ALUMNI REFLECTION - JOHN NIEHAUS ’64

Alumni Reflections

Alumnus and Former Teacher, John Niehaus ’64 Shares a Dream

John Niehaus Then and Now

Fr. Wieber

John McAnaw It is fairly common for a student’s dream to evolve as he enters the career world. John Niehaus ’64 reflects on his common experience which developed into extraordinary results.

“I was very fortunate to have three faculty members who had a very positive impression on me (a very average student who struggled with any reading and English).

First was Fr. Wieber for religion. He gave a very calm and professional understanding to a young teenager. He made me happy. I liked his disposition so much that when he announced in my junior year, he was going to take a group of students to Europe for 44 days – I was all in. I talked my parents into letting me go if I paid for half. I worked my butt off to earn the money, $700. Fr. Wieber ended up with 33 students and he was the only chaperone. We had lots of fun and saw a large part of Europe with our bus driver, Luigi who knew no English.

Next was John McAnaw who taught me geometry and trigonometry in junior year. He made math very practical, and I could see how to use it in life. His favorite expression when class got rowdy was, with his arms and hands in bird form, he spoke softly and calmly said, ‘Fly right’. I use the math from ‘MAC’, (his affectionate nickname for McAnaw) every day.

In senior year I had Terry Toepker ’59 for Physics. He taught me, “Learn the Concepts” for how nature works and how to use the math I liked from ‘MAC’.”

Niehaus also shares an example of the Long Blue Line in action as his relationship with Toepker continued into his professional career. “I went on to Xavier University and studied math and physics and then back to St. X to teach both subjects from 1968-1974. When I needed advice on how to approach a concept that I was having trouble explaining, I’d contact Mr. Toepker, then at XU. Many of my students became engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and physicists. I am always amazed at the stories my past students tell me when I see them years later. One is my dentist; one is a business partner in the mini warehouse business.”

Niehaus reflects, “All these experiences led me to become a land developer, designer of 300+ custom homes and builder of 130 homes. My wife Ginny and I have enjoyed building “dreams” for many people over the last 48 years. We have built 28 developments comprising of 1500 acres with 1500 homesites on the West side of Cincinnati including Aston Oaks. Aston has 680 acres with seven miles of Ohio River view and a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and 770 residences.

I have four brothers, Ferd ’54, Jim ’60, Fran ’69 and Greg ’75 who went to St. X. We have three sisters who went to Seton High School, Mary Joan ’57, Nancy ’66 and Theresa ’71. Many nephews and cousins have gone to St. Xavier from our many good experiences. They have continued the Long Blue Line.

I feel very proud when I see and hear the stories of students I taught doing so many great things in life. I know from experience that much of that success is because of the “St. Xavier Advantage.” Ginny and I are leaving a legacy of scholarships for students who need financial assistance to experience St. Xavier and start their own Blue Line.