class notes Brookside Club in Bourne on Cape Cod. Our 16 old golf pros had a great time. There was plenty of time to socialize and to share many serious and humorous memories—a lot of laughs and kidding one another. Those on the winning team in our golf scramble were Joe Casey MBA’72, Jerry Daly, Bob Palladino, and John Sullivan. Have Bob and John describe their extraordinary and spectacular golf shots to provide the winning margin! They are all looking forward to next year. • According to the latest report I received from Boston College, 50 percent of our class participated in the 60th anniversary class gift to the University. That is something for future classes to aim for! Well done! • I also received news that the following members of our class have passed away: John B. Casey of Yarmouth Port on June 1; Robert M. Collins of Hampton, NH, on May 20; Charles J. Flathers of Peabody on September 23, 2009; William G. Devine, SJ, MA/PHL’51, MA’54, of Weston on June 20; Stanley Goode of Fitchburg on May 9; Charles F. Hurley Jr. of Hyannis on May 18; Joseph G. Laffy of Peabody on April 12; Charles H. Lonergan of Norwell on March 25; and Joseph M. McDonough, MA’51, of Westwood on March 31. • If you’d like me to include in this column something about you, please send information to me at the above address.
nc 1950-1953 Correspondent: Ann Fulton Coté NC’53 11 Prospect Street Winchester, MA 01890; 781-729-8512 Perhaps the heat of summer has made everyone comatose! For whatever reason, I have very little to report. • I had a lovely visit at the home of Monsie O’Brien Clifton NC’53 in August. • I have talked recently with Tappy Welling Broderick, Louise Lynch Conlan, Barbara Ann Gould Henry, Sarah Lee Whelan McSweeney, and Dee Dienhart Rotolo, all NC’53. All have retained a sense of humor and recommend good books for me to read. • Please be in touch.
1951 1951
REUNION
2011
Correspondent: James J. Derba jjderba@aol.com 1010 Waltham Street. Lexington, MA 02421; 781-538-6502 On Reunion Weekend, June 3–5, the Class of ’51 will celebrate the 60th anniversary of their graduation from Boston College! The Reunion Committee is already working hard preparing for the event. Chaired by Jim Derba, the committee also includes John Casey, Bob Corcoran, Bob Jepsen MBA’70, Marty Joyce, Pat Roche H’01, and Ed White. The Class of ’51 celebration will be a lunch on campus on Saturday, June 4, followed by a reunion Mass (for all classes) in St. Ignatius Church. Further information will be provided as the date approaches. We hope to see you there! • Get in the spirit this winter! Join BC alumni on Sunday, December 5, for brunch and an afternoon concert of the Christmas chorale, which will take place on the Newton Campus in Barat
House and Trinity Chapel. • As you know, with the loss of our very fine class correspondent Leo Wesner last April, the Class of ’51 is without a voice in these pages. If you would like to help your classmates remain connected to one another—and to BC—by serving as correspondent, please contact Betsy McLain, class notes editor, at 617-552-4141 or Jim Derba at the above address.
1952 Correspondent: Frank McGee fjamesmcgee@gmail.com 1952 Ocean Street Marshfield, MA 02050; 781-834-4690 Bill Bond reported that he met Bill McSweeney in Naples, FL, at the annual visit by University President William P. Leahy, S.J. Bill McSweeney is retired and living in Sarasota. Bill Bond, who will enter the eighth decade of life on October 31, is still writing and editing for the local literacy council and an international finance magazine. Some of you may know that Bill has authored 20 plays, a number of which were produced off-Broadway. • Once again, the annual golf tournament in memory of Regina and Tom McElroy’s son Tom Jr. ’80 was held in Sharon, with 115 players participating. The event has funded well over $1 million in scholarships for the BC soccer program. Speaking of the McElroys, their son Col. Jack McElroy, USMC, will be retiring in December and joining United Airlines as a pilot. • My son, Patrick, a Navy SEAL, returned from Afghanistan in September. He has been a member of the SEAL community for six years. My oldest son, Frank, has been promoted to director by Credit Suisse on Wall Street. My youngest, Bob, is working at a residential school for troubled kids up to the age of 16 in San Francisco. All three are products of BC High and went on to Amherst College, Babson College, and Fairfield University, respectively. • Class officers Dick Driscoll, president; Charlie Barrett, LLD’55, first VP; Joe O’Shaughnessy, second VP; Al Sexton, treasurer; and Roger Connor, secretary, are wrapping up plans to celebrate our 59th anniversary year. Can you believe it—59th! • On October 7, the annual memorial Mass was held at Trinity Chapel. Fr. Hugh O’Regan celebrated the Mass with Fr. Tom Murray as concelebrant. • Fran O’Leary of Davenport, FL, has 16 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. I don’t think Fran can catch up with Charlie Hanafin, who has, at last count, 58 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. • Dana Doherty writes from Mesa, AZ, that son Jerry is a captain in the Coast Guard. His daughter Sally is VP of LSIC Inc., and his youngest son is an attorney in LaCrosse, WI. • Jack Leary’s grandson and granddaughter are students at the University of Oklahoma. • Joan and Hugh Donaghue divide their time equally, with six months in Delaware and six months in Dunedin, FL. • All of us ’52ers hope the great Mike Roarke continues on his path to recovery. • Condolences to the family of Paul Clinton, who passed away in June. Paul was one of the classiest guys ever to have graced the campus of BC. • Finally, in his August letter to all of us, Roger refers to me 5 class notes
as the publications secretary of the class. Thanks, Roger. I love the job. • Happy 59th to all. I hope this column finds Bob Richards, JD’55, and family in excellent health.
1953 Correspondent: Jim Willwerth jammw19@verizon.net 19 Sheffield Way Westborough, MA 01581; 508-366-5400 I received a postcard this past summer from classmate John O’Gorman. He was on a pilgrimage to Rome with his archbishop, Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati. The archbishop received his pallium from the pope, recognizing him as the new archbishop of Cincinnati. John said that in addition to this ceremony, he has participated in three others presided over by the pope. John sends his best wishes to all his classmates. • The children of classmate Fred Good, MBA’62, hosted a surprise 80th birthday celebration for their father at Atlantica in Cohasset on August 1. It was attended by family and a few friends and golf buddies. Maureen and Bob McCarthy were fortunate enough to be among those invited. • Warren Toland ’63 sent me a note of appreciation for mentioning his brother Donald “Duncan” Toland in the Spring issue. Warren’s note reads in part: “Donald only spent one year at BC, and we are grateful that he is remembered on the Boston College Veterans Memorial. His classmates may know him better by his preferred name of Duncan.” Duncan, a Marine corporal, was killed in action in Korea on May 28, 1951. In 1952, at the Charlestown Navy Yard, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for “extraordinary heroism.” The medal was presented to his parents, accompanied by a citation from the Secretary of the Navy. The citation reads in part: “His indomitable fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Toland and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.” Rest in peace, Duncan. • In July, Jean and Paul Murray were guests of their son at the U.S. Naval Academy to witness the indoctrination of their grandson into the school’s freshman class. Their son is a Naval Academy alumnus and a member of the faculty, and the newly indoctrinated freshman is the son of the Murrays’ daughter, whose husband is also a graduate of the academy. All I can say with that report is, “Go, Navy!” • On July 8, the Milepost Restaurant in Duxbury was the site for the annual summer lunch enjoyed by Maureen and Joe Tower, Maureen and Bob McCarthy, and Mary and Jim Willwerth. Classmates and BC football were the subjects of the day.
1954 Correspondent: John Ford jrfeagle@verizon.net 45 Waterford Drive Worcester, MA 01602; 508-755-3615 In August, I attended the funeral of Ed Kodzis. Dick Curley, JD’59, and Doug MacMillan were there as well. Ed had a long