Rapport 32_2

VOL. 23, NO. 2 Fall, 2012
RA P P O RT
NEWSLETTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF Former
Basilians
in Memoriam
Words of Wisdom
Basilian anecdote
Membership dues
The list of deaths of both
Bill Lee has found a story that
Ken Cashion has a story to
Lest we forget, a reminder from
former Basilians and Basi-
will "resonate" with many of
complement those that Paul
Larry Elmer
lians growing longer
us.
Murphy has been sending.
Last page
Page 2
Page 3
Page 6
TORONTO REUNION 2012
The former Basilian reunion in Toronto August 10th & 11th was a big success. We met at the Seminary, 95 St. Joseph St., at 3:30 on the Friday. Unlike the previous Toronto Reunion where we
had beautiful weather, we had to move indoors from the patio to the refectory, that all of you
will remember very fondly, because of the incessant rain. Our Association, under the direction
of Larry & Francesca Elmer, provided drinks and hors d'oeuvres that were complimentary to our
Basilian guests.
Here is a list of the members who joined us: Bob & Kathleen Boykin, Paul & Anne Murphy, Reg Prower, Gerry & Terry Nagy, Cyril & Lois Doherty, Ed King, Larry Carney, Paul & Saundra Glynn, Jack Neary, Emmett Neary, David & Celia Abalos, Len & Mary Kay Else, Joe & Mary Moher, Joe & Sandra Dietrich, Dick Morrison, Dick & Bob O’Connor,
Ben & Jean Salvatore, Larry & Francesca Elmer, Pat Fremeau, David Megel & Anne Larin, Dwyer & Sheila Sullivan,
Stan Kutz, Norm & Denise Frenette, Bill & Judy Sharp, Moe Farge, Fergal Nolan, Mike & Frances Kavanagh, Ed
Kuntz, Bob Anderson.
At the previous Toronto reunion, the Cardinal Flahiff Centre was under renovation and very few Basilians were at the Seminary. This year, however, we
had many Basilians in attendance: George Smith, Jim Carruthers, Ron Schwenzer, Bob Holmes, Don Finlay, Ken O’Keefe, Owen Lee, Bob Madden, Joe Walsh,
Jack Wilson, Denis April, Norm Fitzpatrick, Brian Higgins, Ken Decker, Hugh
Foley, Jack Stortz, Gord Walker.
After the social we walked to the Charbonnel Lounge for dinner before retiring to the Marriott Hotel on Yonge Street or back home in the Toronto
area. Breakfast was in the St. Mike’s cafeteria which is at the top of a very
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steep set of stairs. Some of
our members seem to be getting older and had trouble navigating the steps. That will
be corrected for the next Toronto reunion in 2014.
The highlight of the weekend was a very inspirational
talk by Superior General,
George Smith – so much so
that some members said they
would consider rejoining the
Basilians if they were just 50
years younger. Jim Carruthers led us in the Eucharist
at the Seminary which ended
with the uplifting singing of
St. Basil the Great. The reunion ended with a great lunch but we had to climb all those steps once again.
FORMER BASILIAN AND BASILIAN DEATHS
(According to international protocol, more people are supposed to die during the winter than during the summer.
However, in the Spring Rapport we had four deaths and in this Rapport we are announcing eleven deaths.)
Ken Wilson. We have very little information on Ken; he evidently died in Largo, Florida. Our Spring Rapport, sent
to him by the post, was returned: deceased. From the Basilian Archives we learned that he was born in 1923 and
was a native of Toronto. He did his “upper school” at St. Michael’s College graduating in 1949. He obtained a
teaching certificate at the Ontario College of Education. Ken celebrated his first solemn Mass at St. Mary’s
Church in Toronto and Fr. George Flahiff preached at the Mass.
Ed Herndon died May 22, 2012 after fighting cancer. Both he and his wife, Marion, were diagnosed with cancer
about the same time. Marion has multiple myeloma and has been given up to two years to live; she is still working.
Ed was a computer system engineer; he spent the greater part of his career as a contractor at the NASA Johnson
Space Center. His first and last projects were in the Mission Control Center. Ed was instrumental in organizing two
former Basilian reunions in Houston where he took members for a sail on their 45 ft. Hunter sailboat which has now
been sold. He did an excellent job as the web master for our association which can still be seen at
remedyandcrew.com.
Wayne O’Reilly died June 7, 2012 about 5 weeks after he found out he had pancreatic cancer. He was a member
of the A.O.F.B. Board of Directors. In 2002 he was asked to write a little biography in preparation for a reunion of
the 1957 Rochester novitiate of 1957. Here is what he wrote:
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Where may I find a link to begin? How about that day when I was leaving the hospital, overjoyed with the arrival of my first born son, David, and to my surprise, I caught a glimpse of a sign that read: Rev. Francis Grescoviak,
C.S.B., hospital chaplain. I didn’t get a chance to see him, but needn’t have done so to recall his memorable gait.
How could one forget him leading us from the chapel to refectory and then to the community room. The memory is
still such that I can hear Doc Hyatt causing Gus to stir with a rather lighthearted rendition of the life of the saint.
As I search for an image to characterize the length of my stay, post ordination, a cup of coffee comes to mind.
After a brief year and a half of teaching at St. Michael’s College School, I found myself headed toToronto’s east
end to continue my teaching career at Neil McNeil High School. There I resumed teaching and coaching and, all the
while, awaiting my dispensation from Rome. Incidentally, that arrived some 2 or 3 years later and, at that time, I
got married. Some eight years later, in 1980, the last of my three children, Elizabeth, arrived to complement her
sister, Johanna, who was born on Christmas Day 1977, and David in ’74.
I enjoyed my 24 years of working closely with the Holy Ghost Fathers, a group of Irish Spiritans, who opened
their all-boys school in '58, the same year, I believe, the Basilians started Michael Power in Toronto’s west end. I
taught English, worked part time in guidance and coached both football and hockey in the early years at Neil. In
1975 I became vice-principal and collaborated in that role with 3 different Spiritan principals. Some 15 years later I became the first layman to serve as principal. I was more than content to round out my career at Neil but, in
retrospect, am grateful for the Board’s call to take over as principal of Pope John Paul II, a Scarborough east end
school. There I stayed for three years before rounding out the final 4 years of my career as principal of Francis
Libermann Catholic High School. Incidentally, I might add, a school named after the former provincial of the Holy
Ghost Fathers. June 30th, 2002, marked the end of my 35 years in education.
Today I can report the nest is somewhat empty as David and Johanna are both successfully launched in their
careers after completing their university studies at Western and Guelph. Beth’s days are spent in Peterborough
where she is completing her degree. She is the only one still living at home.
In 1992, another memorable year, I met Gail Shaw and we have enjoyed our time together over the past decade.
We maintain a home 10 minutes north of downtown Toronto, travel extensively, and enjoy annual ski trips to both
Quebec and South Lake Tahoe. Gail is learning to golf and, as you might expect, I still enjoy the game I learned at
a very young age. Five years ago Gail and I were married at the one parish maintained by the Holy Ghost Fathers in
Toronto.
This coming June Gail will join me in retirement after her successful career in education and our plans are in
place for a month long retirement trip to the Far East. Prior to that I will teach a one-month course in Anglo-Irish
Literature in Dublin and arrive back just in time for the reunion that Paul Murphy has worked on so diligently. My
special thanks to him and to the others for the biographies that arrive occasionally. Meanwhile, both Gail and I look
forward to seeing those who will be finding their way to the Island in early August. As Fr. Gus would say on occasion at the start of dinner – Benedicamus Domino!
Bernie McCarron died September 7, 2012 in British Columbia after a struggle with cancer. He was born in Chatham, Ontario. He served as a navigator in the R.C.A.F. After attending St. Mike’s, where he obtained a B.A. in
1947, and the Ontario College of Education, he taught at St. Mary’s Boy’s School in Calgary later becoming its prin-
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cipal. He attended the Richmond Hill novitiate and was professed in 1943. He celebrated his 1st solemn Mass at
Our Lady Help of Christians. In 1968 he moved to Victoria and ended up teaching 15 years at Victoria High School.
After retiring in 1984, he intensified his involvement in the community of James Bay, serving as an editor and writer at the James Bay Beacon, as well as being chairman of the board of the James Bay Newspaper Society. When
he left the Beacon in 2000, the newspaper ran a full page tribute to him. In the tribute, writer Tim Padmore profiled him this way: “Poet, teacher, reluctant warrior, community historian, listener, photographer, observer, alwayswilling helper, gentleman, friend, humorist, wise adviser.”
Pat Warden, C.S.B. died May 21, 2012 in Houston. He was a student at St. Thomas High School. He enrolled at
the University of St. Thomas but his studies were interrupted by two years of military service and other employment. After obtaining his B.A. in 1957, he entered St. Basil’s novitiate in Pontiac in 1958. He was ordained a priest
in Houston in 1965. Unlike most Basilians, Pat Warden had very few appointments as a priest, but they reflect the
two primary Congregational apostolates, Pastoral Ministry and Christian Education. Pat was a private man who did
not share a great deal about himself or the various aspects of his life. Many attribute this to his humility and gentleness.
John Poluikis, C.S.B. died suddenly May 28, 2012 at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse in Pittsford, N.Y. He
was in his 90th year. He graduated from Aquinas in 1941 and entered St. Basil’s novitiate. He got a degree in honours mathematics and physics at U. of T. in 1945 and after teaching at Aquinas for a year did his theology in Toronto and was ordained in 1951 at St. Basil’s Church. For the next 60 years he was briefly at St. Michael’s College
School and Aquinas Institute but mostly at St. John Fisher College. Polly earned a doctorate of arts degree in mathematics in 1980 and the majority of his 47 years at John Fisher were spent teaching math. He was an expert
chess player but he did lose to Bobby Fisher. Polly was faithful to prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist and
was generous to a fault.
Leo Klem,C.S.B. died July 16, 2012 in Toronto. He was born in Irondequoit, N.Y. but met the Basilians when he
was a boarder at St. Michael’s College School. He entered the Basilian novitiate in 1931 after which he continued
his studies in modern languages, French and German. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1940 and got a PhD in
French from the University of Laval. He taught languages at St. Mike’s and John Fisher. After retiring from
teaching, he spent 18 very rewarding years directing Marriage Encounter retreats. These were his happiest days
doing this weekend ministry in the United States and Canada. He was a zealous priest, a wonderful confrere and an
exacting scholar.
John Fournier, C.S.B. died October 12, 2012 at Anglin House in Toronto. He was born in Bathurst, NB and, after
early schooling there, entered the Basilian novitiate in 1943 and was ordained in 1951. He studied Modern Languages (St. Michael’s College), Applied Linguistics (Montreal) and Catechetics (London, England). He was involved in the
education apostolate at Assomption High School, Religious Education programs, Archdiocese of Montreal and the
Department of Education, Province of New Brunswick. He was a master teacher and innovator. After retiring from
teaching, he did parish ministry in Florida, Texas and Ontario.
James Keon, C.S.B. died October 24, 2012 in Toronto; he had been in hospital for several weeks as his health deteriorated. He was in his 88th year. Jim was born in Owen Sound and went to elementary and secondary schools
there before going into the Royal Canadian Air Force for a short career. He entered St. Basil’s novitiate in 1945
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and was ordained a priest in 1952 at St. Basil’s Church. The early years of Jim’s Basilian life are a lesson in what we
today call multi-tasking. While earning his B.A. in Arts at U. of T., he also taught at St. Michael’s College School
and took graduate courses for his M.A. in Philosophy. All of this activity was happening while he was struggling with
depression and with illness that was later diagnosed as hyperinsulanism. In 1959-61, he was sent to St. Mark’s College where he ended up teaching nurses at St. Paul’s Hospital. In 1965, he was sent to the University of St. Thomas
where, it seems, he found his true home. He taught philosophy and psychology for the next 38 years and became a
beloved member of the community. He became the most popular teacher on campus, clerical or lay.
Tom Miller, C.S.B. died October 27, 2012 in Rochester. He graduated from Aquinas and Assumption University.
He lived and taught at Aquinas from 1950 – 2000 where he taught U.S. History, was the moderator of the Debate
Team and worked very closely with the Aquinas Alumni. For many years Tom ministered at St. Jude the Apostle
Parish and for the last 12 years he lived in retirement at John Fisher. Bob Boykin remembers Fr. Miller who taught
him History. He “taught for the test” because a number of them got 100% on the N.Y. State Regents exam in American History. Bob remembers his habit of hanging on to the heating pipe in the classroom with one hand while he
gesticulated with the other. They were in rapt attention to his lectures – “Just the facts, man!”
Gareth Poupore, C.S.B. died October 28, 2012 in Rochester; he was 90. He was born in Pembroke, Ontario and,
during World War II, he served in the Royal Air Force and in the Royal Canadian Air Force as an officer in the
Alouette Squadron. At the end of the war, he returned to Canada and enrolled at St. Michael’s College. He was
ordained a priest in 1953. During his long career as an academic, he taught in Toronto, Vancouver, Houston and finally at St. John Fisher College. To the end, he remained an engaged reader and conversationalist on a wide variety
of topics from Chinese Art to his great passion, Medieval history. Bob Boykin remembers encountering Fr. Poupore
in his office in Teefy Hall in the late 50’s. He was entranced by a life size bust of Nefertiti which he had on his
desk. Bob saw him as a gentleman’s gentleman and was a model of propriety. Once when Bob visited him at Fisher
as a graduate student, Fr. Poupore counseled him to consider marriage because “it is not good for man to be alone”.
WEB SITES
Our Former Basilian web site was managed by Ed Herndon and it has a wealth of information including dozens
of photos of the Houston Reunion as well as other reunions, etc. Go to: www.remedyandcrew.com and click on the
appropriate page. Even though Ed Herndon died earlier this year, the web site still exists but is not being kept up
to date. We are hoping that one of you would be ready to take over this task. Please contact
[email protected].
The Basilian web site is updated almost weekly; it too has a wealth of information for former Basilians. Go to:
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WORDS OF WISDOM FROM BILL LEE
Two medical students were walking along the street when they saw an old man walking with his legs spread apart.
He was stiff-legged and walking slowly.
One student said to his friend: “I’m sure that poor old man has Peltry Syndrome. Those people walk just like that.
The other student says: “No, I don’t think so. The old man surely has Zovitzki Syndrome. He walks slowly and his
legs are apart, just as we learned in class.
Since they couldn’t agree, they decided to ask the old man. They approached him and one of the students said to
him: “We’re medical students and couldn’t help but notice the way you walk, but we couldn’t agree on the syndrome
you might have. Could you tell us what it is?”
The old man said: “I’ll tell you, but first you tell me what you two fine medical students think.” The first student
said: “I think it’s Peltry Syndrome.” The old man said: “You thought, but you are wrong.”
The other student said: “I think you have Zovitzki Syndrome.” The old man said: You thought, but you are wrong.”
So they asked him: “Well, old timer, what do you have?”
The old man said: “I thought it was GAS – but I was wrong, too!”
BASILIAN ANECDOTE — KEN CASHION
Since Fr. Scollard devoted a great deal of time to the Laudemos viros gloriosis exhortation, he probably deserves
to have one of his moments of triumph recorded. I remember one day in the seminary when we had been reading
Lives of the Brethern at meals. In the rec room afterwards Bob told us somewhat peevishly that his work had
been bowdlerized to some extent by higher authorities. Apparently such things as referring, even obliquely, to a
departed confrere’s celebrated intemperance was itself judged to be an act of intemperance rather than the simple
service to the truth that he had intended.
Which reminds me of one that surely needs to be written up for posterity, but it will be difficult to do it without risking a libel suit from some of the reverend shades involved. I refer to the time that Father Carr sentenced three of the most renowned boozers to spend a cold but dry – totally dry – winter on Strawberry Island. Their
superior was the sober Father William Murray, better known as Pike Murray. Now we alcoholics may not be smart
enough to quit drinking, even when total ruin is looming, but sometimes we still have the imagination of a starving
fox. Thus it was that one of the three in solitary still managed to lay in a supply of firewater. He would filch meat
from their larder and trade it for booze from ice fishermen. He would hide the booze on the other side of the
island. This was his only reasonable course of action. His crime was that he refused to share it with the other two.
And this inexcusable act of selfishness led to a brutal physical confrontation between two mighty men.
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Pike Murray was thin as a rail and probably had never been in a fist-fight in his life. He was lucky that his efforts to separate the two behemoths didn’t result in his immediate destruction. Unable to think of anything better, he headed to the nearest phone, which was in the general store on the mainland. Now the locals were always
very nosey about the monks on the island so Pike had a serious security problem in using the open phone. But he hit
upon a clever solution. When Henry Carr picked up the phone in Toronto, this is what he heard: “Hic est Picus. Sacerdotes pugnantes inter se; timeo ut interfacient” forgetting that with timeo you use the negative “ne” and not
“ut” which means he was afraid they would not kill each other.
(Ken’s story was corroborated by Bob Madden, C.S.B. including a slight revision.)
TREASURER'S REPORT
Before we get swept away by the tsunami of another commercialized Christmas, please allow me to put my hand into
your pocket to extract some Association dues and/or Cali donation. If your 2012 dues are paid up (see list below) ,
then why not get a jump start on your 2013 dues? If you have not as yet looked after these 2012 dues, it is neither
too late nor out of season to
exercise an act of giving. At
your Association corporate office, the 'OPEN' sign remains
flashing in the window 24/7.
Thanks to your generosity in
giving something extra, your
contributions have enabled us to
return to a $2,000. donation to
needy students at the Basilian
high school in Cali. Last year
(2011), we were in a financial
position to donate only $1,500.
In the fiscal year of 2013, we
sincerely hope that your gene-
Stan Kutz, Bob Holmes c.s.b.
rosity will not slacken and that
our goal of $2,000 in donations
will be reached once again. The following are paid up members for 2012: D. ABALOS
W. ALLGEYER
G. BAMMEL
D. BARRY
P. BEERS
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R. BOYKIN
P. BURNS
L. CARNEY
K. CASHION
R. CHOYCE
J. DIETRICH
G. DiGIOVANI
C. DOHERTY
J. EGSGARD
L. ELMER
L. FRASER
N. FRENETTE
R. GAGNON
L. GALLA
P. GIBBONS
P. GLYNN
J. GOETERS
A. GRAHAM
A. GRANT
E. HERNDON
B. HORN
M. KAVANAGH
E. KING
A. KNOWLTON
S. KUTZ
F. LALLY
P. MACKERT
E. McDONALD
D. MEGEL
J. MOHER
P. MURPHY
G. NAGY
E. NEARY
J. NEARY
M. OLEJNIK
E. O'ROURKE
P. PRIMEAU
M. QUINN
W. REDDALL
P. RYBICKI
B. SALVATORE
L. SCHMIDT
B. SHARP
J. SLAVIN (D)
B. SMITH
N. SMITH
J. STRICKLAND
R. STROMATT
D. SULLIVAN
L. THOMPSON
G. VANDER ZANDEN
New Board members Joe Moher and Pat Fremeau
In addition to the revenue generated by these 57 paid up memberships (31 Lifetime and 26 Annual), we have also
received, from 26 donors, $2,005 in donations for grants to needy students at the Basilian high school in Cali, Colombia. It is our goal for 2013 to raise a like amount in donations for Cali and thus continue to completely fund our
Association 's annual donation of $2,000. Only you can make this happen.
Our current (Nov. 02, 2012) bank balance is $2,828.75.
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Our sincere thanks to all for your on-going generosity, Larry Elmer
HOUSTON REUNION 2013
Mark your calendars for October 4th, 5th & 6th for the Houston Reunion. Dick Barry, our host at the Barry Palace,
tells us there are two airports that are easily accessible: IAH and HOB. Pick the one that will give you the best
deal. The Barrys will handle the transportation to and from the airport. More details later.
NEWS FROM CALI
Instituto Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
Cali, Valle, Colombia
The Instituto will hold its 13th graduation ceremony on November 24, 2012 with the main speaker being the Mayor
of Cali, Doctor Rodrigo Guerrero. Doctor Guerrero is a friend of the Basilians and a great admirer of the Basilian
work being accomplished at the Institute. We are grateful and honored to have him present. We will graduate 41
students, all of whom have applied to University in Cali with the possibility of economic aid and scholarships because
of their academic achievements.
The costs of education continue to rise, as in all parts of the world! - yet we continue to be steadfast in educating
only children who live in neighborhoods that compose the lowest income families. [The neighborhoods in Colombia
are divided into 6 categories, 1 and 2 are the poorest areas of any city!] We receive only families from neighborhoods 1 and 2! So that our biggest concern each year is our financial situation. The Former Basilians have aided
us in this effort – your donation is applied to economic aid to the poorest of our students, mostly Afro- Colombians,
who live in a deteriorated area called ironically “La Playa” [the Beach] along the banks of the River Cauca.
Please know that we are grateful for your yearly contributions – your commitment to Basilian education in Colombia
is an inspiration to us who struggle to make this continue! Your solidarity with the poor of Colombia helps to create
a bond between North and South that makes concrete the gospel message. You are in our prayers of gratitude!
Blessings to you and your families,
Francis Amico, C.S.B. on behalf of
The Basilians in Colombia.
WHERE I AM NOW
George VanderZanden is still singing; that is the reason he was unable to join the Toronto reunion. He was singing
at the wedding of a friend in their church choir. All is well with his family and he sends prayers for Mike Quealey,
Ed Herndon and others who are ill.
Michael Quinn is still battling memory problems which were caused by more than 8 hours of major surgery done in
September, 2009. He is told it should get better “in time.” They are enjoying their new home.
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Phil Beers and Sally are very proud of their 2 grandchildren. They enjoy meeting with their bridge club every
week.
Neil Smith’s widow, Sylvia, keeps his memory alive by sending a serious cheque for Cali. She has great memories of
the Strawberry Island reunions.
Mike Kavanagh was in the 1959 novitiate. Jim Howard officiated at his marriage to Frances in 1966. He began
actuarial work in 1972 and is still working. They have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.
Bill Sharp and Judy finally joined us for a reunion. He really enjoyed meeting old friends even though there were
changed faces and bodies.
Larry Elmer, Norm & Denise Frenette
MINUTES OF FALL MEETING (NEXT PAGE)
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Association of Former Basilians
Membership Information
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Mailing address in full:
__________________________________________________________________
Annual Membership Dues
Annual dues 2012-13: $40.00
Optional extras: Contribution to Cali $_____________
Please make cheque payable to Association of Former Basilians and send to:
Larry Elmer, Treasurer
226 Dickson Park Cr., Mississauga, ON, Canada L5B 1Y4
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Greetings and/or news about me
Signature:
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