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1998 gathering notes by Frank Fitzgerald:
Sr. Mary Helen - now 80 years old, tutors religion and other subjects, drives when she can get to the car before the other nuns, entered Sisters of St. Joseph in 1937, went to St. Pascal's in '42, habits were based on "French widows" dress and (as we suspected) hot in summer, many yards of ? material, Sisters of St. Joseph order originated in France (2 nuns guillotined during French revolution), she did not adopt newer forms of dress when they were first introduced and optional, waited until they settled on new habit, habit entirely abandoned 2 years ago.
Sr. Agnes Cecilia - postSt. Pascal, she taught grade and high school English, retired, and according to Gerry, "is sharp as a tack."
Irene E Dryer/Swanton and husband attend the Cambria Heights/St. Albans Eisenhower Park Reunion each year and would be happy if some of us joined them.
Brian (Tom) Hughes, or Tom (Brian) Hughes - his Irish family wanted him baptized Brian, they were told there was no St. Brian, so he was baptized Thomas, but family persisted in calling him Brian and enrolling him at St. Pascal's under this assumed name. He, because of confluence of various legal documents, continued to live a double life, which eventually led to his arrest by the FBI for draft evasion (not clear whether it was Tom or Brian who resisted). It took him two years to prove his innocence. Few know the burden some Catholics suffer!
Jerry Guilfoyle is waiting to hear if he will be "accepted" by the co-op he is trying to buy into. He was required to submit pounds of documentation to prove his worthiness, as well as have his present digs subjected to an inspection. Gerry claims he vacuumed and dusted thoroughly before the arrival of the co-op's professional inspector, who subjected the place to a rather cursory look-see. He thinks he passed that part of the exam with flying colors. If he can only get through the written...
When Sr. Mary Helen's remark about two Sister's of St. Joseph being guillotined during the French revolution was repeated later, one of our number (doubtless recalling the sound of a 12" ruler meeting flesh) said, "They got the wrong nuns."
Ray Urban and Bill Ophals discussed the benefits of exercise and finding none, agreed to sit out the national obsession until everybody comes to their senses.
Joan Gengenbach-DeMartini talked about the fun of climbing trees way back then, said my wife must be "a saint' to be married to me (inferring some sort of early behavioral problems), and that George Kromer is "a riot." George's riotousness was attested to by many. However, claims as to any aberrant early behavior on my part remain, at this writing, unsubstantiated.
A vote was taken on prospects for further get-togethers. It was decided to have another afternoon gathering next year at the Main Maid Inn and a weekend reunion in August, 2000. Tom Goldrick would like the next weekend to take place in the middle of a golf course, which doubles (for unknown reasons) as a dude ranch. Apparently his suggestion was taken for what it was worth when the assembled voted to go with Diane Lemieux/Calderale's proposal to hold the affair at a place in Connecticut where she claims we will be able to kick up our heels (or whatever) and act silly without anyone taking much notice. She says her family does it there yearly and haven't been booted out yet.
All looked well, if a wee wider and bigger than in '54. Everyone ate everything on their plates without complaining. |
