LAST WORD
extroverted spirit to teach children … his humble, reserved presence slowly formed many minds, molded many characters, and charmed many friends to whom he remained very devoted.” Aidan Malone, BA ’15, died of a heart attack in August 2020. Aidan was a drama major at UD. “His courageous, funny and always beautiful work was seen in Ghosts, Candide, Arcadia, Big Love, All’s Well, Three Sisters, Candide and Frog Prince, among others,” said Associate Professor of Drama Stefan Novinski, MFA, BA ’92.
Love That Transformed His Soul By Father Thomas More Barba, O.P., BA ’09 ’10 arvel superheroes regularly appear in my homilies. Tony Stark’s self-sacrifice, Loki’s gradual redemption and Steve Rogers courageously facing death by the armies of Thanos are attractive cinematic examples of heroic virtue. As Catholics, these illustrations allow us to identify confluences between our faith and secular society and call to mind our relationship with the saints. Similar to a child wielding a trash can lid, pretending to be Captain America, we are meant to be transformed by and practice virtue. While some saints are known for dramatic, public acts of holiness, St. Joseph quietly but powerfully invites us to heroic virtue. Although none of St. Joseph’s words are recorded in Scripture and his appearance is brief, his actions exemplify authentic righteousness. He is described as a “righteous man”(Matthew 1:19). A righteous man is zealous for the truth. We may imagine external, dramatic displays of zeal, but Joseph reminds us that any authentic visible manifestation of a zeal for truth is contingent upon allowing one’s own soul to be shaped by truth: Before seeking to shape others, a man must himself be shaped. He was “unwilling to expose her [Mary] to shame”(Matthew 1:19). Joseph knew something was wrong: Mary should not have been pregnant. As her future husband, acting upon feelings of shame and betrayal, publicly expressing vengeance, would have been justified. Yet he refused to do so. He was ruled by truth, by love that transformed his soul. In a way, he anticipated his heavenly son’s behavior toward the woman caught in adultery (John 8:111). The law permitted such dispensations of justice, but Christ and His foster father show us that authentic, heroic masculinity does not give vent to emotions of hurt and anger. A virtuous man does not shame another person. “Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. … When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him”(Matthew 1:20, 24). Joseph was not obstinate in his resolution to quietly divorce Mary. He listened. His mind and heart were open to being changed. Being truly virtuous, the truth lived in Joseph, but not in a way that all of its applications were immutably predetermined. Joseph’s strength and wisdom allowed him to discern when to be resolute — and when to change course. If we believe a virtuous man steadfastly resists all influences, we have mistaken St. Joseph for Captain Ahab. This year of St. Joseph invites us to reflect on heroic virtue, especially as men. Being zealous for the truth, being truly virtuous, requires a discerning mind and heart. Allowing anyone or anything indiscriminately into our souls is just as foolish as being so resolute that we allow nothing and no one to change our mind. To be virtuous, to act with virtue and holiness, we who discern must ourselves be formed. May St. Joseph intercede for us!
Svetozar “Steve” Pejovich, one-time interim president and economics professor at UD, died in February. According to one tribute from a colleague, “He was a man whose attitude toward life, his moral norms, honesty and spirit were the best examples of the strength and true energy of liberalism – the energy of a liberated and free individual!” Retired University Historian Sybil Novinski said, “He was a fascinating fine man ... and a brilliant economist.” Erik Singh, BA ’04 MBA ’11, died Nov. 13 due to complications of cancer and Crohn’s disease. He was a drama major and became a teacher, marrying his wife, Emily, in 2015. He was much loved by his friends for his kindness and humor. Charlie Steadman, director of Campus Safety, died in April. “Unlocking dorm rooms for students. Rounding up a raccoon scampering in the ceiling tiles. Talking electoral strategy with the professors of the Politics Department. Unraveling the philosophic storylines of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other pop culture phenoms to his student workers. Walking along the pathways with the UD president because the president wanted to consult him,” recalled Rebecca Burgess, BA ’06 MA ’10, in a tribute to Charlie on realcleardefense.com. James Walter, BA ‘66 MA ‘70 PhD ‘75, died in December. His son-inlaw Michael DiResto, BA ’92 MA ’96, wrote: “Knowing the special place in his heart that Jim held UD … his wife, Marguerite, and his daughter Rachel asked that I share with you the sad news of Jim’s passing. He was … such a fine gentleman and scholar, and we know that nothing, besides the time he spent with his family, sparked his energy, intellect, enthusiasm and joy more than being in the company of other gentlemen and scholars like yourselves.” Submit Class Notes at udallas. edu/alumni-portal.
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