Thomas H. Lindgren ’55, Hall of Fame Inductee
In every undertaking of his life, Mr. Lindgren was a hard worker and an achiever. He was born in New York City and attended Cardinal Hayes High School, where his illustrious career as a track star began under famed coach Howie Borck. Mr. Lindgren was the first high schooler to break the 2 minutes indoor for the half mile. After attending Georgetown for a year, he entered Manhattan College, but his studies were interrupted by a two-year stint in the Marine Corps. He returned to Manhattan, newly married to wife Patricia, and began his outstanding career as a member of the cross country and track teams during the tenure of Hall of Fame Coach George Eastman. Mr. Lindgren was part of the team that swept all three IC4A Championships in 1954, a feat that has never been equaled. As captain of the 1955 squad, he anchored the two-mile relay team that clinched the 1955 Championship.
Looking back, Mr. Lindgren called them “the glory years when Manhattan won the IC4A Championship in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.” After graduation, Mr. Lindgren began a 30-year career with the Ardsley, N.Y., schools, first as physical education teacher and eventually becoming athletic director and director of health, physical education, recreation and continuing education. His retirement years were devoted to doing the things he loved to do — gardening and golf — and spending time with his family, including four children and 12 grandchildren. Upon his death, countless classmates, colleagues and friends came to pay their respects to a man who had lived an exemplary life. On the day of his induction into the Manhattan College Hall of Fame, December 7, 1997, Mr. Lindgren gave a speech that was reprinted in the booklet for his funeral Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Irvington, N.Y. In it, he praised the College and its Brothers: “To the Brothers
From the 1955 Manhattanite
of Manhattan College, both living and deceased, for all you have given to the College, I am most grateful.” After the funeral, Mike McEneney ’53, his fellow member of the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, wrote, “At the cemetery, a Marine Honor Guard provided the traditional rifle salute, Taps and the flag ceremony. All in all, a very inspiring send-off for a great Jasper.”
alumnotes
Thomas H. Lindgren ’55, a Manhattan Athletic Hall of Famer, died on January 9, 2004. He was 73.
He is survived by four children Patrice, Thomas, Michael and Janet; 12 grandchildren; and two brothers.
Brother Cyprian James Walton ’32, F.S.C., Brother Cyprian James Walton ’32, F.S.C., former chair of biology and the premed advisory committee, died December 5, 2003 in Lincroft, N.J. He was 94. Born in Brooklyn in 1909, Nicholas W. Walton, the future Brother Cyprian James, took an early interest in the Brothers’ vocation. He entered the junior novitiate at Pocantico Hills after completing the eighth grade in 1923, and in 1926, he received the religious habit. In 1929, he was sent to St. Thomas the Apostle School in New York City to teach seventh and eighth grades, and, after earning his B.A. from Manhattan in 1932, he taught religion, English and biology at St. James High School (renamed Bishop Loughlin High School a year later). Brother Cyprian James also received an M.A. in English from Manhattan in 1936. Brother Luke Salm, professor emeritus of religious studies, writes: “At age 27, he had behind him wide experience teaching grade school and high school, a stint at responsibility for Brothers in formation and as sub-director of an active apostolic community. He was known to be a talented artist, an effective teacher,
torn between his knowledge and love for English literature and his keen interest in biological science. The scales were tipped in favor of biology when the legendary Brother Celestine…persuaded the superiors to assign Brother James in that year to the biology department at Manhattan.” In addition to full-time teaching, Brother Cyprian James studied for an M.S. in biology and doctorate degree at Fordham University. In 1947, he succeeded Brother Celestine as head of the biology department, where he remained until 1969. Brother Luke describes his tenure as head of the department and chair of the Premedical Advisory Committee: “Brother James had the responsibility for guiding hundreds of young men aspiring to become doctors, either encouraging the most qualified to pursue such a career or discouraging those he deemed unlikely to succeed. His reputation for integrity among professional medical schools was such that an endorsement from Brother Cyprian James was tantamount to acceptance. As moderator of the Mendelian Society and by inaugurating research seminars for students and faculty, he encouraged undergraduate
research long before support was available for such projects.” After 23 years as chair of the department, Brother Cyprian James stepped down and pursued research in marine biology as well as continued part-time teaching and lecturing and eventually entered full retirement. He remained within the Brothers Community until, beset with physical problems, he was admitted to De La Salle Hall in January 2003 after 67 years at Manhattan College. “One would think that he would have difficulty adjusting to his new surroundings, but not so,” Brother Luke writes. “He entered joyfully into the life of De La Salle Hall until finally his indomitable spirit gave way to the ravages of age. He died peacefully on the eve of St. Nicholas, his patron Saint.” manhattan.edu
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Professor Emeritus of Biology
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