In Memoriam - Walter McNeela

Wally at our 25th Reunion, 1985

Walter G. "Wally" McNeela, age 64, of Carol Stream; beloved father of Dawn (Scott) Stanley, Danielle (Scott) MacKay and Jeffrey; fond grandfather of Eathan, Grace, Claire, Ava, Cal and Brady; brother of Margarte (the late Tom) Killeen and the late John "Jack" and Katherine Pratt; many nieces, nephew, relatives and friends. Visitation Sunday, Dec. 26 from 2 p.m. until time of service 5 p.m., at Brust Funeral Home, 415 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, donations to the E. D. I. Club, 1114 E. Lake St., Hanover Park, IL 60113-5421 appreciated. 630-510-0044

Visit the guest book on line until December 22, 2011.

Published in Chicago Tribune on December 22, 2010

Spencer, A.M. Kindergarten, 1951 Class Photo - Room 101

This is the third of four Spencer Kindergarten photos from 1951.  This photo from November, 1951 was provided by Peggy Dernbach Kuzminski.  To see the other two photos we have click on:  P.M. Kindergarten and A. M. Kindergarten photos.

The teacher of Peggy's class dutifully wrote the names and addresses of each member of the class.  Peggy kindly scanned in the reverse of the class photo.  Don't we wish everyone did this with all photos!  If you double click on the photo or on the list of names, they will open up enlarged in a separate window.

Does anyone have the last of the "series" of Spencer kindergarten photos?  If so, please share it with your classmates. If you send a scan of the photo we will post it on the blog.

Visit STA on March 13, 2011

The Pastor at St. Martin de Porres [formerly St. Thomas Aquinas Church] has graciously invited the graduation class of 1960 to participate in Mass at 10:30 A.M, March 13, 2011, followed by a tour of  the church, and then, hold your breath, a tour of our fabulous school. That's right. Walk the halls, visit the classrooms and cloakrooms, and then meet in the old canteen for coffee, drinks [non-alcoholic] and pastries.

This is not merely our chance to visit a place we spent a large amount of our childhood, but also a privilege to pay homage to the site where we not only learned lessons to help us through life, but to live an important part of our lives. Take this invitation seriously. As great a time as we had at our reunion, this tour will be a retrospective fulfillment of our grade school days as a class.

We are also cordially inviting other classes that are interested in attending. The Pastor, Father Peter, has a very small congregation, and a big turnout would be much appreciated by him and a nice Thank You for his generosity. He was very excited when we proposed this tour. We'll have more definite information after the holidays.

To all the students of STA, Merry Christmas and we'll meet next year.

(Above text provided by Bill Stocker who is coordinating the March 13 event with Fr. Peter, the Pastor.)

So, how many of you would like to see our old stomping grounds?  The invitation is open to anyone, from any class.  If you have siblings or friends who attended St. Tommies before or after us, please invite them to join us.  As they say, the more the merrier.  Mark your calendars for:

Date:  Sunday, March 13, 2011

Time: 10:30 a.m. Mass

Address: 5112 W. Washington Blvd.

There won't be any snail mailings about this gathering, so we need your help with word of mouth.  Please email or call your siblings and other St. Tommie Alums with the date and time. As we get closer to the date, more information will be provided on this Blog.

In the column to the right we have put a counter. If you think you will attend, just add your Yes!

To take a "drive" by our old school's neighborhood, in both summer and winter, visit Dan Carr's Aquinasville.

In Memoriam - Elizabeth Giangrego

Betty in 5th Grade, 1957

Confirmation, 1958

 Elizabeth "Betty" Giangrego passed away the day after Thanksgiving, on Friday, November 26, 2010.  Less than 3 weeks after our 50th reunion.

Her family has informed us the burial service was private.




Betty, the writer of our 1960 class prophecy and creator of our 25th-year reunion booklet, would have loved being present at our 50th reunion.  She had begun to work on the 50th-year reunion booklet, but illness prevented her from completing it.  We know she was with us in spirit.

Kathleen Hughes sent this note in tribute to Betty Giangrego:

Hi Mary and Elaine,  I am sorry to be so late in sending this.  I have been thinking of Betty for a while.  I had a feeling that something was really wrong when she did not answer my email after I saw the reunion photos.  Here are some of my thoughts you might share with her friends if you have the chance:

"What, no crabby sarcastic cat card this Christmas!  I could always count on Betty to add something special to the holiday season.

"When I think way back to when we were young, I remember all the time I spent at her house and how very kind her Mom and Dad, and her whole family, were to me. No one else had a dog who sat on the coffee table and howled when the soap operas started on TV.  That dog did not like organ music! I remember going to the cabin at Wauconda and laughing and making life plans upstairs in bedroom with the slanted roof.  I learned the meaning of the expression "smile and nod" at the cabin, when her grandmother would speak to me in Italian. I think her grandmother liked me-she thought I was nice and quiet!

"I always envied Betty's sense of daring and adventure.  The thought of running off to London would just never have occurred to me, but what a great experience it had to have been. I loved the fact that she was able to talk me into doing semi-crazy things.  I am pretty sure I never would of thought of getting dressed up and going to sit in the lobby of the Ambassador East in hopes of seeing Pernell Roberts.  It was pretty amazing that we were not thrown out.  Maybe Pernell didn't have a lot of teenagers waiting for a glimpse of him walking by. I think we finally got tired of waiting and took the "El" home. I am positive I never would have gone to the Camel Races in Virginia City without her urging. I learned that many Hell's Angels are just chunky middle aged people who enjoy a drink at the Bucket of Blood-just like everyone else. I even had the chance to show her something new that trip, when I took her to an all you can eat buffet at a casino in Reno and showed her how to play a slot machine (I didn't say I was proud, just that it was something new for her). It was a fun trip, and in fact I did go back with my husband to Lake Tahoe and Virginia City, minus the Hell's Angels.  

"I had the chance to meet with Betty a couple of times in the last few years when I was in town for a conference and we had some long talks about the state of the world and our individual lives.  The best thing about old friends like Betty is that you can meet every now and then and pick up where you left off with no guilt, and no long explanations of who you are. It did not matter at all what different paths our lives had taken, we just laughed and shared some old memories.  Now that is gone, and can't be replaced. 

"A special spirit has left this world, but she left behind some very happy memories.  Rest in peace, Betty."

Kathy Hughes Wilke, December 10, 2010

Keeper of memorabilia, her graduation luncheon
place card is ready for her next event

 And her 1960 basketball certificate too!  

Missing Classmate - FOUND!

We are still trying to locate our "unfound" classmates.  If you should come across one the Missing listed in the right hand column of this Blog, please let us know.  We will post a note and/or a photo of our classmate to share with the STA 1960 Reunion Community.

Through the efforts of Dennis Czechanski, Noreen Christie Fox has been located.  She sent this note:

How nice to hear from you!  I looked through the reunion photos - almost as much fun as being there!  The years go by so quickly that it's nice to reminisce, remember and reconnect. 

In 1985, I did try calling St. Thomas to see if there was any reunion information, but to no avail.  We moved right after 8th grade - the receptionist at St. Thomas said  "So did everyone else!"  Where did our classmates end up going to high school?   Thanks for your work on the blog - it's great.  I still have my autograph book too.  I saw it not too long ago, but I'm sure I couldn't put my hands on it now!  Take care and so glad you remembered me!

Noreen Christie Fox, November 15, 2010

STA Poetry

At our 50th Reunion, Tom McGrath brought his 1960 STA autograph book.  Flipping through the pages, I remembered how "witty" we thought we were with our catch phrases and four-line poems.  It made me look for my book -- which I remembered seeing about 15 years ago!  Well, I just found it.   If you still have your book, perhaps you would share some of the pearls of wisdom written inside?  Just click on "comments" below and add your personal witticisms!  Be sure to let us know who wrote it.

Being no poet
Having no fame
Permit me only
To sign my name.
Lynn Kryzak

I'll write on white
And be polite
And save the yellow
For some rude fellow.
Diane Hallinan, Lucy Amore

Down in the valley
Carved in a tree
Two little words
"Remember me."
Mary Kinahan

There are gold ships
And there are silver ships
But the best kind of ship
Is friendship.
Patti Carroll

The following was written in a circle:
A ring is round and has no end that's how long I'll be your friend.
Carole Keough

When the golden sun is setting
And your feet no longer trod,
May your name in gold be written
In the autograph of God.
Violet Scalese

Yours 'til the United States drinks Canada Dry.
Linda Kovach

You may fall from a mountain
You may fall from above
But the best place to fall
Is to fall deep in love.

Yours 'til bobby pins get seasick riding on permanent waves,
Denise Walwin

There are red ships
And blue ships
But there is no ship
Like friendship
Cathy Houlihan

Written in the corners of the page:
It's silly....................to...................... read.................corners
Alex Martini

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I've never met
A nut like you.
Connie Schleimer

You asked me to write
What shall it be
Two little words
"Remember Me"
Antoinette Malizia, John McAuliffe

Rose are red
Violets are blue
Most people are smart
Why aren't you.
Francis Otto

Your 2 good
         2 be
         4 got 10
Marion Reister, John Rigney

I wish you health
Rockefeller's wealth
Einstein's knowledge
Through high school and college.
Carol Broderick

Out in the ocean
Carved in a rock
Are three little words
"Forget-me-not."
Betty Giangrego

Elaine for now
Elaine forever
McIntyre for now
But not forever.
Virginia Salemi

When you get married
And have a Ford
Give me a lift
On your running board.
Kathy Hughes "Juliet"

In a golden chain for friendship, consider me a link.
Lynette Vivacqua

I am no poet
And I have no fame,
So all I'll do
Is sign my name.
Phil Kelley

When you get married
And have 25,
Don't call it a family
Just call it a tribe.
Joan Nallen

Turned up nose
Black curly hair
The boys will go
For you, I swear.
Lucy Valentino

T'was in a restaurant they first met
Romeo and Juliet
T'was there that he got in debt
Rom-e-owed and Ju-li-et.
Joan Laughlin

A little bit of moonlight
A little bit of kisses
Makes a little maiden
Change her name to Mrs.
Diane Cullnan

I may be young
But take my advice
Don't let the same boy
Fool you twice.
Jan Stewart

O.....I.....C.....U.....R.....A.....Grad.....U.....8
Noreen Christie


Yours 'til Starved Rock gets a square meal! 
Donna Falco, "Cuddles"


Remember Grant
Remember Lee
But most of all
Remember me.
Rita Flanagan

Remember me in the tub
Remember me with every rub
When the suds be very hot
Wash them away but forget me not.
Janet Jankuski

________________
________________
________________
________________
Four lines from a lazy poet.
Mary Lynn McGuff

May this life bring you all the happiness you can stand
And only enough sorrow to show you the difference.
Maureen Rigney

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you.
Peggy Dernbach

And, of course, there were many "good lucks" and "best wishes."

Ideas for our Next Reunion

Several individuals have suggested ideas for our next Reunion beyond the "when" and "where."  However, you can make comments about that too!  If you would like to see something special included as part of our next reunion, please suggest it by clicking on "COMMENTS" at the bottom of this post and letting us know your thoughts.  When you click on "COMMENTS" you should be able to see what others have said before you.

To leave a comment:
1. Click on the red "comments" area at the bottom of this post - If there is a number before the word, it means comments have already been added.
2. Write your comment
3. Select your profile from the drop down and then click "Post Comment"
4. If a "Preview" button appears, click on it.
5. Type in the letters presented - this is to protect against spammers
6. Click "Post Comment"

STA 50th Reunion Photos from our Classmates

Dan, our resident photographer and videographer -- and, I might add, President of the 8th grade boys' class -- has posted his pictures from our 50th reunion on Flickr.  They are great.  Click on 50th Reunion to "relive" the evening.  He has also added additional videos to his Aquinasville site. This trip down memory lane with the additional videos from the Reunion is well worth the "click" too!

Diane Hallinan has also shared photos of our Reunion taken by Peggy Dernbach Kuzminski's husband Tony.  The photos give another view of a wonderful evening.  Click on STA 50th Reunion.

To return to this site, just click the back arrow from the other sites.

If you have photos from our Reunion, please send me the link and I will post it on this Blog.  Note, the photo/video links can also be found in the right hand column, near the top of the Blog page.

Thanks to all who have contributed.

The Reunion Committee

The 50th Reunion Committee worked very hard to make November 6th a memorable and fun evening.  They succeeded.

Mary Lynn McGuff Dietsche, Antoinette Malizia Sanders,
Peggy Dernbach Kuzminski, Lucy Amore and Diane Hallinan.
Our prayers are with Betty Giangrego for a full recovery

Our Presidents Talk to Us

We had two eighth grade presidents.  Dan Carr was the president of the boys' classroom and Antoinette Malizia Sanders was the president of the girls'.

Antoinette welcomed us, thanked the Reunion Committee for their work and encouraged us to enjoy the evening and the fine food.  Thanks to Dan Carr, we have a video of her remarks.



To be able to view this video full screen go to Aquinasville.

Dan explained why he wasn't at our 1960 graduation. It seems his family took a trip to Ireland. Quite a nice graduation gift.

They still have our vote as Co-Presidents.  A pretty good 50-year run - much better than any of the current political candidates!

50th Reunion Attendees

Here are some of the 50th Reunion attendees.  Notice all the smiles!

Walter Renaghan and Frank (Francis) Otto

Kathy Houlihan Redel and Dan Carr

Frank Otto, Tom O'Connor and Peggy Dernbach Kuzminski

 

Eileen and Charles Dutra

Ray and Karen Mangan with Roger Miraldi

Rita Flanagan Barrett and Lucy Amore

 

Arnie Carlstrom, Maureen Feeney (Donna's guest)
and Donna Falco Kajtsa

Diane Hallinan, Carol Broderick, Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin
and Mary Lynn McGuff Dietsche

Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin, Dennis Czechanski
and Joan Laughlin LaBeck

Teresa and John Kivlehan with Carole Keough

Maria and Tom Donzelli with Corinna Czechanski

Joan Laughlin LaBeck and Tom McGrath

Antoinette Malizia Sanders and Lucy Amore

 

Maureen McGuire (our bartender!) and John Santoro

Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin and Roger Anderson

Carol Ruscik Whitesell and Donna Falco Kajtsa

 

Bill Stocker, Antoinette Malizia and Tom O'Halleran

For a more complete view of the 50th Reunion's activities check out the Links listed in the right hand column of this Blog.

Talking, Laughing and Reminiscing

We had the opportunity to talk, laugh and reminisce.  And we most certainly did.

Sharing stories

Catching up

Kathy Dobias with Mary Lynn McGuff Dietsche
and Teresa Kivlehan checking out the memorabilia

Ah, the Memories

Listening to Antoinette welcoming us

Enjoying the food

A Little Football Anyone?

Tom Donzelli brought a football which the MEN autographed!  He looks like he is ready for a scrimmage.

Eighth Grade Teachers Take the Cake!

We were treated to two delicious cakes for dessert.  They were decorated in honor of our eighth grade teachers.  If I remember correctly, Sr. Damien's cake was devils food (appropriate, don't you think!) and Sr. Stella's cake was yellow.

Our Hostess Reflects

Diane Hallinan graciously hosted the 50th Reunion at her condo on Lake Shore Drive.  I'm sure there were moments when she must have thought "Am I Crazy?"

What was left of the bar at the end of the evening - Clean up now needed

Diane thinking "It was ALL worth it!"

Before STA

This photo, taken c1950, shows Dennis Czechanski and Joan Laughlin LaBeck in a backyard on Latrobe Avenue.  Joan brought this photo to the Reunion to show Dennis that they go WAY back.

Photo courtesy: Joan Laughlin LaBeck

A Wonderful Evening

Seated: John Santoro, Antoinette Malizia, Lucy Amore, Peggy Dernbach, Mary Lynn McGuff, and Tom Donzelli.   Standing from left to right: Tom McGrath, Roger Anderson, Ray Mangan, Donna Falco, Carol Ruscik, Tom O'Halleran, Dennis Czechanski, Tom O'Connor, Carole Keough, Diane Hallinan, Walter Renaghan, Arnie Carlstrom, Carol Broderick, Elaine McIntyre, Dan Carr, Bill Stocker, Rita Flanagan, Frank Otto, Charles Dutra (hairline only!), Joan Laughlin, Kathy Houlihan, John Kivlehan, Roger Miraldi, and Kathy Dobias

The 50th STA Reunion was wonderful.  Four hours just wasn't enough time to visit and get caught up with what is going on in each of our lives.  We ate and drank well but most of all we enjoyed each others' company.  We thank the Reunion Committee for all their hard work, especially Diane Hallinan, our hostess.

To view a larger image, double click on the photo.
Photo courtesy: Dan Carr

Where will you be tomorrow evening?

The graduates of St. Thomas Aquinas are looking forward to their 50th reunion tomorrow evening, November 6, 2010.  Not sure if 50 years ago, when this photo was taken, these young ladies thought they would be getting together tomorrow, but we are all sure glad we are.

Anna Marie, Betty's cousin, Betty Giangrego (standing), Lucy Amore, Peggy Dernbach, Carol Broderick and our hostess, Diane Hallinan

Photo courtesy: Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin

Miss Delaney, 1958

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

 

Patricia Delaney, our sixth grade teacher, with student Anna Allori (Class of 1961) sitting on a step in front of St. Thomas Aquinas School in 1958.  Does anyone know where Miss Delaney is now?

Photo courtesy: William Stocker

Slide video of Photos on Blog site

As we have received photos from our years at STA and beyond, they have been posted on this blog.  In anticipation of our Reunion on November 6, a slide video of most of the images received to date has been prepared.  If you don't have time to page through the blog, take at look at the video.  I'm sure you will see someone you know, perhaps even yourself. Enjoy.

Reunion Attendance

A great response has been received from the 1960 graduating class.  As of today, nearly 50 alums and guests have RSVP'd.  Hope you are one of them.  If you have photos or other memorabilia from our days at St. Thomas Aquinas, please bring them with you.  We are sure everyone will enjoy the reminiscing.

If you haven't RSVP'd and would like to join us, just contact Diane Hallinan (contact information in the right hand column) and she will be happy to add you to the attendee list.

And, if you can't join us on November 6, check out this site later in November, hopefully we will have some photos from the day.

In Memoriam - James F. Finn

James F. Finn Jr., 53, of Arlington Heights, formerly of Bartlett, died of pancreatic cancer Wednesday, June 14, in Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights. Mr. Finn was a module test operator of cellular telephone base stations for Motorola Inc. in Arlington Heights from 1993 to 1999. Mr. Finn previously worked for 25 years as a tariff compiler and publications manager at the Western Railroad Association in Chicago. "He was one of the most loving and good-natured people I've ever known," said his wife, Maria. "He loved his family very much." Other survivors include two sons, Michael Joseph and John Patrick; his mother, Mary; and three sisters, Margaret Seeman, Maureen and Patricia. A service will be held at 9:15 a.m. Saturday in Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, followed by a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Edna Catholic Church, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights.

Chicago Tribune, June 17, 2000

In Memoriam - Maureen (Rigney) Sexton

Esser, Maureen S., 59, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL died on September 20, 2005.  All County Funeral Home & Crematory.

Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL, September 30, 2005, page 7B

In Memoriam - James H. Tracey

Sept. 23, 1946 - Jan. 1, 2007 James H. Tracey Jr., 60, of Jonesville, went to be with the Lord, Jan. 1, 2007, at his home. He was born Sept. 23, 1946, in Chicago, Ill., to James H. and Mary (Moltros) Tracey Sr. James was a wonderful father and was loved very much by his children. He is survived by daughters, Mary E. Tracey of Hillsdale, Anna M. Tracey of Hillsdale, Molly A. Tracey of Pittsford, and Meah L. Tracey of Pittsford; sons, James H. Tracey III of Hillsdale, Joseph J. Tracey of Jonesville and Jordan L. Tracey of Pittsford, and one grandchild. He is also survived by sisters, Maureen of Chicago and Jackie of Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents. There will be a memorial service 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Jacobs Well Ministries, of Reading, officiated by Pastor Bud Terry. Arrangements are by the VanHorn-Eagle Funeral Home. Memorial donations can be made to the family. To view this obituary and leave condolences, visit www.eaglefuneralhomes.com.

Copyright, 2007, The Hillsdale Daily News, Michigan, All Rights Reserved.

Parking

There are a couple of choices if you will be driving to the Reunion.

You can park in the 3200 N. Lake Shore Drive building; its parking entrance is off of Belmont, just west of Lake Shore Drive/Sheridan Road.

Or, you can park at The Belmont, an apartment building on the southwest corner of Belmont and Lake Shore Drive/Sheridan Road.  The building's parking entrance is located at 3170 N. Sheridan Road.

The cost of parking is in the $13.00 - $15.00 range.  To enlarge map, double click on image.

STA Reunion Invitation

In case you have misplaced your invitation to the 50th STA Reunion, just double click on the invitation image below and you can get all of the vital information.

A RSVP form is available in the following posting.

STA Reunion RSVP Form

Here is a copy of the STA 50th Reunion RSVP form --

You can click on the form to open the jpeg image.  Then you can do a "save as," renaming the file and you should then be able to print out the form to your printer.

In Memoriam - Patrick O'Connor

OConnor, Patrick F. beloved husband of Patricia (nee Scarano), fond brother of John P. (Eileen), William and Mary Ellen Kunce and the late James G., brother-in-law of Maureen OConnor, loving uncle of many nieces and nephews. Services and interment private. Conducted by: Lawrence Funeral Home, 773-736-2300.

Chicago Sun-Times, July 3, 2005

Note: Patrick was a Chicago Police Officer

In Memoriam - James J. Enright

When Dennis Czechanski tried to find Jim Enright, he reached James' wife, Anne. Since Jim cannot be with us, she wanted to share a bit of his memory with us.  The following is from her email. 

"After graduating St Mel H.S., Jim went on to become an electrician and was the supervising electrician on many commercial projects in downtown Chicago and the Metro area. He eventually started his own electrical contracting company and ran a successful business working with developers and various business owners.

Jim was also a motorcycle enthusiast and avid skier.  He was active in the River Shannon Ski Club as the vice president and oversaw many outings and trips.  He enjoyed traveling, fishing, ethnic cuisines and loved children and was the "Secret Santa" to many in need.  

His kindness, generosity, loving spirit and zest for life will always be remembered by all those he left behind.

He slipped away in peace after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.  

Hope this was not too long.  I made a point of the electrical career because he was so proud of it.  His employees and business associates were like family.  He would never have missed this reunion - and I'm sure he'll be there in spirit.  Please keep me posted how it all goes. 

Thank you for your kind words - I was thrown backwards emotionally remembering things he did and well it was difficult."

Anne Enright

 
JAMES J. ENRIGHT 1946 - 2007

James J. Enright, age 60, beloved husband of Anne, nee Konopka; survived by brother, Donald (Marjorie) O'Shea; brothers-in-law Anthony (June) and Richard Konopka; nieces, Kathy O'Shea and Karen (Pat) McGinley; nephew Michael (Sabine) O'Shea; God daughters, Michelle (William Jr.) DeRosa and Juliana Ejsmont; his devoted friends, Mark Wettig and Morgan Dubiel; many cousins and friends.

Memorial visitation Monday, Aug. 13, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Olson Burke/Sullivan Funeral & Cremation Center, 6471 N. Northwest Hwy. (1 blk N. of Devon), Chicago.

Family and friends will meet Tuesday morning at St. Alphonsus Church, 411 N. Wheeling Rd., Prospect Heights for a Memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Interment private.

Info Olson Burke/Sullivan Funeral & Cremation Center, 773-774-3333.

Sign Guestbook at chicagotribune.com/obituaries

Chicago Tribune, August 12, 2007

Six Degrees of Separation

Peggy Dernbach Kuzminski has a contemporary connection with Mrs. Watts, our 7th grade teacher.  She shares the following story:

In 1999, my daughter Kathleen volunteered to go on a trip with other college students to the Lourdes Shrine in France.  Queen of All Saints Church was sponsoring the trip and Fr. Wayne, assistant Pastor, was coordinating it.

The volunteers would be assisting with meeting handicapped individuals at the train, helping at the shrine, etc. They spent one week in Lourdes and then Fr. Wayne, adult chaperons and college kids went on a second week’s trip to Ireland.

Fr. Wayne had a meeting of the parents prior to the trip to explain the trip, cost, etc., and that is when I met him.  At this point I only knew him as Fr. Wayne.  At the meeting he introduced himself as Father Wayne Watts.  During the talk he referred to his mother who had been a Catholic school teach – the light went on in my head!

After the meeting I went up and spoke to him and sure enough it was Mrs. Watts’s son.  He is really a great priest and does so much good.

Kathleen loved the experience of working at Lourdes and always kept in touch with Fr. Watts.  When she and Lowell got engaged she asked him to perform the wedding ceremony and mass.  Father Wayne Watts is now Pastor of St. John Berchman’s located at 2511 Logan Boulevard in Chicago.

It truly is a small world.

Peggy

P.S.: On March 27, 2011, Peggy shared an update about her family's connection to Fr. Wayne Watts: 

My granddaughter Madeline Grace is going to be baptized by Fr. Watts next Sunday. It truly is a small world. Kathleen, Lowell & Madeline are coming in and the baby will be baptized in Chicago.

Austin Neighborhood History

Austin

Community Area 25, 7 miles W of the Loop. Austin, on Chicago's western border, evolved from a country village to a dense urban neighborhood between 1870 and 1920. For the next 50 years this was a large community of solidly middle class residents, but since 1970 it has experienced a profound social and economic transformation. Austin had three important early influences: its founder, Henry Austin (also instrumental in Oak Park's development); transit lines, notably the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and the Lake Street Elevated; and a rivalry with neighboring Oak Park. 

Austin was created in 1865, when developer Henry Austin purchased 470 acres for a temperance settlement named “Austinville” (Chicago Avenue to Madison Street, and Laramie to Austin Boulevard). Austin's intentions for the settlement were clear: home ownership, public amenities such as tree-lined parkways, and gracious living—though Austin himself lived in Oak Park. The village had nearly 1,000 residents by 1874, owing largely to steadily improving suburban railroad service. With over 4,000 residents by the 1890s, Austin was the largest settlement in Cicero township. In 1899, Austin was voted out of the township and into Chicago by residents of other parts of the township. Austin's residents sought to maintain an independent identity after annexation.  An ambitious illustration was the 1929 construction of Austin Town Hall, modeled on Philadelphia's Independence Hall. 

By 1920 Austin was one of Chicago's best-served commuter areas, with street railways to downtown Chicago every half mile, the busiest being the Madison Street “Green Hornet.” The area was also served by the Lake Street “L” rapid transit.  Commerce in Austin followed transit lines, with significant business development along Madison Street, Chicago Avenue, and Lake Street. Despite its commercial range and volume, Austin lacked the intense retail centrality of West Garfield Park (on Madison, from Pulaski to Cicero) or of Oak Park (at Lake and Harlem). In 1950 Austin was a predominantly residential community, with major industrial corridors to the east, north, and south. 

Austin early attracted upwardly mobile Germans and Scandinavians, followed by Irish and Italian families. These groups built the community's mid-twentieth-century landmarks: a half-dozen sizable Roman Catholic parishes, which annually educated thousands of children and provided the social base for much of the community. By the 1930s Greek migrants had arrived in south Austin, building their own landmark, the Byzantine-style Assumption church. Austin had 130,000 residents by 1930.

Dense housing development almost completely supplanted the village landscape of large frame homes in the early twentieth century: north Austin sprouted brick two-flats, small frame houses, and the ubiquitous brick story-and-a-half bungalow; in south Austin, rowhouses, sizable corner apartment blocks, and a multitude of brick three-flats and courtyard apartment buildings flourished. Despite the massive scale change, the nineteenth-century village residential core is still visible in the Midway Park area north of Central and Lake, a designated National Register historic district (1985). This neighborhood boasts stately neoclassical and Queen Anne–style homes, many designed by architect Frederick Schock, as well as several structures by Frank Lloyd Wright and his students.

Austin's crown jewel was Columbus Park (1920). Designed in a prairie mode by renowned landscape artist Jens Jensen, the park featured a lagoon, a golf course, athletic fields and a swimming pool, as well as winding paths and an imposing refectory overlooking the lagoon. Assaulted by expressway construction in the 1960s, the park was extensively restored in 1992.

Austin's demographic profile shifted dramatically beginning in the late 1960s. By 1980 Austin's population was predominantly African American, more than 96 percent in south Austin. Like other west-side communities, Austin experienced housing disinvestment, vacancy, and demolition, as well as loss of jobs and of commerce as its white population moved to the suburbs and to Chicago's Northwest Side. Neighborhood groups like the Organization for a Better Austin have worked to stabilize the community, as have nonprofit housing developers aided by South Shore Bank. 

Source:  Encyclopedia of Chicago

East side of Latrobe between Fulton and Washington

A 2010 look at the east side of Latrobe between Fulton Avenue and Washington Boulevard.  Did any of you live on Latrobe?

Source: Dan Carr's Serendipitize

Aquinasville

360-degree images of the St. Thomas Aquinas Community

 
Our classmate, Dan Carr, has put up a blog which creatively uses Google images to provide a current look at the community immediately surrounding St. Tommy's.  He has "captured" views of the Church, school, rectory and convent as well as street scenes viewed from

• Laramie and Washington, 
• Le Claire and West End,
• West End and Leamington
• Washington and Le Claire

Because the images are 360 degrees, it takes a few seconds for them to load -- so please be patient.  Once the pictures have loaded, you will be able to navigate up, down, AND all around to get a full-circle view from the perspective point.  There are multiple images on each post and several posts, so be sure to click on "older posts" at the bottom right-hand corner of each page to view them all.  The images provide a wonderful look at the neighborhood today.

Also, Dan has created a four-minute "drive-around-St.-Tommy's-in-the-rain" video.  Be sure to check it  out too!   Dan has offered to take other videos, so take a look at his Blog and MAKE A SUGGESTION.

To virtually visit the campus of our alma mater click here:  Aquinasville

You can return to the St. Thomas Aquinas 50th Reunion site by clicking on 50th Reunion at the bottom of each of the Aquinasville blog postings.  See you back here later.

A Drive Up Lake Street

One of our classmates recently became interested in videography -- much to our benefit!  In this first posted video, our videographer takes a ride under the "el" tracks driving west from Kedzie Avenue to Laramie Avenue. It provides a great up-close view of Lake Street.

For those of you who don't live in the Chicago area (or even if you do), wouldn't you love to see what it looks like around St. Tommy's, the old west side, and even Chicago in general?   If we are lucky, we might get a few more videos.

Let's hear some "comments" so we can encourage our classmate to continue these wonderful efforts. All you have to do is click on the "comment" hyperlink at the end of this post, type in your comment in the box that appears and then click "post comment."  Let's cheer our budding "Cecil B. DeMille" on!

What was Chicago Like when You Were Born?

Chicago in the mid-1940s

When we were born in the mid-1940s, the world, and in particular Chicago, was a very different place than it is today. Our "skyscrapers" were the Chicago Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building.  The 44-story Prudential Building, once the tallest building in Chicago, wouldn't be completed until 1955.

Many cultural venues which we enjoy today were already in place: The Field Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry, Civic Opera House and the Adler Planetarium.  At the time, Chicago had many "superlatives" including

• Largest Building of its kind in the world --The Merchandise Mart -- with 4 million square feet of floor space
• Largest transportation center in the world, with about 40 railroads and 1,500 passenger trains arriving at or departing from Chicago every day
• Largest hotel in the world -- The Stevens Hotel on south Michigan Avenue, now The Hilton -- with 3,000 rooms
• Tallest hotel in the world -- The Morrison Hotel -- demolished in 1965 to make room for the the First National Bank Building, now Chase Tower.  (A bit of trivia - when the Morrison Hotel was razed, it was the tallest building EVER demolished anywhere in the world!)

In addition, we had Soldier Field, the old Chicago Public Library building (now the the Cultural Center) with 800,000 volumes (and not one computer!), the Water Tower, Marshall Field's (now Macy's) and Buckingham Fountain.

Join us at the Reunion and see how much the city has changed since you were a toddler. 

Source: James A. Fitzpatrick's Traveltalks 1948 Chicago the Beautiful

St. Thomas Aquinas School History

From the Sisters of Mercy Archives

"St. Thomas Aquinas School was opened in 1910, by the Sisters of Mercy from St. Patrick Academy of the West Side, at the request of Rev. Daniel Luttrell. Sister Mary Xavier McKee was placed in charge with Sisters Mary Immaculata Henry, to teach the approximately 200 pupils in the 8 grades.
The Pastor, Rev. Daniel Luttrell, later Monsignor, was a close friend of Sister Mary Xavier, and also of Sister Mary Camilla Mulhern, who had resided in Saint Genevieve's Parish when he was a curate there. When Father Luttrell was given the newly established parish of St. Thomas Aquinas to build up, Sister Mary Camilla, with Sisters Mary Clotilde and Mary Immaculata, taught the public school children Sunday after Sunday, regardless of weather or poor transportation conditions.

"Although the school was opened in 1910, the Sisters commuted from St. Patrick Academy nearly eight years. Many are the tales told of transportation difficulties, walking several blocks in the snow, rain, slush or hot sun, as the case might be, both before and after taking the uncomfortable Madison Street cars of those days. It was necessary to transfer at 40th (the Crawford, or Pulaski Road of today) to the "Hinky-Din" car, as it was called, for the balance of the distance. One incident all remembered was the day the suitcase in which the food to be prepared for their dinner sprung open and the onions, apples, potatoes and eggs rolled down the center of the car (which had length-wise seats, at that) to the great amusement of the other passengers, and the equally great embarrassment of the poor sisters.

"In 1917 or 1918, a building at the corner of Laramie Street and Washington Boulevard was purchased and remodeled for the use of the sisters. Sister Mary Callista Coyle was the first resident Superior. With her were Sisters Mary Clotilde Cyr, Barbara Broderick, Camilla Mulhern, Peter Leander, Bernardine Murray, Urban Coughlin, and Juliana O'Brien.

"When the house was ready for occupancy, there was a heart-warming "house-warming," for the sisters had made many friends with their friendly manners, even among their non-Catholic neighbors. Many families had moved westward from St. Malachy's parish, where Father Luttrell and the Sisters of Mercy had served many years, and were glad to send their children to their "own" Sisters of Mercy, and soon the school was filled to over-flowing.

...and there is more

"The staff at the present time - 1951 - consists of Sister Mary Giovanni Quinn, Superior; Sister Mary Immaculata Henry, First Councilor; Sister Mary Mechtilde Whalen, Second Councilor; and Sisters Mary Cyprian Johnson, Bernard Oakley, Jerome Maloney, Annette Gordon, Genevieve Rimmer, Willilam Steinhauer, Albert Schueneman, Eunice Madden, Avellino Lang, Ellenita Murphy, Tharsilla Finucane, Gilbert Boleskey, Cecile Cassidy, Francesca Manley, Agneda Lamb and Rosa Ridley.

"The school now has an enrollment of approximately seven hundred pupils, taught by sixteen sisters. When the new church was built, the first floor of the school, which had been used as a church, was remodeled into new classrooms, all of which are in use. Many pupils are second-generation St. Thomas children whose parents were taught by Sister Mary Immaculata, and who insist that she, and she only, must teach their little ones as she taught them in their first school experience. Two sisters have full-time schedules in the teaching of music and present a program each year that is a credit to them and to their pupils.

"Father Edward F. Dondanville was the successor of Monsignor Luttrell, who died shortly after the completion of the beautiful church. To Father Dondanville goes the credit and thanks for the lovely convent now occupied by the sisters on Leamington Street, just back of the church. Upon the death of Father "Don," as he was affectionately called, Monsignor Long was assigned to the parish. He has done much to build up the parish work, and, both the school and the convent have been put into excellent condition as becomes necessary from the wear and tear on buildings require it. All in all, the Sisters of Mercy have fared well at St. Thomas Aquinas, at the hands of the priests and people."
(Signed)
Sister Mary Cyprian Johnson, RSM
Archivist
Sister Mary Margaret Murphy, RSM
1951
 
Source: Sisters of Mercy Archives/St. Thomas Aquinas School - Class of 1955
The Webmaster of the 1955 STA Reunion Class graciously encourage placement of this information on our site.  She hoped some of us would know of 1955 STA graduates and direct them to their site.

Sr. Mary Immaculata, Jubilee, 1960

A JUBILEE!!

"When Sister Mary Immaculata Henry, RSM, celebrated her Golden Jubilee on August 22nd, the entire parish of Saint Thomas Aquinas united in a tribute unique in its history. This was as it should be, for Sister had spent all but two years of her teaching career in the parish school.

"In the words of the parish bulletin of August 21, "Sister is as much a part of Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish as the bricks and stones of the edifice she called home for more than forty-five years." The Solemn High Mass was celebrated by the pastor, Father Laurence Fitzpatrick, assisted by Father Patrick Rabbit, a curate at Saint Thomas Aquinas, and Father William White, a former curate. The church was so crowded and the communicants so numerous, that it seemed to be Sunday rather than Monday.

"After Mass, the many Sisters of Mercy joined the relatives and friends of the Jubilarian in the Parish Hall, where a delicious dinner was provided by the pastor. In the afternoon, many other Sisters came to pay their respects, and the reception in the convent was indeed a festive affair."

Taken from Sisters of Mercy Archives, August 22, 1960

Source: Sisters of Mercy Archives/St. Thomas Aquinas School - Class of 1955
The Webmaster of the 1955 STA Reunion Class graciously encourage placement of this information on our site.  She hoped some of us would know of 1955 STA graduates and direct them to their site.

Do You Recognize Anyone?

At first I thought I recognized one of our classmates, but, alas, it is NOT Diane Hallinan sitting in the front row!  This 1915 photo does help us to appreciate the improved state of our St. Thomas Aquinas classrooms by the time we attended in the 1950s.  If you look closely at this photo and then at the later images in this blog which show classroom photos, you can tell the desks are the same.  They just don't build them like that anymore.

Source: Flickr