REUNION COMMITTEE MEETING ON JUNE

Satan the Tiger Postcard - c. 1935 - Archieves of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

Tony Fadale reminds the Reunion Committee of its meeting on June 14, 2007. Meeting starts at 10: am and will be held on the Notre Dame campus in Sherman Oaks. Katie Feeney, alumni coordinator of the school, will come to the meeting.
An effort is underway to have Brother Robert Hampton and Brother John Doran to come to the reunion.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR DINNER - NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

2003 "Knights of Honor" Dinner ---- Photo Courtesty of Tony Fadale


left to right: Tony Fadale, Dan Zerfas, John DeCoster, Norm West, Brother
Richard Daly CSC (the honoree of the night), all class of '57

TONY FADALE SENDS 2006 PHOTO OF OUR CLASSMATES

2006 Home of Rick DeSantis (ND Class of 1956) in Ventura, California ------ Courtesy of Tony Fadale

left to right, top row: Rick DeSantis, '56, Mike Arlotto, Gary Gierok,
Dennis Borowsky

left to right, bottom row: Tony Susca, Tony Fadale, Bill Elias, John
DeCoster

FRED BLAU NDHS CLASS OF 1957 - MY VOTE FOR THE MOST UNIQUE CAREER

Fred Blau's incredible tatoos for the movies








Many of you are aware that Fred Blau's family has been in the theatrical make up business for generations. He and his daughter did a special demonstration for my Humanities class at Moorpark College. One of my students went home with a demonstration cinema-tattoo, so real, that his mother almost passed out.
I went on-line to the Blau's Reel Creations website, and copied a little of the company's description for you.
You can learn much more about Reel Creations by visiting:
http://www.reelcreations.com/) Check out the videos of "Fred in Action."

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF REEL CREATIONS.
We manufacture specialty cosmetics for the motion picture and entertainment industries. All these products were developed for make-up artists by a Hollywood make-up artist.
Looking for temporary tattoos? We will customize them for your project or you can choose from our vast inventory of tribal, gang, military, children's, Halloween and fun, pretty flowers and butterflies and birds. Have tattoos or scars in need of a cover-up? Our cover-up kits or airbrush inks will do the job. Want to make scars, bruises, blemishes, old age, scary monsters or change hair color? We have an array of palettes and kits to suit your needs. Spectrum colors, fleshtone colors, ghoulish colors, metallics and day-glo, even a palette designed by Academy Award winner Greg Cannom. How about blood that looks like the real thing? We've got it in different formulas from original to thick, new to old. Airbrushing is all the rage and we have a product that won't clog your brush with a whole range of colors.
Reel is the originator of these products. Many have tried to imitate our products with little success. Remember imitation is the highest form of flattery. So go with the originator and GET REEL.

A COLORADO UPDATE FROM DAN LUECKE NDHS CLASS of 1957

"A brief summary of the past 50 years: After NDHS I graduated from Notre Dame in engineering, spent time in the Marine Corps, and returned to Notre Dame for a M.S. Following that I went on for a Ph.D. (Harvard), taught
there for four years, then worked for an environmental consulting firm in Cambridge.
I was married in Cambridge in the late 70's and, in 1980, my wife (Rosemary), our son (Andrew), and I moved to Boulder, Colorado where I was the Rocky Mountain director of an environmental organization.
For the last several years I'm been a consultant to a number of environmental organizations, a group of state and federal judges who deal with western water issues, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Rosemary is a psychotherapist with a private practice here, and our son (a graduate of Kenyon College) lives in New York City and is the administrative and
research assistant to the director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College (one of the colleges that is part of the City University of New York).
I plan to try to make the reunion in October."

FATHER MICHAEL ADAMS - NDHS CLASS OF 1957

Father
Michael Adams
NDHS
Class of 1957














Our classmate Father Michael Adams is hosting two "Retreat at Sea" trips this year.
The first is from San Francisco to Alaska, from August 29th to September 8. The second, which falls right at the time of our NDHS reunion, goes from October 9th through the 21st. It goes from Canada to Tampa, Florida.
Both voyages have three days spans at sea to accommodate the "retreat" aspects of the experience.

Michael called me early this week, and he sounds great! He is retired from years of service to the Church in Samoa (tough job having to be in the South Pacific Islands all those years, but someone had to do it.) He lives at Mary Star of the Sea parish in San Pedro. Contact Michael at: Fiat Pilgrimages Inc. 3640 S. Parker Street, San Pedro, CA 90731
telephone: (310) 732-0101

Jerry's note:
The Alaska trip sounds like a great experience! Unfortunately however sea voyages from Canada to Florida around the time of our reunion are highly dangerous and pretty uncomfortable due to massive waves and possibilities of storms.

OUT OF THE LONE STAR STATE COMES NEWS OF BROTHER RICHARD DALY

Due to a little harassment, we have secured a note from Brother Richard Daly. He admits that he is "not much into blogs", but that he will visit our on-line Reunion place.
Dick is "watching the Texas Legislature up close right now, that was my job for the Bishops of Texas for 32 years, retired from that last July but have stayed connected for a variety of reason."

I wrote Dick that my wife Janne and I had seen a Honus Wagner baseball card in the New York Public Library two weeks ago, and that we had watched the Mets beat the Yankees in Shea Stadium. Dick asked,
did you see any Andy Pafko cards ( my favorite Cub when I was a kid in Chicago.) He adds that he is "looking forward to the reunion."

TRYING TO GET A RISE OUT OF LUEKE, PUSATERI AND PAT JOHNSON!

Corner of Lankershim and Ventura
North Hollywood
El Camino Real
at Campo de Caheunga



Pat Smith, up in Oregon, wants to know why we haven't heard from Dan Lueke, Pete Pusateri or Spencer (Pat) Johnson.
I've sent emails to Lueke in Colorado, and Pete in Harbor City, but I don't think I'm getting through the protective shield surrounding Pat Johnston.

I don't have an email address for Mike Polizzi. I do know that he lives somewhere around Pasadena. If anyone is in contact with
Michael D. Polizzi.

Lueke is probably so rich by now that his servants read his email for him.

Note from Jerry - I should avoid kidding around, since I don't know you guys very well anymore.

CONVERSATION WITH FATHER MICHAEL ADAMS CLASS OF 1957

Portal of the Folded Wings - North Hollywood / Burbank














I had an address for Mike Adams at Mary Star of the Sea in San Pedro, so I looked up the parish on the internet and sent a message to him. Father Michael, it turns out, is not into computers and it took a while to connect.

After Notre Dame, Michael joined the Brothers of Holy Cross and later became a Catholic priest.
He worked for 20 years for the Dioses (is this how to spell this?) of Samoa, and returned State-side to be with his father during his last year of life.
Father Michael is now retired and living in San Pedro.

He will be sending us information on a religious retreat that he has planned at sea (a cruise from San Francisco to Alaska).
I'll share the details with you when it arrives.

PUTTING TOGETHER TONY SALAS' BIOGRAPHY

Tony Salas was certainly one of the Class of 1957's most important athlete heroes. We've received a suggestion that we use our Blog to create a biography of our classmate.

Share what you know about Tony's life after our graduation.

Our classmate who suggested this collective biography believes that Tony died in an airplane accident, possibly piloting a sports plane, such as a Pitts Special. Was Tony doing an acrobatic maneuver when the plane crashed?

email me your statements about Tony's life or add them in the comment section here.
Jerry Fecht

THE VALIDICTORY SPEECH BY JAY WHITNEY GIVEN AT NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL JUNE 1957

WHY JAY WHITNEY GAVE UP NOTRE DAME BASKETBALL

The "C" Basketball Team of Notre Dame High School 1954 -1955

"The ... attachment illustrates why I gave up basketball. I was never
able to exploit my height advantage." Jay Whitney 2007

Ok guys, let's get this NBA-would-be team identified. Jer

Coach ...... Wall Cook (via Dan Baedeker)
3 ......... Jay Whitney
33........ Roger Brennan (via Dan Baedeker)
35 ....... Joe Drier (via Dan Baedeker)
27 ...... Ernie Pursley (via John Heaphy)
1 ...... Hugh Johnson (via John Heaphy)
Manager: John Heaphy
23....... Charles Hill (via Dan Baedeker)
24 ..... Vito Liso (via John Heaphy)
7 ....... Joe Flanagan (via John Heaphy)
2 ....... Jim Conway
20 ..... Franck Siciliani (via John Heaphy)
11 ,,,,, ??? Rudy Vellich (via John Heaphy) Marty Vusich (via Dan Baedeker)

TOOK A NEW YORK MINUTE AND MINI VACATION

Sorry about not keeping the NDHS Blog cooking for a week, but my wife Janne and I have been in New York City on holiday. We were forced to watch ex-Dodgers Paul LoDuca and Sean Greene help trounce the Yankees in Shea Stadium, no less. Love those Mets!
So, now that I'm back in Tarzana, expect to be energized about our pre-Reunion blog.
We saw a lot of really terrific art, had good seats for The Color Purple, walked Central Park, and relly enjoyed ourselves.
So, now its NDHS Blog time and back to work trying to get a great Museum of history and culture going for the San Fernando Valley.
Jerry Fecht

PS Downtown New York City was amazingly clean! We were impressed!

ROY SKAFF KICKS BACK IN CARLSBAD'S SUNSHINE

Roy Skaff retired from his accounting practice in Woodland Hills four years ago, and now lives in beautiful Carlsbad, CA. He hasn't decided yet if he will join us at the 50th reunion; probably, because life by the ocean is just too comfortable.

WERE THESE GUYS IN OUR 1957 CLASS OR ???

This list contains the names of guys that are not listed on Katie Feeney's 1957 Alumni list.
Some may be in other classes, or may have folks who were in other classes, may be deceased, or been thrown out or left school before graduation.

Bill Souza (Bob Souza's older brother) probably in 1956
Pat Sweeney
Frank Siciliani
Dale Wyman

Does anyone have a list of everyone in the yearbook graduating class? I can't find my Arches.
Jerry Fecht

I ASKED JAY WHITNEY ABOUT HIS BUSINESS

When I inquired about what Jay Whitney has been doing, he gave me the address of his business in San Leandro, California.
http://www.eurostoneinc.com/

EuroStone is a direct importer of slabs and tiles of natural stone - granite, limestone, travertine, marble, onyx, slate, quartzite, sandstone, volcanic stone, basalt and soapstone, including cut-to-order countertops, vanities, fireplaces, tabletops, stairs and mosaics in these materials. EuroStone also is the exclusive distributor of slabs of semiprecious stones and gemstones and slabs and tiles of engineered designer quartz and marble surfaces. EuroStone imports its materials directly from suppliers in more than 60 countries and stocks more than $3 million

EuroStone opened its Warehouse Showroom in San Leandro, California in 1989. EuroStone’s sales staff in San Leandro has extensive experience assisting customers select stone. Glory, a Sales Assistant at the San Leandro Warehouse Showroom, is a prominent international stone expert among Black Labrador Retrievers. of natural and engineered stones in more than 500 different varieties.

MESSAGE FOR DAN BAEDEKER FROM JOE WHITTER

Italian Wine Country here I come:

Hey, Dan Baedeker, I understand you are a buyer of Italian wines. My wife and I are going over May 22 for 14 days and visiting a couple of wineries in the Soave area. Both are run by Tessari families (my wife's maiden name). One is ca'Rugate and the other is LaCappuccina. We also plan on visiting the Castello Il Palagio winery in Tuscany. Let me know if you have anything to say good or bad about either. You can email me at thewetters@msn.com.

I hope to see you at our 50th in Sherman Oaks at NDHS.

IN SEARCH OF MIKE McGIVERNEY - ANY CLUES???

You may recall the fantastic performance put on the Notre Dame High School gym (I think the senior year of 1957) by Mike McGiverney? If I am correct it was the Dickens' classic Oliver Twist. He played all of the parts with incredible changes. I'm not sure I am spelling his name right. Jerry Fecht


Patrick Curtis notes:
"Mike was the guy who carried on the family tradition as a quick change artist. His dad was Owen P. Mcgiveney who was billed as The Protean Artist." The only person Sarah Bernhardt would share billing with (at the Palace as I recall).

MICKEY RIDOSH PLANS TO ATTEND THE BIG REUNION

am planning on attending the reunion.

Mickey Ridosh, Woodland Hills

OUR CLASSMATE JOE WETTER - IN 2007

Our Classmate
William "Joe" Wetter











"You mentioned you wanted current pictures. You may be sorry. Your computer screen may crack from some of ours. I'm attaching a current picture. Stand back before you open it. I wouldn't want you to get hurt before the big day.
'Daddy Joe' Wetter Camarillo, CA

SAINT FINBAR'S BOY SCOUT TROOP # 7

Jay Whitney says:

I've visited the blog several times. It's great. I've enjoyed
catching up. I would have e-mailed you sooner but I was working on the pocket
lightening bolt. May have it by reunion.

I'm living in Berkeley. (I think there are three other Republicans
living in town but I haven't found them yet.) We own a granite and
marble importing business. I talked with Dan Baedeker last week; he
lives close-by. I also stay in touch with Rich Thesing who lives in
Atherton and Jim Looney who lives in Kentucky. Rich, Jim and I along
with Pat Sweeney, Frank Siciliani, Dale Wyman and Ron Perry were part
of
the St. Finbar's Boy Scout Troop 7 contingent in NDHS57.

CLASSMATE PAT CURTIS and THE GOLDEN BOOT AWARDS

The Golden Boot Awards

When recently asked if he was still involved in the motion picture / entertainment business, our classmate Patrick Curtis (aka Pat Smith in 1957) responded: "One of the things I do is write and produce the Golden Boot Awards, for the Motion Picture & Television Fund. 2007 will be our 25th year, and during that time, we've raised many millions of dollars for the Fund, in Woodland Hills. Last year, we honored Clint Eastwood; Ann-Margret, Wes Studi, Joan Leslie & Powers Boothe to name a few.

http://www.surfnetinc.com/chuck/goldboot.htm

The Golden Boot Awards honor actors, actresses, and crew members who have made significant contributions to the genre of Western television and movies. The award is sponsored and presented by the Motion Picture & Television Fund. Money raised at the award banquet is used to help finance various services offered by the Fund to those in the entertainment industry.

PATRICK SMITH ESQ. UP IN OREGON

When I recently asked Patrick Smith up in Oregon what he has been up to, he replied:

" I got tired of practicing (law) so I retired in 2003. Now, my wife and I spend a lot of time traveling and keeping up with the 6 grandkids. We did a trip in January-February to Antarctica, Iguazu Falls, Patagonia, MachuPicchu and Lake Titicaca. Then we leave in a couple of weeks for Botswana, Zimbabwe, Nanibia and South Africa. Please keep me posted on Reunion plans. Thanks, Pat"

FRED DUNN PUTS IN AN APPEARANCE

Thanks for putting out this blog. It is really interesting hearing from some of the ancient ones. I particularly enjoyed the input from Gene LaMore. I hung around with him some in our junior and senior years. I was confused as to why you referred to him in the blog as class of 1959, rather than 1957. Maybe he forgot what year he graduated.

A NOTE FROM JERRY BUTTACCIO

Keeping busy functioning as Exec. V.P./Chief Credit
Officer here at the Bank. Really can't get bored living in Las Vegas,
plus have my two Sons and grandchildren here, so that makes it nice.

LIST OF OUR GUYS WITH MISSING EMAILS or TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Here is a list of our classmates for whom I have neither a telephone number nor an email address. It will save me hours of slave labor, if you can share any of this info with me. Thanks for your help. Jerry Fecht gfecht@sbcglobal.net


Rev. Michael Adams .........San Pedro
Michael Arlotto .............. Simi ValleY
Charles Bauman ..............Newport Beach
Dennis Borowsky Thousand Oaks
Raymond Christl Northridge
Nicholas DeCristo Henderson, NV
Ronald DeLaMare La Crescenta
Bernard Ditz Richland, WA
James Douglas Weed, CA
James Elm Los Angeles
Samuel Engel Fort Hohae, Az
Charles Gemora Van Nuys
Gary Gierok Pahrump, NV
George Grabe Sugerloaf, CA
Earl Graham State College, PA
Wm. Gregory Sherman Oaks
Jim Grove Agoura
Robert Gunther Las Vegas
Tyrone Hair Granda Hills
Wm Hannah Sunland
Joel Helms Femley, NV
Donald Iavello Simi Valley
Patrick Johnson Wolfeboro, NH
Robert Kahmann Granada Hills
Richard Klumpp Palm Desert
Robert McLaughlin Palm Desert
Vincent Maciorski Bakersfield
Thomas Martin Newhall
Paul Maxwell Woodland Hills
Desmond McGreevy Poway
Charles McMurray Northridge
James McNulty Sequim WA
Lawrence Meares Grass Valley
Norman Moraux Moncks Corner, SC
David Morman Sunnyvale
Steven Moss Woodland Hills
Al Nagel Tarzana
Philip Naiar Long Beach
Victor Newell Los Angeles
Dennis O'Brien Newport Beach
Brian O'Conner Encinitas
Dion O'Conner Sherman Oaks
Jim O'Hanlon Solvang
John Oberholzer Fairfield
Richard Oliver Banning
John Pavelka Santa Rosa
John Pawlek Burbank
Michael Polizzi Pasadena
Frank Reichwein Topanga
Edward Rio Santa Fe NM
Jack Robertson No. Hollywood
Allen Roth Reno
Frank Salerno Van Nuys
David Sanderson Portsmouth RI
Edward Schneider Garden Valley
Frank Servedio San Louis Obispo
Karl Stockl Holbrook, AZ
Anthony Susca West Hills
Patrick Sweeney Tustin
Robert Trinity MD Millstadt IL
A. G. Venting Albuquerque NM
Michael Walls San Juan Capistrano
Norm West Yucca Valley
Leo Whitaker Los Angeles
Don Williams Pioneer CA

Blog for Notre Dame High School - Class of 1957 reunion
http://ndhs1957.blogspot.com/

BLOG for The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
http://museumsanfernandovalley.blogspot.com/

SEND YOUR VALLEY PHOTOS FOR THE BLOG

Van Nuys
long before there was a Notre Dame High School


If you would like to share your photographs of the Valley, when you were a kid at Notre Dame, please scan them as jpgs and identify who, when, where, what etc. and I'll post them for our Blog. With your permission, I'll share them with the Notre Dame High School and Museum of the San Fernando Valley archives.

WHAT TO DO WITH MR. MARTINKA?

The first day in our junior American Literature class brought us into contact with a tall, oddly featured man by the name of Mr. Martinka (first name unknown).
He began the class by explaining that it was his first year (and, I think the last year) at Notre Dame High School. He had been recruited from a Catholic college somewhere in Minnesota or Wisconsin, and was attracted to the school because of its location at the edge of the Los Angeles River. (You may recall that there was a little squiggle on our class rings that supposedly represented the Los Angeles River.)
(note: There was a river of some consequence in the Valley, called Tyrone Avenue, that on rainy days separated the men of the West Valley from the boys of the East.)
Be that as it may, Mr. Martinka announced that we would learn to "love" poetry by the end of his class. I glanced at my classmates committed to the Atonic League and sensed something of great importance had just occurred.
Mr. Martinka repeated his statement, "You will learn about America's great poets; Longfellow, etc. etc. and Emily Dickenson."
When he said "Emily Dickenson," the die was cast!

Just before dismissing the class, the teacher explained that the reason that his appearance might seem strange to us was due to the fact that at the onset of summer, he had been struck by lightning!
As we left the class, Bert Falvo said, through his teeth, "There will be an emergency meeting of the League about this, right after detention gets over, at my house."
Note: All meetings of League began after detention finished.
About 4:15pm Alexaton Von Nefer Kufu Bryanthart, our Grand Master, called the meeting to order.
Bert Falvo rose, with a look of fierce passion. "This creature has been struck by lightning! Lightning is thrown by the King of the Gods, Zeus! We are honor bound to finish the job, for the glory of Jupiter himself!"
Someone shouted, "Where is Jay Whitney when we need him? Whitney will know how to make lightning!"
"This foreigner wants us to read poetry! Emily Dickenson! My god, what will we do?"
Leo Whitaker stood and hissed, "We will smother this interloper (he had just learned the word interloper from Br. John Duran's debate class) on his own pitard. (note: this made sense to us at the time, since Br. Berchman had not explained the rule about mixing metaphors.) Leo-aton called for each of us to memorize a different Emily Dickenson poem and to "quote this Midwestern creature into insanity!
Alex Bryant concluded the meeting by saying, "If Emily Dickenson doesn't kill this guy, we can always try lightning later!"

The following Monday, Mr. Martinka began the class with a poem by somebody from New England. "Ah," shouted Bob Colona (an underclassman who somehow got into our class) "Wasn't Emily Dickenson from New England?" Colona had struck first!
Mr. Markina flushed with obvious pleasure. There was hope for civilization in the West, even if the rivers were concrete.
Little did he know that insanity nearly always follows closely behind a lightning strike.

DAN ZERFAS CHECKS IN

Great to hear from you. Too many years. So far I haven't had any mug shots. I'm still working -- a little law, a little real estate. Travel some. Two grand kids in Mobile, Alabama. Where?

Spencer isn't the only NDHS '57 grad to write a book. I sold a whopping 181 copies-- roughly one thousandth of one per cent of Who moved My Cheese. If you are interested in the Middle East and how a kid from the Valley played in the desert, see The Middleman on Amazon.

Bro Bill (Bill Nick - ND Principal) had me working on the $10,000,000 bond for NDHS last fall. Can you believe how far Notre Dame has come? They didn't teach that class as I remember. The game plan for NDHS is inspiring. It is fun to be around the school after all these years and recall the good times and silliness.

I see Richard Daly a couple of times a year. He is retired from the Texas Catholic Conference and teaching a politics class at St. Edwards U. He loves those Texas Republicans.

The blog is fun. Look forward to the stories and seeing you at the reunion meeting in June. Dan

OUR CLASSMATE TOM ARCHER

Few of us could believe the news that our classmate Tom Archer was dead.
I can still see the students on the Notre Dame quad standing in little knots of disbelief.
That car accident had taken away not only a friend and a buddy, but confronted us all, who viewed oursleves as graced with young men's immortality.
Saint Charles Church in North Hollywood was a sea of Notre Dame blue the morning of Tom's funeral.
All our tearless high school bravado failed us that day, and we were just boys.

PROGRESS REPORT ON SARFF'S COLORADO HOUSE

MIKE WRITES:
painted the front gate. it needed paint when we bought the place. only three years to get around to it. next thing to paint is the outside of the rental house.

finally finished triming the trees. most of the trees needed trimming form the ground up to six feet. i would not have started if i had known there were 130 trees.

windows are now in for the barn dinning area next to the bar. need to trim and finish with barn wood.

the garden that i started the first of apr came up. the beets and corn did not survive the 24 degree freeze. the apr 15 expansion also came up but everything is just sitting there waiting for warmth to start growing.

the water people turned on the irrigation water the second week of apr so i have now flooded the fields twice. usuall y we do not get water until the first of may. now i will have to mow in may instead of waiting for jun.

DAN ZERFAS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD GUY

When I sent out my last email to get you guys to contribute to the Blog, I thought I would pull Dan Zerfas' chain by saying he was in jail. Dan was not in jail. It is Joe Wetter who is probably in jail. Jerry Fecht



"Dan Zerfas is a former Holy Cross Brother, a successful businessman serving on the board of directors of Notre Dame High School and was a major contributor to the NDHS building fund for the Brother Robert Hampton Science building."

"Daddy Joe" Wetter, '57 Camarillo, CA

ED ECKLUND IN THE "SHOW ME" STATE

Greetings from the great state of Missouri. I moved here in 1959 shortly after graduation. Since then I have done several things including owning several variety stores and a grocery store (which did not last when Wal-mart kicked in big time). I then turned to accounting and have been doing it for many years. In March 2006 I semi-retired and now only do it part time.

I have only been back to California one time in these last 48 years and that was many years ago. I am looking forward to coming to the reunion very much. When I did get back to CA I went by the school and that brought back many great memories.

My very best friend in high school was Bob Metzger. I did get to see him when I was in CA, but since have lost track of him. At that time he was a professor at San Diego State and had wife and 2 sons. I wish we could hook up at the reunion if we can find him.

I have been married to my wife Janice for 40 years and we have 4 grown children, 1 girl and 3 boys. I have 4 grandchildren ages 2 to 10 and life is good.

Please keep in touch, Ed Ecklund

THE LOSS OF BROTHER NIVARD IN MARCH

I suppose by now all of you know that Brother Nivard died this spring. He was one of my favorite teachers at ND, despite the detentions.
Remember how Ernie Persley used to sabotage his physics demonstrations? One little car that was supposed to explain something about action-reaction sailed right out the classroom window.

I reminded Brother, when I was doing graduate work at USC that he once suggested that we pray for Notre Dame to beat God's Trojans. He, at first, denied that he had said it. Then he said sheepishly, "Well, when Notre Dame wins, it brings glory to our Blessed Mother's name."

My response was that, at the time, there were more Catholics on the USC team than ND. With that look between a smile and bewilderment, Nivard said, "Well, God works in mysterious ways."

Brother Nivard Meichtry was born in 1914 and died in March of 2007. He entered the Congregation of Holy Cross (CSC) in 1934 and made his perpetual vows in 1938. For awhile, after we had left, he was the principal of NDHS in Sherman Oaks.
Jerry Fecht