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Where Are They Now?
TOM BACKER RECALLS THREE “TOURS OF DUTY” AT COVINGTON LATIN SCHOOL
By Andy Schoettker ’77
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Dr. Tom Backer grew up in a small town in southwestern Indiana and went to Xavier and then to UC for a Ph.D. in history. While there he applied for a part time teaching position at Latin School because teaching assistants at UC were not paid very well. Fr. Heile, the Dean, hired him as Headmaster Fr. Arbogast was out of town. That was 1969. He went to Paris to do research for his dissertation and met his wife Pam, a Los Angelean who was studying French at the Sorbonne. Upon returning he taught history full time at Latin School until 1985. He taught in Kenya and Los Angeles until Andy Barczak became Headmaster in 2001 and brought him back to Latin School to teach history once again. He taught full time for ten years and then part time for four before retiring.
Dr. Backer has this to say about his three tours of duty at CLS: “CLS is a great place to teach. The best. Out of the many wonderful memories, the one that stands out is the rafting trip down the Colorado
An interview with Dr. Tom Backer
River organized by Fr. Arbogast in the summer of 1970 and especially the Lava Falls rapids where our twenty-foot raft went vertical down into a vast hole in the water and then bumped and went vertical out of it as it shot out of the water. The students at Latin School continually impressed me, especially in the costumes and projects for Ancient and Medieval Days.”
In his spare time, he enjoys art and writing having taken art classes at Baker Hunt and writing classes at NKU, writing short stories, poems, a novel and a play. He has published a poem and two short stories.
He and Pam have four children. His daughter, Heather, taught first grade until she started having children. His son, Matt, teaches art history in Houston. Megan does social work in Berea, Kentucky, and nurtures a son. Hank ‘04 is married to Melinda (Borchers), a CLS classmate, and teaches poetry at the University of Tennessee.
Tom lives in Erlanger and takes care of eleven fruit trees and a vegetable garden and enjoys seeing his kids and grandchildren. He belongs to two Bible study groups at St. Barbara Church and has spent many years working with St. Vincent de Paul.
The Rabe Family Legacy
Walter Joseph Rabe, Col, USAF
By Eric Rabe
Throughout Covington Latin School’s nearly 100 years, there have been many family legacies. Three generations of Rabes have their footprints in the halls of CLS. Their family tree reads like a Tolkein lineage. Beginning with brothers, Ferdinand Jr. ‘46, George ‘48, and Walter ‘50, many in the family have followed. Ferdinand Jr. had two sons attend CLS, Ferdinand III ‘71 and Eric ‘74. Eric’s daughter Elivia graduated in 2011. Glenn Rice ‘79 is a nephew to the original brothers (Glenn is currently serving on the Covington Latin School’s Strategic Planning committee). Glenn’s son, George graduated in 2013. Another nephew is Jack Readnour ‘86. His nephew is Nick Readnour who graduated in 2015. Here is the story of one of the original brothers, Walter Rabe, Col. USAF.
With the Great Depression in full swing, there was very little promise or hope at the onset of 1934. This arguably was one of the darkest times for our great country. But out of darkness, character is born. People known as the greatest generation, took root and learned the importance of faith, family, and country. Walter Rabe was part of that extraordinary generation, born on January 7, 1934. He was the third of seven children born to Ferd and Aurelia Rabe, a devout Catholic family.
Walt was an extremely smart and curious boy and by the age of 16 graduated from Covington Latin School, after his two older brothers, Ferdinand, and George. At Latin School he excelled in academics, boxing, basketball, and was a pontifical server all four years. After graduation, Walt entered West Point in 1953. Walt thoroughly enjoyed all four years and carried West Point values, discipline, and friendship throughout his life.
Walt did very well at West Point academically, earning two stars and winning the brigade boxing championship in his weight class, was elected president of the Math Club and set up a number of lectures, as well as a trip to a company that was then on the leading edge of computing, IBM. In his first year at West Point, Walt marched in President Eisenhower’s second inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. During the parade at the White House there was a viewing stand where President Eisenhower and other dignitaries observed. Of course, the West Point Cadets were at the front of the parade as Eisenhower himself was a West Point grad (1915) and had himself marched in the parade of Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Walt graduated 36th out of 550 in his West Point class.
While in his third year at West Point, Walt’s future course in life was set in motion. He met Janet Schummer at a dance in Covington. This led to a marriage that lasted 59 remarkable years.
In 1957, after graduating from West Point, Walt entered the United States Air Force pilot training program. After receiving his wings, he was part of the first pilot group to train on the front line F-100 Super Sabre. The kick in the pants from the afterburner and supersonic flight was a privilege that Walt made the most of. Rumor has it that many windows were
rattled in a flyover Walt made over the Ft Mitchell area and above the family home from a flight originating at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He was always grateful for the honor to serve his country and fly such a magnificent fighter jet, including a tour in Vietnam and during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Walt’s quest for knowledge garnered him graduate degrees in both Aerospace Engineering and Control Theory from the University of Michigan. While at the University of Michigan, Walt’s doctoral adviser thought he was very bright and said that he knew he had taken Greek and Latin in high school because those students excelled in the aerospace field. He used that knowledge from the University of Michigan as an instructor at the Air Force Academy, followed by tours at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Force Systems Command, and finally ending at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Upon full retirement, Walt was far from sedentary. He juggled his time traveling with his wife around the world, keeping up with his growing family, staying in touch with his West Point classmates, serving a term as Alumni Class Treasurer, and spending time at his country property along the meander-ing Thornton River in Rappahannock, Virginia. This was his “piece of heaven” on earth, perhaps reminiscent of his early days in the woods with his brothers in Fort Mitchell. Walt always loved coming home to Kentucky, visiting his large family (his last time home for a Rabe Thanksgiving dinner was shared with 130 family members).
L ater in life Walt courageously battled prostate and chronic lymphocytic cancer. He did so with a constant positive outlook and a steadfast desire to depart this world in a dignified manner. In his final year, he was present for his 59th wedding anniversary, attended his 60th West Point reunion, got in one last round of golf, and by the grace of God, watched Army beat Navy.
Walt “slipped the surly bonds of earth” on July 23, 2017. He was survived by his wife, Janet, five daughters, Victoria, Pamela, Kimberly, Janet, and Amy, one son, Walt Jr, nine grandchildren, and four great grandchildren, and still counting.
In one of Walt’s last correspondences, he closed with “Whatever happens from here on out, I will thank God for the life He has given me”. This was Walt Rabe --- unselfishly grateful in a life he felt blessed with good fortune and immeasurably graceful in departure from life. His commitment to his strong Catholic faith dominated everything in his life. He was one of the original adorers at St. Michael’s Church in Annandale, Virginia, for their perpetual adoration chapel, devoting an hour every week for over 30 years. His hour was from 3 to 4 AM. At his funeral Mass his parish priest remarked that Walt was the saintliest man he had experienced during his entire priesthood. During his father’s eulogy at Arlington Cemetery, Walt Jr. said, “Dad knew that he lived a life that was immensely blessed.
For Dad measured fortune not in wealth or other material measures but in what you can see right here in this chapel if you look around. Dad measured fortune in the priceless value of family and friendships.”
It is vitally important to the recent graduates and current students at CLS to take a moment and thank our Lord for the tremendous opportunity to attend such a fine school. The opportunities ahead of them are endless and there is a certain level of responsibility set by prior graduates like Walt to give back to God, family and country. Walt was an extremely humble man and as unmaterialistic a person as you would ever meet. He had his priorities in life and never lost his focus as to what truly mattered: faith, family, and country. What a great legacy to emulate and carry on: the tradition of humble servants that make this country a better place.
Do you have an inspirational story about a graduate that you would like to have featured in The Leader? Please contact Amy Darpel.