were two main things that we did in black and white pairs. First, speak to our peers about racial justice. Second, attend Sunday mass in white parishes.
Denny Cummins was a major force in the JCIC’s work while we were students at SLUH.
There were enlightened people in St. Louis, but as I said a moment ago, in the early and mid-1960s, it was a southern city, with southern values and prejudices. This is to further say, Denny took stands that were not popular with everyone, including some within our high school. That did not deter him. Moral clarity and moral courage were in his DNA. This impressed me then, and impresses me now. Why?
As a young black teenager, I saw a white person who was my peer and my friend publicly stand up for my right to be treated and respected as he was.
We spoke together at other Catholic high schools. We went to Sunday Mass at white parishes. The Archdiocese received some complaints about our Mass visits, and called SLUH. The Jesuits’ response, basically, was pound sand.
Denny continued his activism after we graduated. This included protesting the war. He was charged and convicted of openly violating the draft laws. His conviction was overturned by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals with one judge dissenting. The dissent described my friend, saying,
Cummins' entire career and attitude can be summarized from his letters and material he supplied to his Local [Draft] Board. These and his actions reflect that he was continually involved in efforts to effect political and sociological changes. In his high school days he became quite active in the civil rights movement, engaging in panel discussions, interracial home visitations, etc. He graduated from high school with high marks and entered college where he immediately became actively involved in various resistance movements. He joined a newly organized student peace union, volunteered for its steering committee, and, to use his own words, he 'became rather heavily involved in planning and participating in the activities of the organization: weekly peace vigils, Meals of Reconciliation, speakouts, literature tables, anti-war films, leafleting, etc.' Recounting his experiences, he said, 'Of course, I went up to New York City last April to take part in the National Mobilization against the Vietnam War.'
In later times, Denny became involved in workers’ rights. As I said, Denny could have been whatever he wanted. But, he marched to the drum major of moral clarity and moral courage. His life’s work can be summed up in our school’s motto: Men for Others.
John Doyle. Dennis Cummins. What I saw in and of them has helped me in trying to be a good citizen and to live a Christian life. For this, I will always be grateful for the opportunity to attend and graduate from this Jesuit high school.
IN SERVICE TO SLUH John Schaefer '70
BY JUSTIN SEATON '13
“Everybody’s got an ego, but I need this like I need a hole in the head.”
John Schaefer ‘70 delivered the line with a glint in his eye, like he had practiced for hours and was proud of his delivery. Beneath his sardonic candor, there was bashfulness.
All John knew was that he was to be featured in the upcoming SLUH Gratitude Report from the President. He had recently been honored with the Divine Award — the fifth member of the SLUH Class of 1970 to do so. He had also just concluded nine years of service on the SLUH Board of Trustees. By all accounts, John would be the quintessential alumni feature.
Still, he insisted, “I think this is the most uninteresting story you could tell.”
This man had single-handedly funded scholarships for students in need; had created numerous annual challenge gifts to drive fundraising results;
View a tribute video honoring Backer Awardee Judge Pollard.
and had been the only non-local member of the Board of Trustees during his tenure.
On the contrary, I was interested — interested to know why, 53 years after graduating and decades since living in St. Louis, John was so determined to see his high school thrive.
“OK,” John forfeited, resigned to talk about himself. “I’ll do whatever is in service to St. Louis U. High.” I believed him.
John was a North County kid. He grew up in Jennings and attended St. Louise de Marillac. No one from John's grade school class was going to SLUH. His mother decided he would be the one.
“My mom decided I would be the first on either side of my family to go to college,” said John. “Her plan: I was going to SLUH—not McBride, not anywhere else. She took a job as a short order cook flipping burgers at Famous Barr to begin to save for my tuition. Next thing I know I’m on the Kingshighway bus headed south.”
In February of his freshman year at SLUH, John’s mother died.
In his grief, John turned to the SLUH community for support. There, he found Matt Sciuto ‘70.
“The bond between us, I think, was I lost my dad when I was in 7th grade and John lost his Mom during his freshman year,” Matt remembered.
“Matt and I became kindred spirits—neither really wanting to go home at night,” John said. “We spent many, many nights just hanging out at 4970 Oakland. That place, that community kept me sane during very tough times…
So John launched into his memories of SLUH in the late ‘60s, then moved through his life. From Notre Dame to Harvard Business School to Wall Street, John had been successful— wildly so. He traced all of his success back to being a member of the SLUH class of ‘70.
“The class of ‘70 is just special,” said John. Statistically, it’s true. SLUH’s class of 1970 has topped all other classes in dollars raised, number of donations and reunion attendance over the last half-century.
What’s more, they welcomed a lone North County kid. They provided a community for a young, grieving John Schaefer when he needed it most. They helped him on his way to becoming a firstgeneration college graduate and beyond. Like Jr. Bills before and after, they supported each other.
“You get to my age and you look down at the ladder you climbed to get here. SLUH is helping people get onto that first wrung,” John said. “At the end of a lifetime of success, you want to give back. You start thinking about where your gift or your time can make the biggest difference. SLUH is that place. SLUH is clearly making a difference in peoples’ lives, and I think that’s worth supporting.”
LEFT: John (bottom row, far left) with the SLUH Crew. BELOW: John (second from left) with SLUH classmates during their senior year.
John Schaefer ‘70 was recognized with the John J. Divine, SJ Alumni Service Award for his dedicated service to SLUH.
