Bill Rall is Recovering Well

On Wednesday of this week, December 21, Don Wampach sent out an email to a sizeable number of our class regarding Bill Rall's remarkable recovery.  With Don's approval, I am posting here in our blog what Don had to say:

Greetings to One and All,

I had a wonderful telephone conversation with Bill Rall last evening, and I am very happy to say that Bill is doing much better.  He sounded great!  He has been at home for some period of time and his recovery has been going well.  He has  recovered from the unexpected aneurysm surgery and his breathing better, but some COPD issues still remain.  He will be meeting with his surgeon and another doctor after the holidays to see whether it will be possible to do the heart valve replacement, which was the original reason he had gone into the hospital in the fall.  It is necessary to learn whether the COPD issue will be a hindrance.

Bill and his family are ready for Christmas.  He has received hundreds of emails and cards from family and friends and many of you, and he is most grateful.  Bill is having some difficulty with his eyesight, and this has made reading emails difficult. I know Carol has been kept busy reading all of them.  Mike Heydinger has stopped in at least a couple times this fall, as did Tom and Kathy Dechant once.  I also understand that Jack Park got in touch with Bill recently.  While Bill is doing much better, he still would appreciate your prayers.  The power of prayer is tremendous.

 

Don Wampach

2016 Reunion Filled with Surprises

A person can expend a lot of time, thought, and worry in planning for the success of a class reunion.  However, you can't plan for the unexpected!  In my mind, the joy and comaraderie of our 2016 Joss Class of '68 Reunion soared on the wings of the unexpected.

Sixteen people attended our reunion on the Outer Banks of North Carolina October 19-23.  Our gathering consisted of 11 classmates and 5 spouses:  Fr. Dan Clayton, John and Loretta Dahmus, Frank Fulkerson, Norm and Linda Hageman, Mike Heydinger, Fr. Frank Kehres, Fr. Jim Koenigsfeld, Thad and Donna Kresho, Steve Lautermilch, Tom and Christine Meyer, Don and Betty Wampach.  The spirit of friendship was vibrant.  The presence of the Divine Spirit was astonishing.   

Standing (L>R): Thad, Mike, Tom, Frank, Fr. Frank, Fr. Dan, Don.  Seated (L>R): Donna, John, Steve, Norm, Fr. Jim, Betty.  Absent: Loretta, Linda, Chris

Hurricane Matthew
During the weekend of October 8-9 Hurricane Matthew roared along the North Carolina coast, causing considerable flooding on the Outer Banks and, subsequently, throughout Eastern North Carolina.  During the following week Chris and I confirmed that the major highways from Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill and from Norfolk, VA, were open and that sites on the Outer Banks such as the Hampton Inn and Suites, Currituck Beach Lighthouse, and Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station were not damaged and were open for business as usual.

Frank, Fr. Jim, Don and Betty, and Chris and I arrived at the beach house that we had rented for the week on October 16.  (Norm and Linda pulled in on October 18.)  When we walked to the beach, we entered upon an immense swath of seashells washed up on the sand and were welcomed by the call of huge, surging waves whose whitecaps were endlessly crashing upon the shoreline.  This was a powerful and impressive experience.

Fr. Dan, Fr. Frank, Mike, John and Loretta, and Thad and Donna arrived at the Hampton Inn and Suites on Wednesday, October 19, and settled into their rooms.  They then came to the beach house in the late afternoon where we all enjoyed the flavor and hospitality of a southern BBQ dinner prepared by High Cotton Barbecue.  (The beach house and the Hampton were located within a mile of each other south of Corolla, NC.)

Keepers' Quarters at Currituck Beach Lighthouse
On Thursday morning Meghan Agresto, site manager of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, led us on an informative tour of the grounds of the lighthouse.  Her passion for the history of this particular location on the Outer Banks was ardent.  In addition to climbing the 162-foot, red-brick beacon, she welcomed us into the keepers' home, a duplex normally not open to visitors, that housed 24 people in 1880.  We had the opportunity to walk throughout this house and to sense the environmental and living conditions at this location in the nineteenth century.

Wild Horse Tour
Thursday afternoon offered another pleasurable surprise.  Background is important to this.  Several months before this reunion I had arranged with Wild Horse Adventure Tours for our group to be taken into the 7,000-acre Currituck National Wildlife Refuge to hopefully see the free-roaming horses that are descendants of the Spanish Colonial Mustangs.  Earlier in this week Don, Chris, and I set out to meet and talk with this company.  In the process of trying to locate its address, we stopped at Back Beach Wild Horse Tours where we learned that a significant section of the refuge was flooded and that we likely would not see any horses.  I then called Wild Horse Adventure Tours to discover that it was uncertain about taking a tour group out.  I canceled our contract and was refunded my money.  In talking further with the owner of Back Beach Wild Horse Tours, he offered to take our group via 4x4 vehicle into the wildlife refuge at a substantially reduced price.  We agreed to this plan.  As a result, most of our group went out on the wild horse tour this Thursday afternoon.  We did see some of the wild horses; were mesmerized by the sandy dunes, terrain, and beaches; laughed at another tour group whose vehicle was stuck in a dune; and enjoyed the local color of our driver.

Fr. John Allen
We had dinner on Thursday evening at Oceanfront Grill in Corolla, a warm and hospitable restaurant overlooking the ocean.  It was a bit chilly with an early evening breeze, so we sat inside.  We were waited on handsomely.  We were placing our orders with the wait staff when, unexpectedly, Fr. John Allen, Vice President of Advancement and Director of Alumni Relations at the Josephinum, walked in and joined us for dinner.  I was surprised, and impressed, that Fr. Allen had traveled from Columbus, OH, to join us at our reunion.  Since he was sitting at our end of the table, Mike, Fr. Jim, John and Loretta, and Chris and I were able to talk with him at length during the course of dinner about our lives, our class, and seminary activities.  Then, the surprise!  Fr. Allen began to talk to all of us about the recent alumni reunion at the Josephinum and this year's recipients of The Jessing Alumnus of the Year Award.  He stated that Msgr. Ralph Kuehner was the recipient of the 2016 Ordained Alumnus of the Year Award.  Then, he began to comment about the selection process for the Lay Alumnus of the Year, "breaking protocol" and coming to our reunion.  As he detailed activities that were sounding very familiar to me, I sat in disbelief as to what was about to happen.  Fr. Allen announced that I was the recipient of the 2016 Lay Alumnus of the Year Award.

Fr. John Allen with Chris and Tom

As I write now about this award, I am again touched and warmed by this recognition.  As I said to my classmates at the Oceanfront Grill, I am thrilled to have received this award with them all present, that they all are very special to Chris and me and that I realize I am following in the footsteps of three previous recipients in our class of this award, i.e., Fr. Jim Koenigsfeld, Mike Heydinger, and Don Wampach.

Friday, October 21
The highlights of our activities on Friday featured a guided tour of the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe, NC; a visit to the site of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton, NC; Thad, Mike, and Fr. Jim enjoying the Frisco Beach and nearby woods on horseback; and completing art crafts at Studio 12 Art Gallery in Avon, NC.  (Be sure to view Thad's video which he has posted in this blog.)

At former site of Hatteras Lighthouse (L>R): Fr. Frank, Norm, Linda, Tom, Betty, Fr. Dan, John, Loretta, Don, Frank

Crafty Crew at Studio 12 (L>R): Frank, John, Fr. Frank, Linda, Norm, Chris, Tom

The Three Horsemen (L>R): Fr. Jim, Thad, Mike

Steve Lautermilch
Steve attended our class reunion this year.  I had been in contact with him over the past few years; and once we had decided to hold our 2016 class reunion on the Outer Banks, I had informed Steve of this in the hope that he would attend since he lived in Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks.  When I then checked in with him approximately one month prior to the reunion, he informed me that he most likely would be traveling and sightseeing in the Western U.S. during this time.

Earlier this week I called Steve again, taking a chance that he might still be here on the Outer Banks.  Surprisingly, he said that he was.  I then began to explore with him how, when, and where he might be able to meet up with the rest of us during this week.  (Steve has some aggravating allergies that preclude his gathering with a group of people indoors.)  Steve and I arranged that he would meet up with the rest of us on Saturday morning for breakfast on the outdoor patio of Fishbones Sunset Grille and Raw Bar adjacent to the Currituck Sound in Duck, NC.

Saturday morning was a jubilant experience for us all.  In spite of their patio service being closed due to the chilly breeze, the staff and management of Fishbones were most accommodating to us.  They enabled us to assemble on the porch outside the front entrance of their restaurant for eating and socializing.  They brought out a few small tables.  They served our personal breakfast orders without a mishap.  They supplied us an abundance of coffee, utensils, napkins, and condiments.  At Norm's suggestion, we individually shared a little of our life story for Steve's benefit and he did the same.  Naturally, we concluded our festive repast with a group picture (see above).

John and Steve reminiscing

A couple of days later I received the following email from Steve: "What's stayed with me is how special each member of the group is -- I have again and again felt blessed by the chance to spend the morning with you. You've done a wonder in bringing everyone together, and I feel very lucky to have been part of the morning with you. I keep seeing where everyone was sitting, and going through the names and faces. But it's the presence of each of you that has really deepened and stays."

Group Liturgy
We all gathered at our beach house at 4:00 pm on Saturday for liturgy.  Without question our liturgy was uplifting and inspirational.  Fr. Frank presided, with Fr. Jim and Fr. Dan concelebrating.  Don led us in a beautiful psalm response during the Liturgy of the Word.  Fr. Frank facilitated our meaningful dialogue homily.  Linda, Loretta, Donna, Betty, and Chris prepared our table for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  We exchanged the Kiss of Peace universally.  We solidified our faith-filled bond in sharing the Body and Blood of Christ.  As we concluded, Thad related to us that during this liturgy he sang for the first time since the death of their daughter at childbirth some 12 years ago.

After liturgy we drove to the Aqua Restaurant and Spa in Duck where we were warmly welcomed by Shelly Rowles, the manager. We experienced a brilliant sunset over the sound and treasured our final, delicious meal together.

Sunset on Currituck Sound - October 22, 2016

Refer to following web address for additional reunion pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/n8rx6AYwtr2UcPB86

a chance to use my router, saws etc. to make a shadow box memento of our class reunion to the outer banks.......hallway wall.

Since I do not see any pictures of our class reunion here, I figured I would put up the brief video I created so all can see what a great class we have.  I am waiting to see Chris's finished art piece and I am also working on something with all the sea shells Donna collected on the beach.....I still have great thoughts and emotions about reunion.....I hope all concur..

Bill Rall is Recovering

In the first week of September Bill Rall was admitted to Cleveland Clinic for open heart surgery.  However, upon admission, the doctors found that Bill had a 9 cm aneurysm in his abdomen and his heart surgery was canceled.  The surgeons performed a risky procedure to repair his aneurysm.  He was placed on a ventilator and the intensive care team was unsuccessful over an extended period of time to wean him from the ventilator.

On October 7, Don Wampach emailed an update regarding Bill's recovery:

"This update on Bill is long overdue.  Bill is doing much better!  The power of prayer is at work!

"I have talked to Carol several times in recent weeks, including twice this week.  Mike Heydinger stopped in to see Bill a few weeks ago, and Tom and Kathy Dechant stopped in a couple days later.

"After much improvement, on September 27 Bill was able to move from the Cleveland Clinic into a rehab facility in Bucyrus, Ohio.  Mike was able to stop in there yesterday after the Joss reunion in Columbus, and he was much encouraged in contrast to his earlier visit.  Bill was sitting up in his chair watching TV when Mike arrived.  Bill recognized Mike immediately and gave him a firm handshake. When Mike saw Bill the first time, he was under heavy medication, but it has really worked well toward Bill's recovery.  However, Carol said that Bill is not totally in the clear.  The aneurysm surgery has completely healed to the doctor's satisfaction, and Bill feels no pain there.  He was not on any oxygen on this visit and his breathing was very clear.  Mike did not notice any signs of the COPD.  Bill talked hopefully of his future - a good sign.

"I suggest that we continue to keep Bill, Carol, and the family in our prayers.  If you are inclined, you can send a card or a note to Bill, either at home: 400 Helen Ave., Crestline, Ohio 44827-1318, or at the rehab center: Altercare, Room 200, 1929 Whetstone St., Bucyrus, Ohio 44820."

 

For those of you who do not remember, Bill left the Josephinum during First Theology.  Bill was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate shortly after this office was reinstituted by the Second Vatican Council and he has ministered in the Diocese of Toledo, OH, ever since.

Fr. Bob Kinast

Last week, Fr. Bob emailed me to advise me that he would not be attending our class reunion on the Outer Banks next week.  He asked that I pass on his greetings to all who would be in attendance.  In reply, I asked Bob about his priestly ministry at this stage in his life.

He promptly responded and gave me permission to post his remarks in our class blog for all of you:

Hello Again, Tom,

 

Thanks for your response to my email and your thoughtful comments. If anyone should ask, I've been parlaying my experience of 35+ years in the field of pastoral theology into playwriting. In my teaching and writing I used case study scenarios, verbatim dialogue, character descriptions--all the elements of a play. And since I've always loved the theater, I decided to use those elements in their own right and not to illustrate a teaching moment.

 

As a result, I've completed 29 short plays, 16 of which have been chosen for productions or readings. I've also written 9 full-length plays, one of which won a national contest and was given a five week production in New York.

 

I've been having fun writing in a different vein while still promoting the values and principles we try to live by. There's more than one way to proclaim the good news.

 

I hope [Hurricane] Matthew won't cause any disruption to the reunion plans. Greetings to those who make it.

 

Bob

Phone Call from Tom Klawitter

Recently I had called and left a phone message for Tom Klawitter.  Today he called me back.  What a pleasant surprise!  As Tom said, it's been more than 50 years since we have been in contact with each other.  We had an enjoyable conversation.

Tom shared with me that he and his wife celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary last month.  They have plans to go on a cruise within the next few weeks.  He is enjoying retirement in Lexington, SC.  They travel back to Chicago to see a son and daughter and travel to Louisville to see another son.  He is no longer golfing.  I said I understood he is a Chicago White Sox fan.  He corrected me, that he is a Cubs fan.  He added that, while he underwent cataract surgery recently, he and his wife are doing well.

I extended to him and his wife a personal invitation to our class reunion.  He expressed his regrets.  He did ask that I pass his greetings on to everyone attending the reunion.  He said he has been to the Outer Banks previously and commented they are beautiful.  He informed me that he has also come to Raleigh, NC, a couple times when the Black Hawks were playing the Hurricanes in hockey.  I invited him to call me when he is in Raleigh again.

In closing, Tom expressed his best wishes to everyone!

Mark White's "Joss Memoirs"

I was emailing with Mark White during the middle of August about attending our class reunion in October.  He expressed his regrets due to health issues.  At the same time, he told me about his personal life memoirs that he had written for his family and he shared with me a portion that pertained to his years at the Josephinum.  He asked that, given his absence from the reunion, I share his "Joss Memoirs" with our classmates.  I trust you will find them as poignant as I did.  Mark writes:

                                                    THE JOSS

While my classmates at St. Wendelin’s in Fostoria, Ohio were making out in the back seats of ’57 Chevies, I was praying up a storm at the Josephinum or, as we called it, the Joss. I spent five years at the Joss; four years of high school and one of college. I enjoyed every minute of it. Communal living agreed with me. My freshmen classmates numbered 68. When I left five years later, less than half that number remained.  Eventually only eight members of our original class were ordained priests in 1968.

We arrived in September of 1956; we were all 13-14 year old virgins and the “cream of the crop” as one professor/priest liked to call us. Every day began with a 6:00 am wake up bell that rang throughout the day calling us to: daily Mass followed by breakfast; each class or study hall; recesses, lunch and dinner; the daily rosary held in the chapel; evening study hall; evening prayers; lights out at 9:00 pm. Our lives were dictated by the bell. The first class every day was Latin followed by a curriculum that over five years included English, German, Greek, History, Civics, Religion, Algebra, Geometry, Old and New Testament Studies, Music Appreciation, Speech, and at least 4 hours of study hall every day. Wednesdays and Saturdays were half days; classes in the mornings and recreation in the afternoons. On Sundays there were no classes but there were two morning Masses to attend, breakfast and lunch, and recreation for most of the afternoon; at 4:30 there was Vespers followed by dinner, a little time off, the rosary, a two hour study hall ending with evening prayers before marching off to bed. The tower bell chimed every 15 minutes.

There was a long corridor connecting the chapel to the minor seminary building. We would depart the chapel after evening prayers walking silently in file on either side of the corridor. During the winter the windows of the corridor would freeze over; you could see your breath as you filed along. The two high school dormitories (on the second and third floor) each housed a hundred plus seminarians. Beds were assigned alphabetically. A Grand Silence was observed from 7:00 pm in the evening until after breakfast at 7:00 am.  During that time a communal rosary was recited by both Major and Minor seminarians in the chapel. I have one favorite all time memory of reciting the rosary. The Major Seminarians donned in cassocks and white collars would recite the first half of the Hail Mary and the Minor Seminarians in civilian garb, would then recite the remaining portion of the prayer. Timing is everything … as I learned later in life … and the split second between responses was highlighted by an enormous fart. The recitation of the rosary paused and the entire congregation broke out in laughter and even scattered applause. The rosary was followed by a two hour study hall, evening prayers in the chapel, and then retiring for the night. Showers could be taken on the basement floor. The shower room was a nasty place with a musty smell. There were individual showers each with a shower curtain that a shower room prefect (usually an upper classman) would snap with a towel to hurry everyone along. There was one memorable incident that took place in the shower room. One of the shower room prefects was not well liked. Someone took a crap in the shower which the prefect had to clean up. 
During my freshman year I spent time in the winter tobogganing down a steep hillside into a ravine located in the woods. I developed a hemorrhoid. So … off to the doctor I went in Columbus, Ohio … down the road about seven miles. A local anesthetic was given and the nasty varmint removed. By the time I returned to the Joss the anesthetic had run its course and I had to take an enema and my first bowel movement in a week. The pain was excruciating and I was laid up in the Infirmary for two weeks to recover. I had to drink a mixture of mineral oil and water at every meal for the rest of the school year. I sat on an inflated doughnut for several weeks thereafter attending class. During the ensuing summer I had an operation to remove another hemorrhoid. I was admitted to the Fostoria Hospital and shared a room with a butcher from a nearby town who had somehow cut an artery in his leg while on the job. We became fast friends. I also fell in love for the second time in my life (sorry, Peggy) with a young, red haired, buxom nurse who was intrigued by the prospect of nursing a seminarian to health.

The time spent at the Joss was more like attending an all-boys boarding school. Yes there was an emphasis on the religious side of life but probably no more than that experienced at most Catholic High Schools. I later came to realize that many of my peers who attended St. Wendelin’s High School back in Fostoria were a lot more religious than I ever was. Recreation at the Joss included a full schedule of organized football, basketball, softball, baseball, swim meets, track and field meets, or hiking through the woods consisting of several hundred acres of forest land with rolling hills, a deep ravine and a creek that flowed to the Olentangey River. I spent innumerable hours traipsing through the woods or tobogganing down the ravine during the winter months. Sports played a large role in communal life. I was never a first string anything until my senior year in high school; by that time attrition had taken its toll and I had finally grown to 5’ 9” and 145 pounds. Classmates like Joe Mammola and Sam Pezzillo were very talented athletes who would have started on first teams at any high school. In fact, Joe and Sam could have competed at any number of Division-I colleges.

Each of us got through puberty as best we could, chiseling a niche in the class pecking order. I had a good sense of humor and could sing, write and act. That was my niche. I sang in the glee-club which gave several recitals a year. There was also an annual glee club production, usually a knock-off of some Broadway musical or comedy (e.g. Tea House of the August Moon) or a production written by a couple Major Seminarians. I was the lead actor in all three productions in which I appeared. Looking back it was hilarious that there were no females in any of the productions. Singing a show tune like There Ain’t Nothing like a Dame was kinda ironic and lame. Food at the Joss was at best institutional. Each refectory table seated eight seminarians. Every week one boy was designated as Last Man. Food was passed left to right. The last man got to take what was left. Sometimes the Last Man was “starved out”; no food arriving at his place. This usually happened when the Last Man had somehow pissed off someone at the table or had done something really stupid. “Starve out” was whispered from man to man as the food was passed around the table. The Thanksgiving meal was special; heaping platters and bowls of food were placed on each table. Breakfast was always the same: a small box of dry cereal (think Kellogg corn flakes), milk, bread, a piece of fruit and coffee. Each box of cereal was opened by sticking it with a tableware knife. There was something reassuring but unsettling about suddenly hearing 300 knives striking cereal boxes at the same time.

I was not a very good student when it came to languages or math. Latin remained a mystery though I sat through 6 one-hour classes every week. German wasn’t much better and Greek was … well … Greek to me. I realized very early on that the only chance I had of passing these courses was to memorize as many vocabulary words as possible. Translating was something I simply could not do. As a result of my inability to master the three languages my overall grade point average hovered around 2.5. I had an ability to write well and I excelled in music and speech classes.

There were a couple of priests at the Joss who greatly influenced my life. Father “Jape” Marzen was the minor seminary disciplinarian.  Jape liked me. He was allowed to read/screen weekly letters written by us to our parents. I guess this was to make sure our vocations were intact and we were walking the straight and narrow. Anyway, he addressed our freshman class once and commented that in one of the letters he had read someone had described him as “not being an angel.” That someone was me. He got a big kick out of what I had written and over the years I could tell I was one of his favorites. He was a terrific athlete having pitched semi-pro baseball. I will never forget him kicking a football at least 60 yards one afternoon. He suffered from migraine headaches and would be absent for several days. He once invited the entire class to watch an episode of Route 66 in his suite. He also bought ice cream for the class (we each got a pint) one time during our junior year which was academically the most difficult year in high school. Jape was a stand up guy and I greatly admired him. He had a terrific personality especially when speaking to adults and family members visiting on Parents Day.  Jape died in 1990 of a heart attack. I learned of his death visiting the Joss while on a business trip in Columbus, Ohio. I walked around with a lump in my throat for several days. Father Joseph “Jimmy” James was another Joss priest who influenced me in my youth. He taught, or tried to teach me, Latin for three years. He was also the Glee Club director. It was Jimmy who gave me a chance to act on stage. He was also my music appreciation and speech teacher. He had a great love of music and would play different LPs during his music class. He introduced my classmates and me to various types of music which I am sure I would not have ordinarily taken any interest. I took piano lessons as a kid so I had a leg up on classmates who had never played an instrument. I wasn’t very good at the piano but I enjoyed playing. I would sometimes play beneath the stage in the auditorium. Jimmy sensed I had acting talent and knew I sang well too. Someone told me later in life that Jimmy followed my brief career as an actor while I was in college and even later when I performed in New York. I’m told Jimmy eventually left the priesthood and married. Evidently a priest from the Joss once showed up at his home attempting to convince him to return to the “flock.” Jimmy punched the good reverend in the nose … or so the story goes. I’m sure Jimmy has passed away though I don’t know when or from what. There were other good Fathers whom I remember affectionately: Fathers DeRuntz (English), Zwinger (German), Becker (freshman Latin), Hofer (Old Testament), Durst (Algebra), and Matthews (History/Civics), to name a few. There were also a few I didn’t particularly like: Monsignors Undreiner (History) and Clausing (college Latin). There was a spiritual advisor, a Jesuit, whose name escapes me that I was not too fond of. He was wired kinda tight.

Over the years, when people discover I had been a seminarian, I’m asked why I left. There was the sex thing of course, or total lack thereof. But the main reason I left was rebellion. I tired of people telling me not only what to do but what to think and how to conduct my life. I realized that after five years of praying up a storm and being a good little boy, I wanted to move on and take a bite out of life. I can remember reading magazine articles in the Josephinum library (a very good library) about how people were living their lives. I was especially interested in actors and acting. I imagined one day being interviewed in those magazines as a successful actor. I have never been afraid to think big. I had incredible (inflated) ambition and self confidence. I always felt I could excel at anything I wanted. I have returned to visit the Joss several times since leaving over 55 years ago. On my way shipping out to Korea (1967) I drove through the grounds in my TR-4 sports car with the top down. I heard my name called. It was Jape working outside with a seminarian. I got out of my car; we chatted briefly; I told him I was off to Korea; he blessed me; wished me luck and I drove off. Jape was wearing his old New York Yankees baseball cap just like always. That was the last time I saw Jape. I have no doubts that he kept me in his prayers.

Reunions have been held over the years at the Joss; but few of my classmates, me included, have attended. Ours was a class of cliques. I hung out with a group of guys who were considered “cool”. Two of those guys were ordained but later left the priesthood, married and raised families. It would be interesting to learn what made them leave. Both have had very successful careers; one is an attorney; the other a FEMA director. Joe Mammola graduated from Notre Dame and ended up the Dean of a liberal arts college in upstate New York; Sam Pezzillo is a retired, tenured professor (Antiquities) at the University of Alabama Birmingham. I have reconnected with some of these guys via Facebook. I have many fond memories living at the Joss and I have never regretted spending five years there.

Home Mass at the Clayton's in Dolton

The stars aligned perfectly...a few phone calls cemented the plan...Fr. Dan's brother and sister-in-law opened their home to all of us.

Dan Clayton was coming back in early July with his brother Jack to Chicago's south side to stay with their brother and sister-in-law Pat and Roseanne Clayton at their home in Dolton, Illinois.  Dan knew that Chris and I were flying back to Chicago from Las Vegas with our granddaughter Jocelyn on Wednesday, July 6th.  Of course, also living in the greater Chicago area, were the Driscoll's and the Wampach's.  Dan offered to preside at a home Mass with all of us at Pat and Roseanne's house on Saturday afternoon, July 9th.  We all accepted the invitation.

On that late Saturday afternoon, as the bright sun was settling over the luscious, shaded backyard of Pat and Roseanne's home, Fr. Dan welcomed us all to Liturgy "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  We praised God in song and prayer.  We heard God's Word proclaimed from Scripture by Don Wampach.  After we offered our simple gifts, we received back the Body and Blood of Christ from the Lord's Table.  Participating in this Liturgy with my wife Chris, our granddaughter Jocelyn, my Joss classmates, and new friends, I enjoyed a deeply spiritual experience in this welcoming place.

Fr. Dan at Communion Rite

After Liturgy was completed, we enjoyed a delicious potluck dinner together.  Warm and friendly conversation flowed easily and freely.  It was a pleasure to get to know members of Dan's immediate family.  Later, as we departed, spoken thank-you's seemed insufficient for this precious time together.  Yet they were expressed bountifully with hugs and hand-shakes.

L to R: John & Kathy, Tom & Chris, Don & Betty, and Fr. Dan

On Sunday morning Chris and I began our drive, with our granddaughter, from Chicago back to our home here in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Noteworthy in Toledo

Chris and I set out for Toledo, Ohio, on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, to visit relatives and friends.  However, this was not an ordinary trip.  This trip was special.  You ask, "What's special in Toledo other than the Mudhens?"  Ron Langhals and Jack Park!!!  I had arranged in advance to meet up with Ron and Sandy and with Jack and Harry for dinner at an area restaurant on Thursday evening.  Ron and Sandy offered Chris and me their comfortable guest bedroom for 3 nights.  Jack and Harry joined us for cocktails at Ron's house on Thursday late afternoon and from there we all went to Bravo Ristorante for delicious Italian fare.  The cuisine was delectable, the atmosphere was friendly, and we shared many laughs.

This was the first time that I had met up with Jack since we each left the Josephinum during our Theology studies.  As we shared our life journeys, I discovered that both Jack and I had been doing social work in Toledo during a similar period of time early in our careers; yet, we never located each other.  When Jack and Harry walked onto the enclosed porch of Ron's house, Jack gave me one of his big "bear" hugs and I reciprocated.  What a joy it was to be with Jack and to meet his partner Harry Tennery.  What a pleasure it was to get acquainted with Harry.  There is no question that we all soon felt like "family," that we all felt like "brothers and sisters."

In confirmation of our renewed friendships, Ron and Sandy invited Jack and Harry back to their house for dinner on Friday evening.  I was thrilled to learn this.  Courtesy of Ron's grilling, we enjoyed sumptuous ribs, with multiple sides, around Ron and Sandy's dining room table.  Another memorable evening together with Ron, Sandy, Jack, and Harry.

Chris and I shout out again our gratitude for these treasured moments.

Details of 2016 Reunion Out

Yesterday Chris and I completed a mailing to 27 members of our Class of 1968.  Each envelope contained a letter detailing a preliminary schedule of events and a wide range of activities that attendees might choose to do and included an informative tourist pamphlet for the Currituck Outer Banks and Mainland.  We sent this mailing to those members of our class who will be attending this reunion, to those who've expressed interest in this or previous reunions, and to those who have attended past reunions, e.g., Colorado, California, and Dallas, TX.

Our class reunion on the Outer Banks of North Carolina is only four months away.  As a reminder, the dates are October 19-23, 2016.  A book of rooms is on hold at Hampton Inn and Suites, Corolla, NC.  You must call this hotel (252-453-6565) before September 21 in order to reserve a room with our discounted group rate at this oceanfront property.

If you are reading this post and you have not received this current mailing from us, please call or email me.

CGTC Completes Circle of Globe

On Saturday evening, June 11, the Carolina Godiva Track Club finished its virtual race around the Globe.  Beginning on January 1, 2016, over the span of 162 days, 72 runners eclipsed a total of 33,646.4 miles.

Personally, I enjoyed participating in this virtual race.  Although I had been laid off from running for 6 or 7 weeks due to a couple health issues, I did complete 232.4 miles in the course of this race.  This event kept my interest up.  I was intrigued with each country that we were running through.  This virtual event provided me motivation to continue to add my miles.  I also enjoyed the online chat and encouragement.  My competitiveness surfaced as I sought to run more miles on a given day in order to surpass the mileage of the runner ahead of me.  This was fun!

I'm proud to add that my daughter Katie ran 830.4 miles during this period and finished in 13th place among all the runners.

Dahmus in Touch with Class of '66

On May 23, John Dahmus emailed me to say that he and Loretta attended "...John Boltz's fiftieth wedding anniversary this past weekend in New Orleans. He was in the class of 1966. I saw Matt Robins, Dan Mosca, and Steve Phelan there and had a brief but enjoyable visit with all of them. John lives just a few miles from us in Austin, and we have met together several times over the last few months."

John said he learned that Dan Mosca lives in Brown Summit, just northeast of Greensboro, NC; John added that he informed Dan that I live in Chapel Hill.  (Greensboro is only an hour's drive from Chapel Hill.)

Since John's email, Dan Mosca and I have been in contact with each other a couple times and we have expressed our intent to get together.  I'm looking forward to that.

Tom Klawitter Surfaces

In follow-up to Don's post, Fr. Dan emailed me to comment about his connection with Tom Klawitter.  Dan wrote the following:

" While home on leave from Vietnam, my brother Pat met a girl named Rose Klawitter whose family lived in a town called Steger in Illinois.  Rose's brother Tom was in the high school at the Joss.
 
When I entered in Quarta, we were classmates.  He left after that year and I see Tom Klawitter periodically at family events.  He lives currently with his wife Kathy in Lexington, South Carolina."

Fr. Dan also recalled that Tom was affectionately nicknamed "Pontiac" because his nose resembled that of the Indian's on the nickel.  I seem to remember that nickname.  Now I know its source.  Funny!  Dan added that Tom is a golfer.

Fr. Dan in Chicago Area

Don Wampach emailed the following news clip to me for inclusion in our class blog.  Don is speaking of their attending Mass at St. Jude's in South Holland, IL, with Fr. Dan and then gathering at Dan's brother and sister-in-law's home, Pat and Rose Clayton, in Dolton, IL, on January 31.

"Fr. Dan Clayton was back in the Chicago area again for his six-month "check-up" and visit.  Once again, John and Kathy Driscoll and Betty and Don Wampach went over to South Holland, a Chicago suburb, to attend Dan's Mass and have brunch afterward with him.  We shared another wonderful time.  Dan is planning to be back in our area in late June/early July.  He is looking forward to our class gathering in the Outer Banks in October, as are the Driscolls and the Wampachs."

Don also wrote that he discovered a connection with one of our classmates.  In his comment below he is referring to Rose Clayton, Dan's sister-in-law.

"I also learned that afternoon that Tom Klawitter, who was with us for a year or two in high school, and now lives in Lexington SC, is Rose's brother.  I've known Rose (from going down to Claytons in the summer) since before she and Pat were married, but never knew Tom is her brother.  Rose is very nice!  Tom and I were close at the Joss, both of us White Sox fans." 

Fr. Dan with his niece Beth Clayton Brown, daughter of Pat and Rose Clayton

Exciting News from Mark White

This morning I was surprised and excited about receiving an email from Mark White.  Within the past two weeks Jack Park shared with me that he had re-established connections with Mark White and Dale Wachowiak.  Jack shared their email addresses with me and last evening I generated an email to both Mark and Dale.  This morning I was thrilled by an immediate reply from Mark.  Mark conveyed his delight to have heard from me.  He added that he enjoyed his 5 years at the Josephinum and that he has kept in contact with a few of our classmates.

Mark shared with me an email that he had sent to Bernie Rabik and he noted that it would be fine if I shared it with other classmates.  I found it very interesting.  I am now attaching his email to Bernie in its entirety:

"Rab … great hearing from you. Sounds like life is good there; it is here too. 

I’m not much fun on the phone since I’m a little hard of hearing, but email a date and time when you are free and I’ll give you a call or … for now … we can use email to catch up. Counselor, I realize your time is money. You still earn it … I only spend it.

Highlights after leaving the Joss:

•    College – Graduated from the University of Detroit; at the time the only university in America completely surrounded by used car lots; Radio-TV major; theatre minor. Worked as a disk-jockey; lots of summer stock, radio dramas, live television dramas (no video-taping in those days). Won a MFA fellowship (theatre) at University of Michigan.
•    New York Theatre – Dropped graduate work; appeared with the APA, a professional repertory acting company on Broadway for a season before being drafted into the Army; acted with several notables to include Rosemary Harris (Spiderman’s Aunt), Nancy Marchand (Tony Soprano’s mother), Donald Moffat, Keene Curtis, Helen Hayes and others.
•    US Army – Entered a Private; left a Captain (OCS graduate); served 13 months in Korea as an Infantry Company Commander; dodged “Nam” since I was a sole surviving son (my father was killed in WWII); I spent 4+ years “walking the wall” keeping everyone safe. Married Betty, my colonel’s secretary, during the last tour of duty at Ft. Benning, Ga. I appeared in several local theatre productions; got out of the Army and never again treaded the boards. It was time to settle down, get a real job and raise a family.
•    Married life – Betty and I were blessed with a daughter and two sons; each graduated college; one from Notre Dame. Betty and I were married 42 years before she passed away in 2011 from cancer. She was my life partner; a beautiful gal, person, mother and wife. I miss her dearly. I have three grandchildren.
•    Professional life – Worked at Xerox (Atlanta) for 12 years in sales and sales management; later was President of two office supply companies and a medical supply company (Georgia, Carolinas, Bermuda). Betty and I lived in Bermuda for five years where I worked and she partied. Bermuda has best been described as 60,000 drunks hanging on to a rock in the middle of the ocean. We hung on and had a ball. I spent 33 years in the industry; afterwards I wrote a book on sales management which has done well considering very few can get past the first two chapters without falling asleep.
•    Retirement - I retired in 2003 to take care of Betty. I live in Columbus, Ga. where Betty and I began our life together. My son, Mark Jr. is currently living with me while finishing his PHD dissertation. I enjoy cooking, am bald, fat, missing a few teeth, can’t hear or see very well, and lazy … but … content.

That’s a snap-shot at 10,000 feet. I’m most interested in reviewing your life’s high-lights. Hope to hear from you soon, Rab."

Mark's email address is mwwhite@knology.net.

Responses to Class Reunion Announcement

Response to our 2016 Class Reunion on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in October has been impressive.  In addition to Chris and me, those who've said they are planning to come are Don and Betty Wampach, Norm and Linda Hageman, Frank Fulkerson, Fr. Dan Clayton, Fr. Jim Koenigsfeld, Jack Park and Harry Tennery, Steve Lautermilch, Mike Heydinger, Ron and Sandy Langhals, Thad and Donna Kresho, and John and Loretta Dahmus.  Fr. Ger Knueven said he is working on a substitute to cover for him that weekend in October.  Mike Heydinger is talking with Fr. Frank Kehres about plans and arrangements for the reunion.  Kenny Stephens and Dale and Frances Schmitz replied they are interested in the reunion but are yet uncertain about plans.  I received regrets from Doug Kruse, Joe Mammola, and Bernie Rabik.  Chris and I are looking forward to a refreshing, invigorating time at the beach with all of you.  I will be getting more information out to you in the near future.

CGTC Still in Run around the Globe

Since my previous post on January 31, 2016, the Carolina Godiva Track Club has amassed an additional 15,000 miles in its pursuit to complete its virtual run around the Globe.  Since leaving China, club runners have eclipsed miles that have taken them through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana.  As of today, the running club has completed a total of 22,435.1 miles.  The person with the most miles has run 896.5 miles since January 1.  Our daughter Katie is in 12th place having run 609.5 miles.  My running has been significantly curtailed over the past month and a half because I had a pacemaker inserted on February 26 and underwent prostate surgery on March 29.  (Needless to say, I will not be in shape to run the half-marathon in Louisville, KY, on April 30.)  When club runners reach the West African coast, we will traverse the Atlantic Ocean.  Our next landing location will be the East Coast of Brazil.  There is a total of 70 active runners participating in this virtual run around the Globe.

CGTC Running the Globe

The Carolina Godiva Track Club set off on January 1, 2016, to run around the globe of our Mother Earth.  The CGTC is a local running club of which I and my daughter Katie Biasi are members.  This running club is based in the area of Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  The club's membership is fairly large.  We are a group of people of all ages who love to run.  Katie introduced me to this running club several years ago.

If or when the club finishes its circling of the globe, we all will have run a total of 33,000+ miles.  Our initial target date was January 31, 2016.  Well, today is 1-31-2016 and we have not finished.  Our target date is now set for February 29, 2016.  As of yesterday, we had run 7167.4 miles.  Yes, we have a huge number of miles to run yet.

This has been a lot of fun.  It is amazing to see the number of people engaged in this circuit of the globe.  There are also challenge and motivation built into this endeavor.  Obviously, we are not literally running around the globe; however, we all are recording the number of miles we are running every day or every other day or whatever frequency in a computer program titled Racery.  Participants are adding their amusing comments as side notes.  We just finished "swimming" across the Sea of Okhotsk along the coast of Russia.  We are now back on dry land as we are nearing China.  We are avoiding North Korea.  We don't want to be "detained" there.

Leaving North Carolina, our miles have taken us through Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota in the USA; Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Colombia, and Yukon Territory in Canada; then across Alaska to the Bering Strait; from there into Russia.  Remember Gov. Sarah Palin's remark during the 2008 presidential campaign that she could see Russia from Alaska.  I discovered that one can see Big Diomede Island (Russia) from Little Diomede Island (USA).

We have individual goals as well as our club goal.  Whether someone runs 31 miles or walks 1 mile, each is contributing to the club goal.  My individual goal is to run the Kentucky Derby Half-Marathon in Louisville, KY, on April 30.  Katie plans to run the full marathon there.

So, on we run!  We appreciate your support!

Class Reunion

Our Joss Class of 1968 will be gathering on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for our 2016 class reunion.  This four-day event will take place on October 19-23, 2016.  Chris and I completed our letter and invitation regarding plans, activities, points of interest, lodging, etc., last week and we successfully placed this informational letter in the mail this past Friday, January 29.  I sent this letter/invitation to all of our classmates for whom I have reliable addresses.  These number 59.

The Hampton Inn and Suites, a few miles south of Corolla, NC, will be home base for our reunion.  I have booked and have on hold 20 rooms at this hotel.  Class members are to call this hotel directly at 1-252-453-6565 to make reservations.  To be assured of a room at our special group rate, you must call the hotel before September 21, 2016.  The Hampton Inn and Suites is a lovely, well appointed, oceanfront property.

Our reunion will feature the sandy beaches and shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean, the striking ecology of the area, a thrilling safari in search of the wild horses living on the Outer Banks, the unique stories of the Currituck and the Hatteras light houses, enticing points of interest such as Wright Brothers Memorial and Jockey Ridge State Park, delicious food and drink for all tastes, and, of course, renewed friendships and camaraderie.

I am hoping that, when we all return to home our separate ways, each of us will be feeling joy and relaxation.  If you have any questions regarding our planned reunion, please call me at 1-919-475-9675 or email me at tmeyer@nc.rr.com.  Chris and I are looking forward to seeing you.