classmate Ed Cunningham, who died in 1962 of complications from polio he contracted before arriving at the Heights. It was apparent that Ed had maroon and gold in his veins and passed it on. The note was from UMass Boston political science professor Maurice Cunningham, PhD’98, who wondered if any surviving ’45ers remembered his father. Several did. Paul Dawson said that Ed was one of the 28 who graduated in 1944. Some 500 freshmen entered BC in September 1941, a record enrollment. Everything was soon accelerated as the ranks were decimated due to service in World War II. Maurice recalled fun rides through the campus, with his sisters and himself singing “For Boston” at the top of their lungs. He said both of his sisters received degrees from BC, and it’s where he earned his PhD. • Joe Devlin, MSW’49, has been doing pretty well in rehab at St. Patrick’s