Class of 1962
Prepared on the occasion of our 50th Anniversary Reunion by Tom Blake tom000@comcast.net
MICHAEL J. AHERN September 1, 1943 – April 18, 2002
Michael J. Ahern, age 58, beloved son of the late Robert M. and Mary, nee Carney; loving brother of Robert M. Jr. (Sharna), Mary Catherine (Anthony) Zielinski, Ann (John) Krueger and John C. Ahern; dear uncle of Brian, Dana, Abby, Jaclyn, Allie and Jennifer. Visitation Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Hanekamp Funeral Home, John E. Maloney, Dir., 385 Waukegan Rd. (1/2 mile North of Dundee Road), Northbrook. Family and friends will meet Monday at 9:30 a.m. for Funeral Mass at St. Peter Church, 8816 Niles Center Rd., Skokie. Interment All Saints Cemetery. Funeral info, 847-272-3890. Sign Guestbook at chicagotribune.com/obituaries. Published in Chicago Tribune from April 20 to April 21, 2002
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GERALD W. BAX July 16, 1944 – November 16, 1998
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JAMES H. BECK September 26, 1944 – November 17, 2002 Tampa, FL
BECK, James "Jim" H., 58, of Brandon, passed away Sunday, Nov. 17, 2002 after a short valiant battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Cherie; his children, Jennifer Sims and husband Ronnie of Brandon; Jamie Beck and wife Amy of Sebastian, Brian Beck and wife Stacey of Brandon and Robert Beck of Brandon; and grandchildren, Taylor and Zachary Sims, Kyndal and Ashley Beck. A native of Chicago, Ill., he has resided in the Tampa area for 20 years coming from Buffalo Grove, Ill. Jim was the owner of Heath Fuel Co., a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, a member of Diamond Hill Men's Association and a parishioner of Bloomingdale Oaks Community Church. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6 til 8 p.m. at the Stowers Brandon Chapel. A Memorial service will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bloomingdale Oaks Community Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to American Cancer Society in his memory. STOWERSBRANDON. Published in TBO.com on November 23, 2002
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JOHN J. BLAIS December 23, 1943 – October 30, 1993
Helped Guide Production Of The Tribune November 01, 1993 John J. Blais, 49, a Tribune makeup editor, died Saturday. He joined the Tribune in February 1969 as a reporter in the neigborhood news section after working for a year at the City News Bureau. He next worked for the arts section, Arts & Fun, before moving to the makeup department, where he worked for 15 years. As a makeup editor and later a senior makeup editor, Mr. Blais helped oversee production of the newspaper. Mike Hanlon, the senior makeup editor who worked most closely with Mr. Blais, described him as "an island of calm in a composing room that got pretty crazy on deadline. John had excellent journalistic skills. He played a great safety for us, catching mistakes before they got into the paper. We're going to miss him greatly." A graduate of Loyola University, Mr. Blais was a longtime resident of Elmhurst. A ranked chess player and a jazz aficionado, he was a supporter of The Bop Shop, 1807 W. Division St. "He was one of our favorite, most supportive patrons," said owner Kate Smith. "He played a big part in the enhancement of the club." Survivors include his wife, Suzanne, and two sons, John D. and Alexander. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 S. York Rd., Elmhurst. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Immaculate Conception Church, 134 Arthur St., Elmhurst.
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DANIEL R. BREWSTER d c 1984
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WILLIAM E. BRODERICK February 22, 1945 – December 2, 2003 Wildomar, CA
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STEPHEN H. DE MERJIAN October 21, 1943 – January 8, 1969
Stephen Haig De Merjian
Private First Class B CO, 4TH BN, 12TH INFANTRY, 199TH INFANTRY BDE, USARV Army of the United States Glenview, Illinois October 21, 1943 to January 08, 1969 STEPHEN H DE MERJIAN is on the Wall at Panel 35W Line 052 See the full profile for Stephen De Merjian
Medals: Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal
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Stephen Haig De Merjian Private First Class PERSONAL DATA Home of Record: Date of birth:
Glenview, IL 10/21/1943
MILITARY DATA Service: Grade at loss: Rank: ID No: MOS: Length Service: Unit:
Army of the United States E3 Private First Class 54827516 11B10: Infantryman 00 B CO, 4TH BN, 12TH INFANTRY, 199TH INFANTRY BDE, USARV
CASUALTY DATA Start Tour: Incident Date: Casualty Date: Age at Loss: Location: Remains: Casualty Type: Casualty Reason: Casualty Detail:
10/09/1968 01/08/1969 01/08/1969 25 Gia Dinh Province, South Vietnam Body recovered Hostile, died outright Ground casualty Gun or small arms fire
URL: www.VirtualWall.org/dd/DemerjianSH01a.htm ON THE WALL
Panel 35W Line 052
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STEPHEN HAIG DEMERJIAN 35W, 52 To make a donation in memory of STEPHEN HAIG DEMERJIAN, click here. STEPHEN HAIG DEMERJIAN is honored on Panel 35W, Row 52 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Full Name: STEPHEN HAIG DEMERJIAN Wall Name: STEPHEN H DEMERJIAN Date of Birth: 10/21/1943 Date of Casualty: 1/8/1969 Home of Record: GLENVIEW County of Record: COOK COUNTY State: IL Branch of Service: ARMY Rank: PFC Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM Casualty Province: GIA DINH To locate profiles of others on The Wall who share commonalities with STEPHEN HAIG DEMERJIAN, click on the links above.
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JOHN B. FOREMAN March 19, 1944 – August 3, 1975
Grave marker in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Northbrook, IL
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BRENDAN T. HOBAN July 17, 1944 – November 29, 1996 Hines, IL
Brendan served in Viet Nam as a private in the U. S. Army and is buried in Mount Auburn Memorial Park in Stickney, IL.
Cu Chi Colleen Calls On Combat Cousin in Chopper DAU TIENG - A pert Irish colleen from County Mayo, Ireland, paid a visit to her cousin here at the 3rd Bde., 4th Div. base camp recently - a cousin she had never met. Miss Claire Hoban, an auburn-haired, green-eyed 23 year old miss, works in the PX of the 25th Div. at Cu Chi selling cars. She heard that there was another Hoban, also from County Mayo here with the "Ivymen." On her day off, she hopped a chopper to Dan Tieng and after a few inquiries was talking to her cousin, PFC Brendan T. Hoban, a rifleman with Co. C, 3rd Bn., 22nd Inf. "We had never met before and I didn't even know whether we were cousins or not until we straightened out some aunts and uncles," commented Miss Hoban.
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GEORGE J. KEEFE March 12, 1944 - December 5, 2011
George J. Keefe, age 67, of Park Ridge, loving and loyal husband of Joan, nee Rohan; trusting and loving father of Patrick, Kevin, C.P.D. (Melissa), Matthew (Denise) and Maureen (Patrick) Nolan; proud papa of Siobhan, Ryan, Andrew, Bridget, Catherine, Sean and Luke; dearest brother of Mary Ann and Michael (Patt) Keefe. Proudly served during the Vietnam War as an officer of the U.S. Marine Corp achieving the rank of Captain. Graduate of University of Notre Dame and Loyola Academy. He will be missed by his many friends. Visitation Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m. at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S. Northwest Hwy. (2 blks S. of Touhy), Park Ridge. Funeral Friday, 12 noon from funeral home to St. Paul of the Cross Church (adjacent to funeral home), Mass 12:30 p.m. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, 7020 AC Skinner Pkwy., Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256 appreciated.
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TERRENCE T. KELLY November 17, 1944 – December 6, 2000 Northbrook, IL
Terrence Kelly, 56, a star athlete when he was at Loyola Academy and certified public accountant, died of leukemia Wednesday, Dec. 6, in his Northbrook home. Mr. Kelly won an academic scholarship to Loyola Academy in Wilmette after graduating from St. Gertrude Grammar School in Chicago in 1958. In high school, he was the starting point guard on the Loyola lightweight team that won the city championship in 1961. One of his teammates was Cook County State's Atty. Richard Devine. "Terry was the quarterback on that team," recalled Devine. "Quick and smart, Terry might have been inch for inch the best athlete on a very talented team." His former coach, Gene Sullivan, remembers Mr. Kelly as a quiet leader on that championship team that beat St. Rita for the title at DePaul's Alumni Hall. "He was a special kid," said Sullivan. "He was only a junior on that mostly senior team, but he was a key to our success in directing our offense and playing tenacious defense." Upon graduation from Loyola in 1962, Mr. Kelly went to Loyola University of New Orleans and then to Northern Illinois University. He later transferred to and graduated from Loyola University Chicago, where he also earned an MBA. After graduation from college, Mr. Kelly passed the CPA exam. For more than 20 years and until he was diagnosed with leukemia, Mr. Kelly worked as an accountant for Altair Corp., based in Lincolnshire. Survivors include his wife, Mary Jo; a son, Matthew; a daughter, Mary Beth; his mother, Dorothy; and two sisters, Marilyn Fleming and Rosemary West. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in Kelley & Spaulding Funeral Home, 1787 Deerfield Rd., Highland Park.
Terrence T. Kelly, 56, died Dec. 6 at his home in Northbrook. Mr. Kelly was born Nov. 17, 1944 in Evanston. He was an accountant. Survivors include his wife, Mary Jo; a daughter, Mary Beth, of Northbrook; a son, Matthew (Lori) of Evanston; his mother, Dorothy of Chicago; two sisters, Marilyn
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Fleming of Chicago and Rosemary (James) West of Northbrook; and a father-inlaw, Louis T. Benedict of Wilmette. Mr. Kelly was preceded in death by his father, Bernie. Services were Dec. 9. Memorial contributions may be made to the Vitas Hospice, 580 Waters Edge, Suite 100, Lombard IL 60148.
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JOHN PAUL KUHL February 4, 1944 – March 17, 2009
John Paul Kuhl, Feb. 4, 1944-March 17, 2009, 65, of Barrington, beloved husband of Linda, slipped away after a fierce battle to live. Son of John J. and Rita, nee Fennessy. Born Chicago, grew up in Evanston. Graduated Loyola U and DeVry Institute. Marine. Careers at DeVry and Motorola (retired). Avid bowler, SCI FI fan. A devoted husband, stepfather, grandfather and brother, he brought great love and joy to all. Survived by three stepsons; eight grandchildren and large extended family including beloved sister Marita (David) and many friends. Funeral Mass, April 3 at St. Mary's Church, Lake and Oak, Evanston. A celebration of John will occur on his wedding anniversary, April 21. Published in Chicago Tribune on March 29, 2009
John Paul Kuhl (February 4, 1944 - March 17, 2009), 65, of Barrington, beloved husband of Linda, slipped away after an admirable battle to live. Son of Lt. Colonel John J. and Rita (nee Fennessy). Born in Chicago; grew up in Evanston. Attended St. Mary's, Loyola Academy, Loyola University, DeVry Institute; Marine. Careers at DeVry and Motorola. Avid bowler, Sci-Fi fan. A devoted husband, stepfather, grandfather and brother, he brought great love and joy to all. Survived by wife, Linda; three stepsons, Dave (Rachel), Mike (Rebecca), and Steven Julian; eight grandchildren; large extended family and beloved sister Marita (David); and many friends. Funeral Mass April 3, 8 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Evanston. A celebration of John's life will occur on his wedding anniversary, April 21, 2009. Published in Evanston Review from April 2 to April 9, 2009
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ROBERT N. LENAHAN December 24, 1944 – December 29, 1997
Robert N. Lenahan, 53, Meat Importer January 03, 1998 By John Gorman, Tribune Staff Writer.
Robert N. Lenahan, a former firefighter with the Chicago Fire Department, stockbroker and founder of one of the country's largest meat-importing firms, died Monday in Belize. Mr. Lenahan, 53, was on vacation with his family when he drowned while scubadiving. A native of the Edgewater neighborhood and most recently a Park Ridge resident, Mr. Lenahan joined Dean Witter & Co. shortly after graduating from Loyola University in the late '60s. The son of a fireman, Mr. Lenahan joined the Chicago Fire Department in the early '70s and worked there for three years. After leaving the fire department, he began working as a meat broker and founded a brokering firm in the late '70s. In 1987, he founded his current firm, North American Processing Co., a meat importer with offices at 1565 Ellinwood St., Des Plaines. By the time of his death, he had built the company into one of the top meatimporting firms in the country, with annual sales of about $140 million, according to his brother, Frank. Mr. Lenahan was also vice chairman of the Meat Import Council of America, a trade organization for meat importers. Survivors include his wife, Cheryl; four daughters, Jennifer, Faye, Betsy, and Mary Beth; his mother, Agnes; two sisters; and his brother.
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Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S. Northwest Hwy., Park Ridge. Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Gertrude Catholic Church, Granville and Glenwood Avenues, Chicago.
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FRANK A. MARANTO d December 25, 2004 La Verne, CA
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DONALD L. MAUSOLF July 12, 1944 – February 6, 1981
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MICHAEL T. MCDONNELL d December 21, 1981
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DONALD R. MERTES April 22, 1944 – September 1, 1977
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DURKIN CHARLES "DIRK" MILICI September 15, 1944 – April 15, 2003
Durkin "Dirk" Charles MILICI Born September 15, 1944, in New York, died April 15, 2003, in Seattle, WA., after a valiant three-year battle with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. A lifelong scholar, Dirk received his bachelor's degree from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., a graduate degree in English from the University of Toronto, and his second master's degree in theology from Seattle University. He became a carpenter and home-remodeler, a college instructor, a teacher of Catechumenate and Confirmation at church (where he played guitar and sang in the music ministry), and was most recently an Education Coordinator for Peninsula College at Clallam Bay Corrections Facility. Dirk spent 33 years with his wife Sally in Beaver, WA., where they raised four daughters, Naomi, Jocelyn, Elizabeth and Katie, all of whom survive him. Dirk is also survived by his parents Chuck and Pat Milici of Lake Geneva, WI., his brothers, Ken, Don, and David, his sister Ellen, a large extended family and many friends. A Memorial Celebration will take place at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 26 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Forks, WA., with the funeral Mass of Resurrection at 2 p.m. A Reception will follow in the church hall. In lieu of memorial contributions, do something special with your family, friends or a child in need of love. Published in The Seattle Times on April 20, 2003
Durkin (Dirk) Charles Milici, born to Charles and Patricia Milici on September 15, 1944, in Jamaica Estates, N.Y., died April 15, 2003, in Seattle, Wash., after a valiant, three year battle with non-Hodgkin"s lymphoma. A lifelong scholar, Dirk received his bachelor's degree from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., a graduate degree in English from the University of Toronto, and his second master's degree in theology from Seattle University. After moving to the Olympic Peninsula, one of his first jobs was at Smith Shingle Mill in Beaver, Wash. He later became a carpenter and home-remodeler, a college
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instructor, a teacher of Catechumenate and Confirmation at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Forks (where he played guitar and sang in the music ministry), and was most recently an Education Coordinator for Peninsula College at Clallam Bay Corrections Facility. Dirk spent 33 years with his wife, Sally, in Beaver, Wash., where they raised four daughters, Naomi, Jocelyn, Elizabeth and Katie, all of whom survive him. He was a pinnacle of kindness; a humble man without guile; and a blithe, quiet spirit; knowledgeable; and ready to engage in conversation on any subject -- a man of wisdom. Always discovering beauty in small miracles and joy in life's simplicity, Dirk was an avid bird-watcher, lifelong baseball fanatic, nature lover, musician, enthusiastic golfer, proud father, devoted husband, and a very spiritual man whose faith was rooted in the Catholic faith and the Bible. His last days were not spent in pain, but rather in thankfulness for the love he had for his family, his music and his life. He peacefully slipped into eternity as his wife and daughters sang his spirit home. Dirk is also survived by his parents, Chuck and Pat Milici of Lake Geneva, Wis.; his brothers, Ken, Don and David; his sister, Ellen; a large extended family and many friends. A memorial celebration will take place at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 26 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Forks, Wash., with the funeral Mass of Resurrection at 2 p.m. A reception will follow in the church hall. In lieu of memorial contributions, the family suggests that time and/or money be set aside to do something special with your own family or to do something for a child who is in need.
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GERARD A. MUSOLF January 6, 1944 – November 21, 2005 Chicago, IL
Gerard A. Musolf, cherished father of Andrea, Mark and David; former husband of Joanne (Parson); fond brother of Patricia Dunham, Barbara Vidal and Paul Jr. (Marilyn) Musolf; fond uncle of many nieces and nephews. Funeral Saturday 12 noon at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N. Cicero Ave. Interment private. 773-736-3833. Published in Chicago Tribune on November 27, 2005
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JAMES R. NELSON April 25, 1944 – January 25, 1995
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THOMAS PERLITZ March 14, 1944 – October 27, 1994
Aided Seriously Ill Kids October 29, 1994 By Kenan Heise, Tribune Staff Writer.
Thomas J. Perlitz Sr., 50, chief operating officer of Frank C. Nahser, an advertising firm, was president and a board member of the Special Wish Foundation, which fulfills the dreams of young children battling serious illnesses. A resident of Barrington, he died at home Thursday. Mr. Perlitz, who received a bachelor's degree from Villanova University, held positions with two other advertising agencies before joining Nahser in 1988. He was a senior vice president and assistant general manager of Young & RubicamChicago and had had management roles at Leo Burnett & Co. He was also a former vice president for marketing of Coors Brewing Co., Golden, Colo. "I have known him since I was 10 years old," agency president and CEO Ron Nahser said. "We grew up together. Being able to work together with him has been one of the great treasures of my business career. He always asked the question, `Are we doing the right thing?' " Mr. Perlitz was also on the board of Ballet Chicago. Survivors include his wife, Cheryl; three sons, Thomas Jr., Douglas and Christopher; two brothers; and a sister. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Saints Faith, Hope and Charity Catholic Church, 191 Linden St., Winnetka. Mass for Mr. Perlitz will follow at 11 a.m.
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JAMES COMERFORD PHELAN April 12, 1944 – March 29, 2011 Peachtree City, GA
James Comerford Phelan, age 66 years, formerly of Wilmette, died March 29, 2011 in Lilburn, GA. Jim is survived by his wife Judy, nee Sherrod; and children Timothy, Patrick and Kathleen; grandchildren Devin, Aiden, Sean and Alex; brothers Richard (Clare) and Patrick (Diane). He is preceded in death by his son Ryan and parents Richard and Anne Phelan. Jim was a graduate of Loyola Academy, 1962 and the University of Notre Dame, 1966. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Loyola Academy, 1100 Laramie, Wilmette on Saturday, June 25. Gathering at 10 a.m., Mass at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to Loyola Academy in Jim's name would be appreciated. Published in Chicago Tribune from June 19 to June 24, 2011
PHELAN, James James "Jim" Comerford Phelan passed away March 29, 2011 of complications related to lung cancer. Born April 12, 1944 in Chicago, IL Mr. Phelan, a University of Notre Dame alumnus and a resident of Lilburn, GA for the past 40 years. He was a founding member of St John Neumann Catholic Church, and was knighted by Pope John Paul II to the Order of the Holy Sepulcher for service to his extended community. Jim was known and loved by everyone he ever came into contact with. Professionally, Jim founded Surgical Dimensions, a distributor of microsurgical products and instruments that was focused on providing the very best care for patients. Jim was preceded in death by his son Ryan James, parents, Richard and Anne Phelan, of Wilmette, IL; and parents-inlaw Betty and Harold Sherrod of Oklahoma City, OK. Jim is survived by his wife of 44 years Judy; their children Timothy, Patrick and Katie; grandsons Devin, Aidan, Alex and Sean; brothers Richard (wife Clare) Phelan of Winnetka, IL Patrick (wife Diane) Phelan of Wilmette, IL brother-in-law Michael Sherrod (wife Peggy) of Marysville, TN, and many nieces and nephews. A "great American," Jim leaves us all with the advice to "Go with God, and brush your teeth." A wake will be held April 14th from 7-9 at Wages Funeral Home in Snellville, GA. A funeral mass will
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be held Friday April 15, 2011 at 11:00 AM at St John Neumann Catholic Church in Lilburn, GA. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Jim's name to Autism Behavior Services (an affliction shared by his grandsons that was near to his heart) -http://www.autismbehaviorservices.org/home/how_to_donate or call (423)6640903. Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on April 13, 2011
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CLARK PLEISS October 31, 1944 - December 24, 2011
Clark Pleiss, 67, of Chicago. Adored husband of Lori Hess; loving father of Annette (Dave) Christensen, Charles (Dodie) Pleiss, Julie (Chris Fellmann) Pleiss and Beth (Jay) Kurup; proud grandfather of Ryan, Josh and Addison; dear brother of Philip (Cindy), Monica Nunn, Andy (Claire), Gina (Mike) Elzey, Jill (Matt) Hartnett and the late Gretchen Pleiss; brother-in-law of Karen Freeman; caring uncle of many. Visitation Tuesday, 3 to 9 p.m. at Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd. at Old Orchard Rd., Skokie. Funeral Wednesday, 12 Noon at St. Francis Xavier Church, 9th St. and Linden Ave., Wilmette. Entombment Rosehill Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Heart Association , Ste 1500, 208 S. La Salle St., Chicago, IL 60604 or Medical Research Institute Council/ Memorial Foundation, 2300 Children's Plaza, Chicago, IL 60614 Funeral info: 847-675-1990 or www.donnellanfuneral.com.
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JOHN E. RICKETTS June 1, 1944 – October 22, 2007
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RANDOLPH W. RIDDLE November 28, 1944 – November 16, 2010 West Palm Beach, FL
Riddle, Randy: KNX, 2000-04. Randy was the business editor at KNXNewsradio. He passed away November 16, 2010. He retired to Florida when he left KNX. He had a stroke several years ago and had been unable to speak. “Randy had an unmistakable style and was a credit to our craft,” said Andy Ludlum, program director of KNX. Randy did his special reports from the Pacific Stock Exchange. Unlike other stations which taped earlier market reports and replayed them in the afternoon, KNX Business News was heard "live" until 9 p.m., giving listeners "real time" information on the ever-changing financial world and a recap of the business week. Randy was an honors graduate from Georgetown University. He began his broadcast career in 1968 at UPI Audio in Chicago. He subsequently moved to UPI in New York, there as a news writer for CBS News. In 1971 he became a writer-producer for CBS's WBBM/TV in Chicago. While in the Windy City he co-produced two award-winning documentaries that won a national Emmy and the coveted DuPont-Columbia University Award. He joined San Francisco's KCBS Newsradio in 1975 as an investigative and consumer reporter. And in 1982 he became a CBS News Correspondent in New York City. Finally, prior to coming to KNX, Riddle joined Public Radio International in 1997 as a business reporter/writer for the highly-acclaimed "Marketplace Radio." “Randy and I were hired together in 1982 for the new 'young adult' network CBS News Radio in New York launched to counterprogram against NBC Radio's 'The Source', emailed Chris Stanley. “There were eight anchors hired in a clump; Randy and I were two of them. We were fast friends from the day we met. He left CBS News Radio in the early ‘90s. He figured out how to retire early, to Mexico. But that didn't work out as he and his wife Amy had planned, and he wound up back on the market again in the late 90's. He was there when I left the network in New York in '98 and came west, and one of the best things about the move to LA then
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was seeing him, and getting to work with him, again.” Stanley continued: “Shortly after David G. Hall took over KNX, Randy decided it was time to move on, this time to Florida, but he was among those who'd learned how to do remote broadcasts, and continued to deliver KNX business reports from his Florida home as if they were coming from down the hall at Columbia Square. Eventually that ended and he was enjoying an actual early Florida retirement. In January '06 he had a serious stroke. Eventually he recovered somewhat, walking and talking to a degree where he felt some of his old pizzazz. Then came a move to Oxford, Mississippi, followed by another move back to Florida two years ago. He was one of the best, most committed, most ferocious newspeople I've ever known, one-ofa-kind, with a one-of-a-kind delivery.” Bill Polish, anchor at KNX, was another wonderful friend of Randy's. He took this refreshingly candid photo of Randy just two months ago while on a visit to Randy's Florida home. "Randy was one of the smartest, quickest, most amazing reporters I've ever met. He was truly a wordsmith. His command of the English language was unbelievable. When confronted with hypocrisy or lies, his eyes would literally flash. But when he laughed, the whole room did too. When I'd ask him how things were going, he'd flash that big smile, wave a hand toward me and say, 'Everything is tickety-boo!' He was a stylish, refined man, with a wicked sense of humor. And a pleasure to work with or around. I met him at KCBS in San Francisco in the 1970's and we became fast friends. Then, he headed off to NYC as a CBS News Network anchor, where after what I think was a 15-year run he retired to Mexico, where he built a solar powered house and eventually landed at KNX doing business news, which is where I ended up, just a few weeks before the 9/11 Twin Tower attack."
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GEORGE J. SCHAEFER May 6, 1944 – October 17, 2008
George J. Schaefer, age 64. Beloved husband of Ruth " Cookie" nee Herr; loving father of Anje (Nathan) Cluxton, George III (Molly McShane), Mary Eileen and Robert J. Schaefer; loving brother of Suzanne (the late Neil) McConnell, Barbara (the late James) Dhein, Gene (John) Flynn and the late Anita Wadden. Visitation October 22, Wednesday, 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral October 23, Thursday, 10 a.m. from Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd. at Old Orchard Rd. Skokie to Saint Joan of Arc Church, 9248 North Lawndale Avenue, Evanston, IL 60203 Mass 11 a.m. Interment Private, All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines. Memorials may be made to Saint Joan of Arc Serviam Fund c/o the church or Misericordia, 6300 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660 or Harborquest, 14 East Jackson Blvd., Suite 1210, Chicago, IL 60604. Published in Chicago Tribune on October 19, 2008
George Schaefer Jr., president of his family's landmark Skokie wine shop, died Oct. 17 after a long illness. He was 64. Funeral arrangements are still being arranged, said his sister and company vice president, Gene Schaefer Flynn. Schaefer entered the family business in 1966. Together with his sister, who joined the company in the 1970s, he oversaw the development of Schaefer's into a Chicago-area institution, especially for wine lovers. His daughter, Anje Schaefer Cluxton, joined the business nine years ago, making her the fourth-generation of family to work in the shop. Craig Goldwyn, a Chicago writer, artist and photographer, was a wine buyer for a competitor when he first met Schaefer in the 1970s. Last year, Goldwyn said he was hired by Schaefer to re-do the store's Web site. He remembered Schaefer as a pioneer who once told him that he did not sell wine, he sold happiness.
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"George resisted the trend started by the big box wine discounters who sell wine like a commodity," Goldwyn said. "He believed in the personalized sale, that wine was part of an entire sensory experience that included food, music, art and most importantly good company. He not only believed it, he lived it. He was great company." Schaefer's death comes as the family was preparing to sell Schaefer's. That announcement was made last spring; Flynn has predicted any sale wouldn't take place until after the holidays. George J. Schaefer's mother encouraged him to go into law or engineering when he was in college. But he had grown up in the family business, and in his senior year, he asked to join her in keeping Schaefer's Wines, Foods & Spirits going. "Somewhere along the line in college, he decided he enjoyed business and he got interested in wine," said his sister, Gene Flynn. In 1966, he joined the Skokiebased family business started by his father in 1936.
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PATRICK R. SCULLY, Jr. July 27, 1944 – July 17, 1968
Patrick R. Scully, Jr
First Lieutenant K CO, 3RD BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF United States Marine Corps Chicago, Illinois July 27, 1944 to July 17, 1968 PATRICK R SCULLY Jr is on the Wall at Panel 52W Line 047 See the full profile for Patrick Scully
Medals: Silver Star, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal
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PERSONAL DATA Home of Record: Chicago, IL Date of birth: 07/27/1944 MILITARY DATA Service: United States Marine Corps Grade at loss: O2 Rank: First Lieutenant ID No: 0101464 MOS: 0302: Infantry Officer Length Service: 02 Unit: K CO, 3RD BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF CASUALTY DATA Start Tour: 01/07/1968 Incident Date: 07/17/1968 Casualty Date: 07/17/1968 Age at Loss: 23 Location: Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam Remains: Body recovered Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright Casualty Reason: Ground casualty Casualty Detail: Gun or small arms fire URL: www.VirtualWall.org/ds/ScullyPR01a.htm ON THE WALL
Panel 52W Line 047
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PATRICK R SCULLY JR 52W, 47 To make a donation in memory of PATRICK R SCULLY JR, click here. PATRICK R SCULLY JR is honored on Panel 52W, Row 47 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Full Name: PATRICK R SCULLY JR Wall Name: PATRICK R SCULLY JR Date of Birth: 7/27/1944 Date of Casualty: 7/17/1968 Date of Death: 7/17/1968 Home of Record: CHICAGO County of Record: COOK COUNTY State: IL Branch of Service: MARINE CORPS Rank: 1LT Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM Casualty Province: QUANG TRI To locate profiles of others on The Wall who share commonalities with PATRICK R SCULLY JR, click on the links above.
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JOHN S. SERPE May 12, 1944 – May 27, 2008 Roselle, IL
John S. Serpe, of Roselle, born May 12, 1944 in Chicago, IL, died suddenly May 27, 2008 in Elk Grove Village, IL. He was an avid golfer, beloved husband of Maura, nee Condon; loving father of James (Natalie) Serpe, Maureen Serpe and Megan (Ben) Wrigley; son of James G. and Anita Serpe; dear brother of Susan (Tom) Stengren, Stephen (Inge) Serpe, Anita (Dar) Magel, Amy Serpe, Gerard (Amy) Serpe, Camille (Michael) Hardt and the late James G. Serpe II; many loving nieces and nephews. Visitation Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m. at the Countryside Funeral Home, 333 S. Roselle Rd., Roselle. Funeral Friday, 9:15 a.m. to St. Walter Church, Mass 10 a.m. Interment All Saints. 630-529-5751. Published in Chicago Tribune on May 29, 2008
John S. Serpe of Roselle The funeral for John S. Serpe will begin at 9:15 a.m. Friday, at Countryside Funeral Home, 333 S. Roselle Road (½ mile south of Irving Park Road), Roselle, proceeding to St. Walter Church for a Mass at 10 a.m. Interment will be in All Saints Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Born May 12, 1944, in Chicago, he died suddenly Tuesday, May 27, 2008, in Elk Grove Village. John was an avid golfer. He was the beloved husband of Maura (nee Condon); loving father of James (Natalie) Serpe, Maureen Serpe and Megan (Ben) Wrigley; son of James G. and Anita Serpe; and dear brother of Susan (Tom) Stengren, Stephen (Inge) Serpe, Anita (Dar) Magel, Amy Serpe, Gerard (Amy) Serpe, Camille (Michael) Hardt and the late James G. Serpe II. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. For information, 630-529-5751. Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on May 29, 2008
With Us in Spirit
BRENT R. STARCK November 1, 1944 – November 9, 2009
Brent R. Starck, 65, of Lake Geneva, WI, formerly of Chicago, IL, died Monday Nov. 9, 2009. Son of the late Brent and Ann, nee O'Brien, Starck; husband of Holly, nee Gaylord; father of Brent (Phoebe) Starck Jr., Melissa (Keith) Wells and Kevin Starck; step-father of Robert (Allison) Windon and Jeanette Windon; grandfather of eight; brother to Susan (Larry) Crawford, Gary (Evelyn) Starck, Thomas Starck, Michael (Susan) Starck and Stephen Starck. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, 12 p.m. St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 148 Main St., Lake Geneva, WI. Visitation Friday in church 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Geneva Lake Association, P.O. Box 412, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 or Lake Geneva Water Safety Patrol, P.O. Box 548, Williams Bay, WI 53191. Information: HaaseDerrick-Lockwood Funeral Home, Lake Geneva, WI, 262-248-2031. For online obituary and guest registry go to hdlfuneralhomes.com. Published in Chicago Tribune on November 12, 2009
Brent R. Starck, 65, of Lake Geneva, WI, died Monday Nov. 9, 2009, at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn, WI. He was born in Chicago, IL, on Nov. 1, 1944, a son of the late Brent and Ann (O’Brien) Starck. He was the great-grandson of P. A. Starck, founder of the Starck Piano Company in Chicago, IL. He graduated from Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL, in 1962; he then graduated from L.S.U. in Baton Rouge, LA, with a BA in economics and his MBA. He worked for many years for Fibrasonics Company in Chicago, IL, retiring as President of the company. On June 16, 1997, at the Lake Geneva Country Club, he was united in marriage to the former Holly Gaylord. He was a member and Past President of the Lake Geneva Country Club. Brent is survived by his wife, Holly; three children: Brent (Phoebe) Starck Jr. of Madison, Melissa (Keith) Wells of Cour d’ Alene, ID, and Kevin Starck of Mineral Point, WI; two stepchildren, Jeanette Windon of Washington, DC, and Robert (Allison) Windon of Barrington, IL; eight grandchildren; a sister, Susan (Larry)
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Crawford of Northbrook, IL; and four brothers: Gary (Evelyn) Starck of Williams Bay, Thomas Starck of Walworth, Michael (Susan) Starck of Crystal Lake, IL, and Stephen Starck of Beloit. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at ST. FRANCIS DE SALES CATHOLIC CHURCH, 148 Main St., Lake Geneva. Father Angel Anaya will officiate. Inurnment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lake Geneva. The Starck family will receive visitors Friday at the CHURCH from 10 a.m. until time of services. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials are requested in Brent’s name to: The Geneva Lake Association, P.O. Box 412, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, or The Lake Geneva Water Safety Patrol, P.O. Box 548, Williams Bay, WI 53191. HAASE-DERRICK-LOCKWOOD FUNERAL HOME in Lake Geneva is assisting the Starck family with arrangements. For online obituary and guest registry go to: www.hdlfuneralhomes.com.
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WAYNE R. SZYMANSKI August 28, 1944 - September 23, 1988
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NICHOLAS A. TERAMANI May 22, 1944 – January 20, 1993 San Francisco, CA
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JAMES E. THOMPSON May 26, 1945 – August 5, 1992 New York Manhattan, NY
With Us in Spirit
JACK R. WAMBACH April 5, 1944 – August 1, 1977
Athletic Hall of Fame - Member Profile Jack Wambach BASKETBALL - Class of 1962
A three-sport letterman at Loyola in basketball, baseball, and track, Jack Wambach excelled on the basketball court and ended his career as one of Loyola's greatest players on one of its greatest teams. In his junior 1960-61 season, despite playing with a cast to protect a broken arm, the forward led the Ramblers to the prestigious DePaul Tournament Championship, and to the semi-finals of the Catholic League and an overall record of 20-4. The following year, with Jack as co-captain, the Ramblers again won the DePaul Tournament and Jack was named All-Tournament. With only one pre-season loss, the Ramblers went on to an undefeated season in the Catholic League and for the first time in history, a number one ranking in the Chicago area by the Tribune, only to be upset in the Catholic League championship game by the Gordon Tech team they had twice previously defeated. Jack was voted All-Catholic League and All-Chicago Area. The Ramblers team record in Jack's two varsity season's ranks with the best in Loyola's history. Jack attended Xavier University and was a varsity team member for three years, two as a starter. His leaping ability and aggressiveness made him an exceptional college player. Upon graduation, Jack entered the business world. Tragically, Jack was struck and killed by an automobile in 1977 at the young age of 33. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and their four children.
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JEROME FRANCIS WOJTANOWSKI June 26, 1945 - October 10, 1992 Orlando, FL
October 13, 1992
JEROME FRANCIS WOJTANOWSKI, 47, 6655 Hidden Beach Circle, Orlando, died Saturday, Oct. 10. Mr. Wojtanowski was an advertising production employee for an advertising company. Born in Chicago, he moved to Central Florida in 1990. A member of Holy Family Catholic Church, he also belonged to InPlant Management Association, the Central Florida Printing Industry and the Compact Program of Dr. Phillips High School. Survivors: wife, Carol; mother, Julia Wojtanowski, Chicago; son, Jeffrey, Orlando; daughters, Jennifer Howland, Ithaca, N.Y., Jeanine, Orlando; brother, Norbert, Schaumburg, Ill.; sisters, Pamela Rawa, Northbrook, Ill., Audrey Fanslow, Illinois, Felicia Donofrio, Chicago. Dobbs Funeral Home, West Orlando Chapel, Orlando.
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CHARLES E. WOODWARD November 30, 1944 – June 1974 Chicago Rogers Park, IL
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RICHARD N. ZASIEBIDA June 6, 1944 – October 11, 1999 Wood Dale, IL
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ROGER J. ZEMBA February 10, 1943 – August 29, 2010 Niceville, FL
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ADDENDUM
With Us in Spirit
The Story of
The day after Reunion weekend, I was reflecting on the activities and interactions of that event and on the activities which prepared for it. After my comments at dinner Saturday regarding the With Us in Spirit book commemorating our deceased classmates, several people told me how much they liked what I had said. Also during the weekend’s activities I had occasion to discuss the book with a few fellows in more detail and they seemed to enjoy hearing the story of how it came to be. There may be others who would like to know the story in more detail, so I decided to put this document together. The idea to have some sort of book was not mine. My friend George Sullivan suggested it during a conversation we had around the time the Reunion Committee began to meet in late 2011. He mentioned it again at our first or second meeting, and there it stood waiting for someone to take the ball and run with it. George is a very good judge of people and knows that I have a passion for history, genealogy, and family history research. So he cast the bait and waited, and I took it. No other class had ever done anything like this, so there was no prototype or model to follow. The fact that we would be the first was one of the factors that particularly excited me. In hindsight, I would characterize the experience as both a Quest and a Journey of Discovery. A Quest because there are times when I found myself obsessed with the goal of finding information about a particular individual—for every “quick hit,” there are several others where one just has to keep plugging away. I knew from my genealogy work that there would be numerous blind alleys and false starts, so I was prepared for that and took them in stride. I also knew that there would likely be some individuals about whom I would find nothing, and unfortunately there were. • A Journey of Discovery because, when I started, I didn’t know where I was going, let alone how to get there. Once I got started, certain patterns began to emerge, and the destination (what to include, how to present it, etc.) began to crystallize and the available sources of information began to emerge. When I started, I had only a spreadsheet listing the names of deceased classmates which Dennis Stonequist, Loyola’s Alumni Director, had provided. I had decided that I would rely on the Internet to find information. I briefly considered the possibility of contacting the wives of deceased classmates but rejected this alternative because I had no desire to bother them and possibly open old emotional wounds. Moreover, as the committee’s later endeavors to contact them to invite them to the reunion would prove, we lacked up-to-date contact information for many of them. As I started searching the Internet, it immediately became apparent that a list of names with no other information was not viable. I was finding too many people with the same name even when I narrowed the search criteria to those born in our general timeframe. I contacted Dennis and asked if he could provide the year of death and the location of last known residence. Fortunately, he had this information, and it was key. •
Over time, I learned a few tricks which proved helpful. If the last name starts with a prefix like de or Mc, search with and without a space following the prefix and try Mac and well as Mc. If nothing is found, try misspelling the last name (e.g., double or un-double consonants). Search using only the last name or the last name and the first letter of the first. All of these techniques helped me find people I would not otherwise have found. Once I got started, I found obituaries to be the most common source of information. In fact, for all but a handful of individuals, they were the only information. But the path to obits is not always a straight one. I found that newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, only retain obits on-line for about ten years. Older ones require you to use a third-party subscription service. I subscribed to one called www.genealogybank.com which provides access to obits and newspaper articles. However, even subscription services don’t have obits going back too far. There are
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some prior to 1985 or so, but the volume drops off abruptly from about that point. This is why the pages for the fellows who died the earliest have no obits. In fact, the oldest obit in the book is for Jerry Wojtanowski who died in 1992 (and believe it or not, he is not the only person with that name whom I encountered). Genealogybank.com also introduced me to another important data source: the Social Security Death Index (or SSDI). The SSDI contains the dates of birth and death and often the municipality of last known residence. The birth and death dates in the book are all from the SSDI except in one instance where the death date varied by a few days from that shown in the obit which I assumed was probably more accurate. There are a number of individuals whom I could not find on the SSDI, although I did find one by misspelling his last name (John Ricketts is shown on the SSDI as Rickets). I have no idea why anyone is missing from the SSDI (including both fellows who were killed in action in Vietnam—Steve DeMerjian and Pat Scully). The SSDI contains last known residence information for just under half the 37 classmates in the book. The municipality shown in the book is generally from the SSDI, but there were one or two instances as I recall where I changed it based on comments from a Reunion Committee member who knew the individual. I could find no obit for John Blais but found a nice tribute in the Chicago Tribune for which he had worked for many years. Dirk Milici lived on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state and one of the local papers there had a nice article about him. Another local paper had a nice article about Randy Riddle who lived in West Palm Beach, FL. The picture of Randy which appears in the book was provided by his family and forwarded to me by Dennis Stonequist. One of the Reunion Committee members sent me the article about George Schaefer which appears in the book. Because Schaefer’s was such a local institution under George’s direction, there are a number of articles to be found on the Internet in addition to the one in the book. I could find nothing on Jack Wambach but Luke Lyons rode to the rescue by providing Jack’s page from the Loyola Academy Athletic Hall of Fame. I could find nothing on Dick Zasiebida but there are many articles involving his son Dick who is the managing director of Skybox on Sheffield, one of the rooftop grandstand facilities overlooking Wrigley Field. Brendan Hoban died in 1996 in the VA hospital in Hines, IL and is buried nearby. I could find no obit for him but found an interesting little article about him in the Tropic Lightning News, a publication of the Army’s 25th Infantry Division. I found this curious because the article indicates he was in the 4th Infantry Division. An excursion through several web sites revealed that his 3rd Battalion was part of the 4th Division when it arrived in Nam but was deployed with battalions from another division, so the Army transferred them to ensure unity of command. I mention this not because it is germane to Brendan’s story but because it is indicative of the kind of background information I sometimes pursued in the course of my journey of discovery to verify I had the right person and to satisfy my own curiosity. Without a doubt, the most moving information source I found was the Vietnam Memorial website www.virtualwall.org. The entries in With Us in Spirit for Steve De Merjian and Pat Scully are from that website. I did some minor editing to delete items like copyright information and I added a description of the medals displayed. It is worth noting that Pat was awarded the Silver Star, our nation’s third highest medal for valor. His citation on the Vietnam Silver Star website (http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/04_SS/5_RVN/citations/marines/s.html) reads as follows: SCULLY, PATRICK R., JR. Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Patrick R. Scully, Jr. (0101464), First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on July 17, 1968. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, First Lieutenant Scully upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Home Town: Chicago, Illinois
The date cited is also the day he was killed.
With Us in Spirit
Another website, http://thewall-usa.com, contains guest entries for Steve and Pat. The addresses are: http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=46458 and http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=12830. As I neared the end of my research activities, I started wondering what title to give this book. I had no idea what to call it, but I felt very strongly that it should celebrate the living spirit of our departed classmates, not commemorate their death, so In Memoriam or anything along those lines which sounded funereal was out. Then it hit me—at the Reunion, we would be lighting candles to symbolize they are with us in spirit, so With Us in Spirit seemed the perfect title. I found a company in Ohio called McKinley Leather which had a great looking binder, so I contacted them, told them what the binder was for, and encouraged them to suggest any ideas they might have. We went back and forth via email for over two weeks, even though they knew I was ordering just one binder. In the course of our exchanges, they sent me a file showing what the cover would look like with the chosen title and with some artwork. I didn’t like the artwork but I liked how it made the cover come alive. After some reflection, it seemed only natural to use a candle flame, so I found one on the Internet, went through another process of discovery to get it into a file format they could use, and placed the order. The pages were printed on silver metallic paper and inserted into nonglare sleeves. The metallic paper loses some of its pizazz in the sleeves but the silver color looks much better than plain white paper which glares. I hope this recollection of how With Us in Spirit came to be will make it come alive for you. I lived with it for several months, so it is much more than a mere compendium to me. Hopefully, by sharing my experience with you, you too will get a sense of the journey of discovery which made this such an exciting and rewarding endeavor for me.
Tom Blake June 18, 2012
With Us in Spirit