3 minute read

Class of 1957

from Mount Magazine fall 2021

from Mount Magazine fall 2021, page 26

Reunion Weekend

**Henry Read, Gerald Mahoney, Alice Desmond, Michael Doyle, Peter Bailey, Ginger Bailey, Dr. Joseph Smith and Louise Smith**

IN MAY, FIVE ALUMNI OF THE CLASS OF 1957 traveled from their homes in Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Pennsylvania to gather for a special reunion. Alice Desmond, widow of James Desmond, C’57, traveled from New York to share in the joyous homecoming. “Imagine what it takes to get these men here,” she reflected. After meeting them and listening to their stories—it’s clear the Mount serves as the foundation for their enduring friendship and rich memories.

HENRY READ Studied English and had a career in education as a teacher and superintendent. He published manuals for journalists and educational testing.

“We had to take 24 credits in philosophy and I, like many others, questioned this logic. You know how you take typing in high school and it’s the best subject you ever took because you can type your own papers? Those philosophy courses are more valuable as an adult. I can’t remember my history and economics courses, but the philosophy classes I can remember—and the theories behind them. It gives you a benchmark for measuring morality in business and life in general.”

PETER FRANCIS BAILEY Studied history and economics and served in the Navy before taking ownership of a steakhouse restaurant in Bold Landing, New York. He drove a 1947 Packard lovingly referred to as the “Birdshit Special” which he says, “was a stick shift, had a big V8 and went like hell.”

“The Navy was sort of an extension of the Mount for me because I was on a small ship and it was like a small college. You knew everybody and you depended on everybody—just exactly like what we did here. We needed everybody. We were just a big team.”

GERARD “JERRY” MAHONEY Studied economics and flourished in a 45-year career at a large copper producing company. He remembers driving a 1949 Plymouth and tells stories about trips to St. Joseph and Hood Colleges as well as an eventful weekend at Georgetown.

“I had a job before I graduated. I came up with an idea which was a little bit different. I sent out letters to request an interview; I went to them. We all went to the Mount. We all had our reservations about the Mount. The Mount afforded whatever success any of us fellows have had, afforded us a degree and taught us how to socialize.”

DR. JOSEPH SMITH Studied science and chemistry and enjoyed his own dentistry business on Long Island. He met his wife Louise when he was 5 and she was 3; they grew up across the street from one another and have 8 children (and a lot of love).

“The Mount had a big part of our lives. The relationships you had with the professors and priests on campus—they were great. I could have gone to Villanova and had 3 or 4 acceptances from other schools, but I chose this. Louise came to our proms and we had a lot of great memories from the Mount. I had one big thing while I was here at the Mount. I had a terrible, terrible car crash. Nobody was killed, thank God. Michael was in it. We put a few of them in the hospital and wrecked the guy’s car that we borrowed.”

Highlight: The awesome figure of Rev. William McGonigle (dean of men) standing with his hands around the cross wearing a cloak before embracing them, thanking God they were alive.

MICHAEL DOYLE Studied business and economics and enjoyed a career as a salesman. He was married twice; he met his first wife Dodie at Paramount College and she passed away prematurely in her 40s. His second wife was Alice.

“Coming back here and seeing these people…you know them. You can’t bullshit them. They knew you when you were a 17-and 18-year old drunk. They loved you then and they still do.”

Advice to current students: I’ll steal this from my wife who repeated this to our 15 children just about every time they walked out the door: Make wise decisions.