Editor’s Letter

Dear Readers,

Happily, it has been no surprise to see the variety of ways and methods in which St. Michael’s Men have been making signicant contributions to the bale against COVID-19. Sadly, it has been no surprise to see in recent months (in no way related to the pandemic) the loss of so many more great St. Michael’s Men. For beer or for worse, in the words of former Blue Banner editor Joe Younder ’56, “it’s all here”.

e latest member of the Order of St. Michael (OSM) to join the ranks of the dearly departed is Jim Gregory ’55, OSM, a St. Michael’s legend in every sense of the word (obituary p.31). He gets the appropriate treatment, with articles by Joe Younder (p.13) and Larry Colle ’69 (p.16) detailing his impact on the world at large and the hockey world in particular. In the previous issue (Blue Banner, Issue 26) we bid adieu to Leonard ‘Red’ Kelly ’46, OSM and e Honourable Justice J. Bryan Shaughnessy ’68, OSM. In Issue 25 it was Dr. John Killoran Wilson ’43, OSM along with Ted Lindsay ’46.

Like Mr. Lindsay, this latest issue also records the deaths of distinguished and well-loved members of our community who had not yet been elevated to the ranks of the OSM. Fr. Chris Rupert ’55, SJ (obituary p.31) was a St. Michael’s boarder who thereaer aended the University of St. Michael’s College. Fr. Chris, as he liked to be known, was an accomplished scholar who designed and personally cared for the grounds at the Manresa Renewal Center in Pickering.

Actor, director, and playwright, Brian Joseph McKay ’69 (obituary p.32) enjoyed a hugely successful career, which brought him to stages across North America (including Broadway), the United Kingdom, and Japan. He was twice nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for his work in the theatre.

On a personal note, I was particularly saddened to learn of the deaths of Don F. Power ’49, (obituary p.33) father of Patrick ’92 , and former SMCS teacher Dan Nicholson (obituary p.33). Not only did Dan teach at St. Mike’s while I aended in the 1990s, he was also a teacher at Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA) elementary school when I was a student there in the 1980s. I last saw Dan at the Turkey Roll in November and honestly he looked the same as he did when he was at OLA. Likewise, our memories of the departed alumni will remain in place, their role in history secure. But as we continue to lose more and more of our legends, it is of the utmost importance that we create new ones. at is why it is so heartening to see Rui de Sousa ’88, Mahew Lombardi ’06, Flavio Volpe ’94, and others (Where Are ey Now: COVID-19 Response p.25) – including current students making face shields from home on the school’s 3D printers (Around St. Mike’s, p.9) - making a real dierence in the ght to stop the spread of COVID-19. It’s also enjoyable to watch the professional success of the many SMCS graduates in the legal profession (Where Are ey Now, p.28), the multiple graduating classes responding to the fundraising challenge issued by e Class of ’84 (Securing Our Future by Giving Back: Alumni Class Challenge, p.24), and the many SMCS alumni who have chosen to have their children follow in their footsteps. (e Next Generation: e Tradition Continues p.11)

As this issue’s most deserving Man of St. Michael’s (p.20), Donald Bannan ’66, so rightly says:

“Take your own personal Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge to the world. Use it to inuence your career, your family, church, and community! ese are tough times right now and you are being called upon probably more so than ever! Be a giver”

Joyous Reading!