Classmates and friends of the Notre Dame Class of 1968,
In addition to reading new and old class notes – with the ability to search for names – you can submit photos and comments of your own.
Using the file directory at the right, you can navigate to pages set aside for various kinds of news
We can use the blog to leave comments, too. In order to add your comment, you will have to register. If you want to post photographs or new articles, send me your username at tfigel@reputecture.com and I will take care of the blog administration needed. You can also email me the note or the photo with instructions and I will post the material for you.
If you attend a game, look for the Class of 1968 flag. There, between the stadium and Legends (once the Senior Bar), you will find many of your friends.
Pat Collins, NBC TV, reporting a winter condition in Washington, DC
A winter condition – Florida here – preferred by many classmates
Certainly, in 1964, A Notre Dame parallel to the US Census Bureau’s decennial calculation would have put the university’s population center in Cook County, IL, perhaps right at 505 Washington Boulevard, Oak Park, IL, recognizable to some as the location of Fenwick High School. These January days, as winter sets in, the mark moves noticeably south, pulled by classmates’ migration away from chilly weather. Naples, FL is such a common destination that Roger Guerin has told Class President Tom Weyer that Naple’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade can include not only a Notre Dame float but a Great ’68 float. The parade did not take place in 2021 but in other years, Roger and Bob Ptak and Donna have been three of the high steppers.
Roger and Chris Murphy will play golf at the area’s Royal Poinciana Club during January.
Paul Dunn, Ken Collins, Eddie Haggar, Bill Sweetman, Steve Grace and Dave Boehnen have their own annual Naples meeting in mid-November for four days of golf. “This one was an unexpectedly shorter trip,” Paul wrote. “Dave got a positive Covid test the second morning we were all together and everyone immediately split for home. Dave holed up at his Naples condo and recovered fine.” Treating the November trip as a mulligan, the six now plan to reconvene in Naples in March or April.
Paul Ramsey and his partner Richard Coburn say good-by to New York City and the entire country as they take up winter residence in Cozumel, Mexico. Yes, they do soak up sun and admire the ocean view – when they are not raising funds and guiding the education program they established for the underprivileged Mayans, www.friendsofpa.org. While vacationing in India years ago, they established and continue to support another program called The India Group, www.theindiagroup.net. “TIG has been able to stave off starvation for our families and stimulate vaccination.”
Pat Hermann and Ellen confer often with Chris Manion from Tuscaloosa, AL, where Pat is retired from the Medieval Studies faculty of the University of Alabama. Chris, who lives in Front Royal, VA, and the Hermanns share views about Roman Catholicism; Chris writes forceful columns for the Wanderer. A current project for Pat is the launch of work that will assist whistleblowers in many spheres, including the Catholic church. On top of that, the Hermanns dedicate much time to ProLifeTuscaloosa.com. For eleven years, thanks to a recommendation from Houston classmate Ron Kurtz when Ron’s daughter was enrolled at the university, Pat coached the distance runners of the track team. Before joining the Alabama faculty (and contributing to the southern shift of the population center), Pat was a curator at the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, IL.
On September 25, 2021, date of the Soldier’s Field win over Wisconsin, Brian McManus (at right) was able to hold Tom Gibbs long enough for a photo. Because of the effect of the many bonefish and trout Brian catches, only those testing for Covid’s loss of smell willingly come close to him.
In San Francisco, Richard Pivnicka and his wife Barbara attended the October 7, 2021 Stanford University memorial of George Shultz, whose 100 years included four cabinet-level positions in US government. Richard’s notes about the event, included in a following post include: “(Henry) Kissinger said he talked to George every Sunday and they promised each other they would each speak at the other’s memorial. Kissinger said George always keeps his promises and ‘the question at hand will be…. how will he do that.’ Kissinger said of all the people he knew, he thought George Shultz should have been President. What a program!”
Jim Woods, alert in Milwaukee, found One Week in America by Patrick Parr. The history centers on the spring 1968 Sophomore Literary Festival that the late John Mroz and 13 committee members grew into a gathering of writers Ralph Ellison, Norman Mailer, Kurt Vonnegut, Wright Morris, William F. Buckley, Jr. and Granville Hicks. The campus had other visitors: presidential candidates Gene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy. For some 1968 readers, the highlight is an account of a protest 50 students headed by Brian McTigue made against the Dow Chemical president’s recruiting visit. Chuck Nau, Jack Lavelle, Richard Rossi and other names appear in the book, too.
Bryan Dunigan had sad news December 7, 2021: “(I received) a text from Lloyd Adams that his twin brother Pete Adams passed away peacefully late last night. In 2015 Pete was given 3-6 months to live with stage 4 lung and kidney cancer which Pete then battled for over 6 years! Pete’s wife, Patricia, lives at 42 Apple Way, Marlton, New Jersey 08053.” Lloyd’s email is davelloyd314@yahoo.com.
Thanks to his former roommate Ken Wejman, we also know of the death of Indian Hill, IL’s Paul Joseph Wallace on April 8, 2020. After Naval Air Reserve service, Paul made his career at WW Granger, Inc. Paul and his wife Nancy, parents of four, were married 50 years.
Please keep the Adams and Wallace families in your prayers, and include Dennis Toolan and his family as they deal with Dennis’ sudden health problems.
Gentlemanly Dennis Toolan, sixth from left in this 2019 tailgate photo, is the definition of Great ’68 friendship.
Tom Condon, in a pause between reports for the Connecticut Mirror, ponders starting a new career as proprietor of The Confections of St. Augustine. Oh, well.
Please send news and photos to: Tom Figel, 455 East Ocean Boulevard, Apt. 202, Long Beach, CA 90802, tel. 312-241-7917, tfigel@reputecture.com.
My wife, Barbara, the Hon. Consul of the Czech Republic and I, as Hon. Consul General of the Czech Republic, attended the Memorial for George Shultz at Stanford recently. It was truly a LIFE EXPERIENCE for Barbara and me.
Best, Richard Pivnicka
George Pratt Shultz
Absolutely incredible experience at George Shultz’s memorial last week with Charlotte Shultz surrounded by her extended family. Valet parking, dozens of fellow Marines in dress blues at the “front desk” pinning a magnetic bar on our jackets indicating we are official special guests,…”sir,” and ….. and escorting us to our pew (pew number 14,… pretty good) in the Stanford Memorial Church. . The California Governor, the First Partner, loads and loads of dignitaries, including Jim Baker, Jim Mattis, Henry Kissinger, Condi Rice, Jim Webb, Michael Boskin, Leon Panetta, John Hennessy (Apple/Stanford)—so many VIPs—but tellingly, lots of straight up State Dept and Princeton (GS’s undergrad), MIT (PhD), Chicago (Dean of the B School), Stanford (Hoover) people who had stayed in touch and continued to produce for and with George. WOW about Federika Von Stade, the opera singer–we were in line with her, and she looked like a sort of normal small scale attendee—then she casually walked to the front of the altar and sang an “Ave Maria” that gave us chills. The Marine Corps Band played Amazing Grace accompanied by the giant Stanford Memorial Church organ. The Corinthians was recited by the Shultz grandkids and great grand kids, and Secretaries of State Rice, Baker and Kissinger—and a final surprise walk on by Blinken, plus economist John Taylor and Marine General Mattis gave the Remembrances. With Bach, Beethoven and “America the Beautiful” playing on the grand organ. Kissinger said he talked to George every Sunday and they promised each other they would each speak at the other’s memorial. Kissinger said Geroge always keeps his promises and “the question at hand will be…. how will he do that.” Kissinger said of all the people he knew, he thought Geroge Shultz should have been President. What a program! We were then encouraged to walk out onto the Quad in front of the church and eat and drink (lots of food, full bars, tables with lots of linen and umbrellas) and a new combo was assembled to play. PLUS, a roaring, deafing, fly over by a Marine jet squadron that shook the ground! We got a chance to chat with Secretary of State Blinken and had a long substantive chat with Governor Newsom who was not, as usual, encircled by fans since he was one of the few high level Democrats attending that we recognized, besides Blinken, Panetta and Willie Brown. The coolest thing—General Mattis said that AROUND THE WORLD, Marines held the Marine equivalent of a 21 gun salute —a READY FIRE drill– in George’s honor. What a thing! Semper Fi for sure. God bless Geroge Shultz. Fantastic!We are dazzled and so happy to have been a part of this. – Richard and Barbara
First. . . If you have not done so, will you right now register with the Notre Dame community? If you have not registered for full participation in the array of things available from my.nd.edu, please do so. (There’s a “register” button at the bottom of this post.) At the Notre Dame site, you can find a two-minute guide to registering (“How to register your myND account”). In essence, go to https://my.nd.edu, remember the
Captcha requirement, and respond to the email that will tell you how to gt to the next step, mostly completion of postal address information and creation of a password. You’ll see that the process is simple and quck, probably no need for the help of a scornful adolescent or even a call to the Gene Cavanaugh help desk.What’s the point? As a member with access to the Notre Dame platform (my.nd.edu), you’ll be able to post your own thoughts, upload photos, and sign up for many things: lecture and discussion podcasts, team news, for example. Most of all – in my opinion – you will have access to a place for posting something we all need to know instantly: e.g., a classmate’s death, information for contacting and consoling the family, or just a pass play that the team ought to try in the 4th quarter. You’ll be able to look up the contact information of classmates and other alumni. Together, we all will learn about features of the Notre Dame site: Live Feed for the immediate items, Forum for discussion of things by searchable subject, and News, where we can gather obituaries and also link to the blogs of classmates like Jay Schwartz.I don’t think you will be inundated, unless that is your wish. In “preferences”, you can select what you wish to receive. From then on, it’s Go Irish.
Class notes submitted October 14, 2021
On October 30, 2021, friends of Joe Kernan dedicated a bench and tree honoring him.Sadness, Comfort and JoyIn short order, within 24 hours, the announcements came: Rick Oldani telling of his wife Kaysie’s death in Phoeniz, AZ just before their 52nd wedding anniversary, this followed a month later by the death in Houston of Ed LaVigne, who had been Rich’s best man. Then, on October 1st, Bob Ptak, ever a mainstay of the Chicago classmates, died. All this occurred soon after Joe Masley wrote of his father John Masley’s death June 20, 2021.
Kaysie Oldani / Ed Lavigne. / Bob Ptak with Tom CugginoBob Ptak, always on top in his business life and frequently at the center of any party, managed to leave his family and friends while Notre Dame was enjoying an undefeated season. Small comfort there, and perhaps a factor in the team’s loss the next day. Rick Oldani, who met Kathryn “Kaysie” when she approached the Coca-Cola stand he was manning at a Stepan Center concert Rick’s junior year, said that Kaysie’s funeral took place on their wedding anniversary. John Masley, a mathematics professor at University of Illinois-Chicago, matched his brilliance in the subject (PhD from Princeton) with his success as a husband and father. Ed LaVigne, who came to Notre Dame from Coral Gables, FL, was an electrical engineer for Texas petrochemical companies and a musician who played bass guitar for groups that included the parish choir. After October 17, see the obituaries, including that received from Bill Betz’s daughter Emma, atwww.ndclass1968.com.The notes were barely in the hands of Notre Dame Magazine when new additional sad news arrived: Vernice Waddick wrote of her husband Thomas John Waddick’s June 23, 2021 death. Tom graduated from the University of Dayton in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and received his Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1968. A Senior Staff Engineer with ExxonMobil for over fifty years, Tom held numerous patents and earned global awards associated with his work. During his final years at ExxonMobil, Tom enjoyed mentoring new engineers and lending a hand on global projects and in the chemical plants he helped to build.
John M. Masley / John Carlin Beers / Tom WaddickThen Jay Schwartz wrote from Baltimore where that day’s Baltimore Sun included the October 29, 2021 obituary of John Carlin Beers. After graduating with an accounting degree, the Baltimore native added a law degree that led to a real estate practice and ownership of various apartment properties. The paper’s obituary quoted John’s daughter Christy Carey: ““Dad spent every day trying to ‘make ‘em laugh, He had the clever ability to craft a good, or really bad, pun. It was legendary. He understood the power of humor to bring people together, lessen pain or make a moment memorable.”May time and the comfort we give our classmates’ families now dull the sharpness of each loss.A year and some months after his death, Joe Kernan’s classmates have raised funds for a tree and a bench that was dedicated with a ceremony three hours before the October 30th game. The memorial is near the new Architecture School building donated by our classmate Matt Walsh and his wife Joyce and the Raclin Murphy Art Museum donated by Chris Murphy and Carmie.If anyone needed testament to the class bonds that keep us the Great 68 forever, the largely Keenan Hall reunion Tom Culcasi and Judy organized in Lemont and Chicago, IL during August provides incontestable proof. A picnic in the Culcasis’ backyard, a boat tour of the Chicago River and lakefront, a Lemont restaurant dinner deepened friendships for Tom Phillips, Bill Cleary, Mike Obiala, Tom Curtin, John Soleau, Joe Hale, Phil Mika, Ed Marsh, Dan Collins, Steve LaPlante, Ted Bratthauar, Mike Woods, John Walsh, Chris Murphy, Gene Cavanaugh, Bryan Dunigan and Fred Ferlic. Tom Phillips’ friend Ellen and all the wives kept the reunion and the boat in their channels.In yet another way, Pete Farrell, longtime Princeton coach, has left others in the dust: the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has named Pete to the organization’s hall of fame – and for Pete’s merits as the man he has always been, not just the coach he was for many years.Bob Brady, the business founder who has enjoyed success in almost everything except tennis competition with his friend Kathleen Callahan, celebrated his December birthday with a Naples, FL party and a performance of the new cabaret material he has been rehearsing. Bob figures in photos his former roommate Brian Schanning unearthed from 1973, when, just out of the military and in the case of Nancy Carlin SMC 69 and me, recently married, we posed on seaside rocks during a Boston area gathering. We men, in comparison to today, were hirsute. Judge for yourself.
Bob Brady at rest in 1973 Brian Schanning remembering the size of his old room in Farley Tom Figel about to launch in 1973
Correspondence that began with Walt Moxham’s notice of an Observer letter assailing the cost and inconvenience of viewing games through streaming led to his former roommateTom Brislin presenting his own supporting view in new correspondence to the university. Let me know if you would like to read Tom’s thoughtful letters about Notre Dame as we knew it.A painting byTom Fitzharris appeared in an online show of the New York Studio School alumni during August, 2021.In the footsteps of Paul Zalesky, Mike Moore and many other left-behind grandparents – with along-the-route stops for camping near the Madison, IN lodge accommodations of Tom McKenna and Mary Ann, some nights in Alexandria, VA with Elise Stephens Reeder, lunch with Jay Schwartz and Pat Collins, New England visits with Joan and Will Dunfey and Tom Condon and Anne,Neil Rogers in Greenport, NY, – Nancy and I have relocated from Chicago to Long Beach, CA. There should be no diminishment in news of the Chicago area classmates gathered around Class President Tom Weyer. Instead, there should be an uptick in California news once we and the locals Bill Kelly, John O’Connor, Forrest Hainline, Dan Lungren, Tom Warner, Michael R. Ryan, Tom McCloskey, Rich Pivnicka, Mike Burgener and winteringTom Phillips gather beneath the Great ’68 flag at a Burning Man.Please send news and photos to the new address, old phone number:Tom Figel, tel. 312-241-7917,tfigel@reputecture.com, 455 East Ocean Boulevard, Apt 202, Long Beach, CA 90802.
Since October, Sad AddendaPete Adams’ death December 8, 2021: from Bryan Dunigan:Sorry to bring you some sad news. I just received a text from Lloyd Adams that his twin brother, Pete, passed away peacefully late last night. In 2015 Pete was given 3-6 months to live with stage 4 lung and kidney cancer which Pete then battled for over 6 years!Pete’s wife ,Patricia, survives him. Her address is 42 Apple Way, Marlton, New Jersey 08053….I also attach Lloyd Adams e-mail address (LloydAdams <davelloyd314@yahoo.com)My/Our condolences to all of the great Adams Family on the death of Pete Adams.
And then Mary Claire Knapp, nee Jacobi:Ken Beirne sent news that Mary Claire Knapp, wife of Bill Knapp, died June 20, 2021 in Buffalo, NY.
Arrival of Notre Dame’s new football coach Marcus Freeman: From Australia, Mike Crutcher offered this: “So happy for MF to take charge of ND Football . Seems like a quality person, husband, dad, mentor to young men & football coach.”I did not like BK’s exit from ND. It was shortsighted, immature and will cause his family some pain . Actually feel sorry for him because it tarnishes his legacy at ND and will damage many friendships he should have cherished. Credit where credit is due : BK did set the table for ND Football to get to the next level.”Go Irish !Blessings ,jmc
Before getting to the news – of classmates lost, of reunions, triumphs and changes – please indulge this request: make sure you have registered at my.nd.edu. The more of us registered – that is, the more of us with a preferred email address recorded – the more of us able to be in touch with email. Not registered? Go to my.nd.edu and find “Register”. Click there, enter your preferred email address and you are easily on your way. If you have no grandchild or adolescent neighbor at hand, let me know and I will help:tfigel@reputecture.com.
Registration is quick, easy
If Bryan Dunigan or I send an email through my.nd.edu, we are able to use a list exceeding 800 classmates, including many of us who are registered. We registered ones are able to use features such as a directory of nearly every Notre Dame alumnus. And by the way, registration is open to people who are not Notre Dame graduates, to people who want to be informed about our class or other groups.
Notre Dame Walsh Architecture Building
In the near future, on Saturday October 30th, three hours before the North Carolina game, Fred Ferlic and Class President Tom Weyer will lead our class in dedication of a bench and tree honoring Joe Kernan. The affection and the generosity of Joe Kernan‘s classmates have met the $25,000 cost of the installation in a campus area already linked to our class: the memorial will be near the new Architecture School building donated by our classmate Matt Walsh and his wife Joyce and the Raclin Murphy Art Museum donated by Chris Murphy and Carmie. The gathering of classmates will continue before and after the game at the Great 68 tailgate near the stadium. If you are one of the 800+, watch for an email with the ceremony details in the days before the game.
In the very near future, August 11 and 12, in Chicago and suburban Lemont, Tom Culcasi has planned two days of reunion events for about 25 people, the core of them friends from freshman year in Keenan Hall: e.g., Joe Hale, Tom Phillips, Dan Collins, Phil Mika, Mike Moore, Ted Bratthauer, Tom Curtin, Steve Laplante.
Class President Tom Weyer praises “Our Anchor Men, the South Bend guys” for quick arrangement of a reception for Rocky Bleier during an early May visit: “Class Consigliere , Dr. Fred Ferlic and Sgt.-at-arms /Flag guardian Gene Cavanaugh organized a lavish pizza and beer evening at Rocco’s. In attendance were locals Pat Barth, Dan Harshman, Tom Cuggino, Dr. Steve Anderson …looking good during treatment. The Toms were represented by Tom Gibbs, myself and Tom Durkin. Skip Strzelecki, who dressed us all elegantly in Ara sweatshirts and Great 68 hats, was there along with Bryan Dunigan, Denny Toolan and Roger Guerin. Rocky was quite surprised and rather touched. Our mini-tailgate proved how much we miss each other.”
Larry Maloney has added to the ND68 literary canon with Unto the Altar of God, his coming-of-age novel based on five years as a high school and college seminarian with the Franciscans in Pennsylvania (available at https://www.amazon.com/Unto–Altar–God-Memories-Seminarian-ebook/dp/B093QM3HY4). Larry came to our class in junior year and, after graduation and service in Vietnam, became a Deputy Editor with U.S. News & World Report and then Editor/Publisher of Design News. Already, the coming-of-age novel about a high school student’s response to the feelings and events of a world encountered in vacation bursts and family contact as well as within the seminary has earned in mid-July 18 five-star ratings on Amazon. Boston radio station WROL did a 12-minute segment with Larry and other papers, including two in the Gannett chain, have interviewed him. “My book started at Notre Dame in a class on creative nonfiction with Professor Ron Weber, a terrific teacher,” Larry said. “I wrote a short story for him based on my seminary experiences, and he encouraged me to try a book at some point.”
The following posts on our blog are obituaries and memories of classmates we have lost: Bill Betz, Richard Calone, John Tilelli, and John O’Brien‘s wife Karen nee Scherkenbach, Boyd T. Barnes who died during March, Tom Bettler who died in November, 2020, John Alzamora who died in May, 2020, and Raymond DeFabio who died in May, 2021. Remember all of them in your prayers and, if you know the family, please contact them and console them. Please remember, too, Jim O’Rourke‘s wife Pam, who is recovering from surgery for removal of a tumor and Pat Collins‘ wife Emily, whose femur shattered in a fall on July 4th.
Boyd T. Barnes and Tom Bettler, top row; Raymond DeFabio and John Alzamora, bottom row
Please send news, including photos, to: Tom Figel 1054 West North Shore, Apt 3E, Chicago, IL 60626, tfigel@reputecture.com, cell 312-241-7917.
Raymond De Fabio, age 75 of Lansing, Illinois passed away Saturday, May 8, 2021. He was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend. Ray was an English teacher at Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana for 34 years. It was there, where he touched and shaped many students lives over the years. His Love and his care for his students were second to none. He truly wanted to make a difference in their lives. Ray graduated from the University of Notre Dame and was a very proud Fighting Irish Alum. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Raymond’s name to the American Education Foundation or the American Diabetes Association.
A Celebration of Life for Ray will be held Friday, June 11, 2021 at the Schroeder-Lauer Funeral Home, 3227 Ridge Road, Lansing, Illinois from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. A service for Ray will begin promptly at 6:00 PM in the chapel. Ray was loved by many and he will be truly missed. Go Irish!!!
Boyd Thomas Barnes, 74 Logansport, passed away on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.
Born on July 1, 1946 in Springfield, Illinois, he was the son of Ronald George Barnes and Mary Geraldine (McCahill) Barnes.
Before retirement, he was employed with Central Paving, Logansport.
Boyd was a 1964 graduate of Logansport High School and a 1968 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He was a former member of the Logansport Elks Club and a member of the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association.
He will be lovingly remembered by one brother; Brian (wife, Connie) Barnes, Merrillville; one sister; Rosemary (husband, Stephen) Kern, Flemington, New Jersey; and one sister-in-law, Jane Barnes, Lisle, Illinois.
Also surviving are three nieces: Katherine Barnes Kubal, Stephanie Kern Gomes, and Kristen Kern; and two nephews: Joseph Barnes and Kevin Kern.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Dennis P. Barnes.
Family and friends will meet at Kroeger Funeral Home between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2021, and then proceed to Mount Hope Cemetery for direct burial.
Thomas Joseph Bettler, 73 of Charlestown, IN passed away peacefully on Sunday Nov. 8, 2020.
He was born January 26, 1946 to the late John J. and Frances C. Bettler. Also preceding him in death was brother Donald R. Bettler and sister-in-law Lou Ann Bettler, who loved him dearly. Tom was a graduate from Notre Dame University and retired from the City of Philadelphia as a computer programmer. After retiring Tom returned to Charlestown to take care of his father.
Tom is survived by his brothers, Charles R. Bettler (Barbara) and David L. Bettler (Bobbi) and many nieces and nephews who also loved him dearly.
Life Celebration Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday November 14, 2020 at Grayson Funeral Home with burial in Charlestown Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday and after 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Tom wanted any expressions of sympathy to go to the Charlestown Alumni Association.
Note the warmth in the memories John’s friends told at the time of John’s Covid-related death.
John died from COVID-19 in May, 2020. He lived in Harrisburg, PA. Joe Helfer wrote this about John: He was a quirky, smart, poetic soul who always treasured his Peruvian roots. After graduating from Notre Dame with an English degree, he went on to become an attorney specializing in education.Mari Zipes added to Joe’s remarks: As Joe Helfer so rightly said, “Alzy” was a bit of a poet. Here’s what he wrote in my year book:” Para una mujer linda preciosa, I look upon a pool of cool water/ripply light comes from its edges and delights eye and ear./ In it swim thoughts and words of kindness/and I think of you./from an Iberian who sees on goodness, Alzy.”Added May 11, 2021UPDATE: Coming up on the 1 year anniversary of John’s death, the family published the following obituary in the Journal News this week…John Anthony Alzamora, Esquire of Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey passed away on Saturday, March 16th, 2020 due to complications of Covid-19. Born on December 21, 1946 to the late Dr. Elio F. Alzamora and the late Kathryn Mruzak Alzamora in Neptune, N.J., John was raised in Marlboro, N.J., Lima, Peru, Louisville , Kentucky , White Plains , N.Y. and Pleasantville, N.Y. John graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1964. He received a Magna Cum Laude BA at Notre Dame University in 1968. John earned his Juris Doctor of Law from Penn State Dickinson School of Law in 1975. During his career , he worked as an assistant attorney general for the Pennsylvania Board of Education before going into private practice at Thomas, Thomas, Armstrong and Nielson in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Once retired, he moved to Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey to be closer to family and to care for his aging mother. John is survived by his siblings: Anita and Rod Watson of Mytholmroyd, England; Charles and Rita Alzamora of Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey; Mary and Robert Moss of Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey; Eliot and Jenifer Alzamora of Brick, New Jersey plus several adult nieces and nephews as well as his grand-niece Kaelyn and grand-nephew Jack. John will be remembered as a talented poet, artist and gardener. John and his sense of humor and dry wit will be missed by his family and friends. Private services and burial of his remains will be held at a future date
06/13/20 11:17 AM#1 Tom BossertIt was hard to hear that John had died of Covid-19. He had been a very good friend through high school and I remember that we visited each other at our homes where I met his dashing Peruvian psychiatrist father and bubbly mother and cheerful sister. I remember his unusual sensibilities, observations and clever debating style that combined to make for an entertaining and enriching discussion that intrigued me. I appreciated his self awareness and thoughtfulness and we seemed to enjoy a sense of being outsiders observing and criticizing the strange “normality” of the early post 1950’s Westchester. We met sometimes during college and for one of our high school reunions and briefly restored our sense of togetherness as we observed the different paths we were taking. For a short time he and Joe Helfer and I tried to get together perhaps 15 or more years ago but were not able to work out the cross continent logistics and lost touch. He was a unique person who taught me to appreciate bright and unusual minds and I feel sad that we were not able to restore the closeness we had once shared and now of course it is too late to try.
Class of 1968 notes submitted July 19, 2021Joe Kernan giving Kathy Malone Beeler a twirl at the 45th reunion party he arranged at the Covaleski ballpar Assembling and renewing and honoringBefore getting to the news – of classmates lost, of reunions, triumphs and changes – please indulge this request: make sure you and your Notre Dame pals have registered at my.nd.edu. The more of us registered – that is, the more of us with a preferred email address recorded – the more of us able to be in touch with email. Not registered? Go to my.nd.edu and find “Register”. Click there, enter your preferred email address and you are easily on your way. If you have no grandchild or adolescent neighbor at hand, let me know and I will help:tfigel@reputecture.com.
Once registered, easily use features such as a directory of nearly every Notre Dame alumnus. And by the way, registration is open to people who are not Notre Dame graduates, to people who want to be informed about our class or other groups.
In the near future, on Saturday October 30th, three hours before the North Carolina game,Fred Ferlic and Class President Tom Weyer will lead our class in dedication of a bench and tree honoring Joe Kernan. The affection and the generosity of Joe Kernan‘s classmates have met the $25,000 cost of the installation in a campus area already linked to our class: the memorial will be near the new Architecture School building donated by our classmate Matt Walsh and his wife Joyce and the Raclin Murphy Art Museum donated by Chris Murphy and Carmie. The gathering of classmates will continue before and after the game at the Great 68 tailgate near the stadium. If you are one of the 800+, watch for an email with the ceremony details in the days before the game.
In the very near future, August 11 and 12, in Chicago and suburban Lemont, Tom Culcasihas planned two days of reunion events for about 25 people, the core of them friends from freshman year in Keenan Hall: e.g., Joe Hale, Tom Phillips, Dan Collins, Phil Mika, Mike Moore, Ted Bratthauer, Tom Curtin, Steve Laplante.
Class President Tom Weyer praises “Our Anchor Men, the South Bend guys” for quick arrangement of a reception for Rocky Bleier during an early May visit: “Class Consigliere , Dr. Fred Ferlic and Sgt.-at-arms /Flag guardian Gene Cavanaugh organized a lavish pizza and beer evening at Rocco’s. In attendance were locals Pat Barth, Dan Harshman, Tom Cuggino, Dr. Steve Anderson …looking good during treatment. The Toms were represented by Tom Gibbs, myself and Tom Durkin. Skip Strzelecki, who dressed us all elegantly in Ara sweatshirts and Great 68 hats, was there along with Bryan Dunigan, Denny Toolan and Roger Guerin. Rocky was quite surprised and rather touched. Our mini-tailgate proved how much we miss each other.”
Larry Maloney has added to the ND68 literary canon with Unto the Altar of God, his coming-of-age novel based on five years as a high school and college seminarian with the Franciscans in Pennsylvania (available at https://www.amazon.com/Unto-Altar-God-Memories-Seminarian-ebook/dp/B093QM3HY4). Larry came to our class in junior year and, after graduation and service in Vietnam, became a Deputy Editor with U.S. News & World Report and then Editor/Publisher of Design News. Already, the coming-of-age novel about a high school student’s response to the feelings and events of a world encountered in vacation bursts and family contact as well as within the seminary has earned in mid-July 18 five-star ratings on Amazon. Boston radio station WROL did a 12-minute segment with Larry and other papers, including two in the Gannett chain, have interviewed him. “My book started at Notre Dame in a class on creative nonfiction with Professor Ron Weber, a terrific teacher,” Larry said. “I wrote a short story for him based on my seminary experiences, and he encouraged me to try a book at some point.”
On our blog, www.ndclass1968.com, are obituaries and memories of classmates we have lost: Bill Betz, Richard Calone, John Tilelli, and John O’Brien‘s wife Karen nee Scherkenbach, Boyd T. Barnes who died during March, Tom Bettler who died in November, 2020, John Alzamora who died in May, 2020, and Raymond DeFabio who died in May, 2021. Remember all of them in your prayers and, if you know the family, please console them. Please remember, too, Jim O’Rourke’s wife Pam, who is recovering from surgery for removal of a tumor and Pat Collins‘ wife Emily, whose femur shattered in a fall on July 4th.
Boyd T, Barnes, Tom Bettler, Ray DeFabio, John Alzamora
Please send news, including photos, to: Tom Figel 1054 West North Shore, Apt 3E, Chicago, IL 60626, tfigel@reputecture.com, cell 312-241-7917.
May 2, 1946 ~ June 4, 2021 (age 75)Obituary & ServicesTribute Wall
Karen Scherkenbach O’Brien of South Bend, IN, passed away surrounded by her family on Friday, June 4, 2021.
Karen was born on May 2, 1946 to Elmer and Marjorie Scherkenbach in Milwaukee, WI. After graduation from Alverno College, where she was student body president, Karen married her high school sweetheart, John O’Brien, at St. Raymond’s Church in Mount Prospect, IL. Karen was a lover of books, flowers, and the arts, and she brought these passions to her work as an elementary school teacher and librarian. Her shared nurturing with John of their three children and devotion to their eight grandchildren, however, will always be her proudest accomplishment. Karen’s joie de vivre and generosity of spirit impacted all those around her as witnessed hosting tailgates in the Notre Dame parking lot, vacationing on Nantucket, dancing to the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen, reading to her grandchildren, or preparing an elegant dinner. Her attention to detail, care for those she loved, and commitment to social justice will leave a lasting mark for generations to come.
Karen, shown with John, was Senior Ball Queen
Karen is survived by her husband, John O’Brien of South Bend, IN; six siblings: Cheryl (Rob) McGrath, Lee (Judy) Scherkenbach, Jed (Mary) Scherkenbach, Kurt (Audrey) Scherkenbach, Craig Scherkenbach, and Jeff (Kim) Scherkenbach; 3 children: Sean (Felicia) O’Brien, Meghan (Bret) Hendrickson, and Bridget (Andrew) Hoyt; and 7 grandchildren: Sophie O’Brien, Eleanor Hendrickson, Lucy O’Brien, Nat Hendrickson, Seamus O’Brien, Colm Hoyt, and Eoin Hoyt.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, on Wednesday, June 9th, at 2 pm with Rev. Paul Kollman, C.S.C. officiating. Because capacity at the church is limited due to COVID restrictions, we invite you to join the live stream of the Mass at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3BnTA6XX1A Burial will follow at a later date in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, IN.
First. . . If you have not done so, will you right now register with the Notre Dame community? If you have not registered for full participation in the array of things available from my.nd.edu, please do so. (There’s a “register” button at the bottom of this post.) At the Notre Dame site, you can find a two-minute guide to registering (“How to register your myND account”). In essence, go to 
And then Mary Claire Knapp, nee Jacobi:Ken Beirne sent news that Mary Claire Knapp, wife of Bill Knapp, died June 20, 2021 in Buffalo, NY.
Joe Kernan giving Kathy Malone Beeler a twirl at the 45th reunion party he arranged at the Covaleski ballpar
