Letters to the Editor

LETTERS to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I had a very rewarding experience aending the Turkey Roll & Reunion. e most valuable parts of my aernoon and evening were the opportunities for reection and reminiscing on my days at St. Mike's. In the arena, I dried back to the night I played goal at the annual sta/student hockey game. It was the rst time we, the students, did not lose. e game ended in a 2-2 tie.

I got lost in time as I walked the halls and corridors. It was as though I was walking those halls just yesterday. On the second oor, a member of the cleaning sta was working in one of the classrooms. She allowed me in and I sat down in one of the desks. I could not get over that I was siing at a desk that had not changed in 50 years. I could ‘feel’ myself placing my books into the compartment below the seat and preparing for the lesson about to happen.

I walked through the cafeteria and out onto the balcony overlooking the gym. I was able to reect on a really shy 16-year-old guy, siing up there with his date, at one of the weekend sock hops.

Class of 1970 celebrating 50th Reunion at Turkey Roll & Reunion 2019. All in all, the visit to St. Mike's was, for me, a pilgrimage, a journey back to sacred places and sacred spaces.

Henry Checko ’70

ED’S REPLY: So glad to hear you had a fantastic time at what has always been a wonderful event, Henry. But did you try the porchea?

e 65th Reunion for the Classes of ’54, ’55, and ’56 has been postponed until Friday, October 2, 2020. Wherever possible, information has been sent via mail and/or email. If you have any questions, please call Stephanie Nicholls at 416-653-3180 ext. 273 Dear Editor,

On behalf of my mom (Fran), sister (Frances Anne), and me, I just wanted to thank the St. Michael’s community for the well wishes and words of support following the death of my father, Gary Benedet ’57 (obituary, pg. 32). I can't express how important and inuential the St. Mike’s community was to and on my dad - from the faculty and sta to the lifelong friendships that were fostered during the most important years of a young man’s life. Over the years we have heard so many amazing stories about this fabulous place that was so much more than a school of academic and athletic excellence. e lessons and values that were taught to my father have been passed down now for two generations. We are grateful for the way St. Mike’s has shaped our entire family.

Kind Regards,

Joe Benedet

ED’S REPLY: Many thanks for your kind words, Joe, and condolences on the loss of your father.

Dear Editor,

Re: Blue Banner Special 2011 Memorial Cup Edition.

I am not, nor ever was, an SMCS hockey player (nor was I able to stand up on skates). In my years at SMCS, Mr. David Bauer ’44 taught vocational guidance (for either the religious life or the lay life). Anything other was an avocation. Later, in 1956 or 1957, Fr. Bauer, CSB taught religious knowledge, a Grade 13 non-credit subject. Fr. Bauer taught every action is a prayer. For me such is/was my SMCS education.

Michael Mallon ’56

ED’S REPLY: Fr. Bauer is well known to us all, Mr. Bauer, not so much. It must be both interesting and fortunate to have had a window into the man beyond the legend.

Dear Editor,

I think the year was 1952. As SMCS boarders, we were living in Tweedsmuir House, on the rst oor. Fr. Gibbons, CSB was our housemaster. Jim Gregory ’55, OSM (obituary p.31) and Dick Du ’55, OSM were roommates. Every 10 days or so Jim would get a goody box from home, which we all looked forward to. My roommate, Fr. Chris Rupert ’55, SJ, (Ed’s note: Fr. Rupert died aer we received this leer, his obituary is on p.31) others, and I would assist Jim with its consumption.

Jim played on the football team. He was a very speedy halack. His speed led him to the track team. On the team were Jim (100 yards), Leo Murray ’55 (200 yards), me (400 and 800 yards), and Paddy Cushing ’56 (the mile). We were quite formidable and made a habit of winning.

Most everyone is familiar with Jim’s successful and highly accomplished career in hockey, both at the junior and professional levels. He was a manager, a coach, a general manager, and of course, a senior NHL executive. He started as the equipment manager with the Majors. Don Corne ’55 and I were the statisticians for coach Charlie Cerre ’28, OSM, so we really got to know one another.

A group of eight of us established a mini tradition. Jim, Stan MacLellan ’55, Pat Young ’55, Leo Murray, Frank Dumsha ’55, Tom Micallef ’55, Leo MacArthur ’55, and I would meet once every summer at Leo’s golf course – for golf and après golf, and to tell stories.

Jim dated the lovely Rosalie, I can tell you there were many jealous and envious guys in our circle. Jim and Rosalie some time later married and had a wonderful family.

A gentleman, a great guy, a competitor, and a valued friend.

We will all miss Jim.

Dick Aubry ’55

ED’S REPLY: anks, Dick, for a wonderful leer about a wonderful man.

1967 Memorial Cup - Jim as General Manager

Jim Gregory - Senior Champ

Tweedsimur House 1954 - Sunday aernoon TV hockey broadcast.

Leon Murray - Intermediate Champ

Tweedsmiur House 1954 - Waiting in line for the phone: Fr. Gerald Lalonde, CSB '56, John Verhoeven '54, Pat Young , Fr. Chris Rupert, Victor Mimeault '54, and Eddie Lynch '55 Pat Cushing - Winner of the mile.