Blog #11 (Only 1075 to go!): Clichés to Live By!
This could make some of you sick with envy, but I must tell you that for 25 years, everyday I drove Frank Raispis to, and frequently from, school. I also have to tell you that it was all that you might imagine.
There was a lot of casual conversation, laughing as we relived old Jack Benny radio programs, reflected on events at school, and, not infrequently, I'd ask him about the classical derivations of words. For those of you who know Frank well, you’ll also recognize one of his habits. He will start an answer, then stop talking as he formulates the rest of his thoughts. For my part, I would pretty-much stop breathing until he started to talk again. More than once, I nearly drove off of the road, light-headed from lack of oxygen.
But I digress. One of the great joys of the experience for me was getting a better understanding of what Frank’s personal philosophy was. It was never presented as a formal tenet. He would simply state an opinion or respond to a question about how he felt on some issue, school related or just life in general.
On one occasion, he was reacting negatively about something, then suddenly stopped and scolded himself for failing to view another person's motive in a positive light. Over that time, as we chatted, I compiled a list of “Clichés to Live By”, a collection of principles that we thought would be good to follow. Frank would give me his assessment of some life's-lesson, and I would rephrase it and write it down.
Rule # 1: Assume the best motive behind each person's action.
I must admit that, while rule #1 is not as easy at it might seem, I do try to follow it. I also recognize its counter-part which says, "No matter how cynical I get (about society), I never seem to be able to keep up."
One more Frank story; one that I've told before: Many years ago, Fr. Meirose, Fr. Menke, and I were passing a place in northern Wisconsin where Frank was vacationing*. We stopped in to visit him for a few days. One of the mornings, I saw Frank picking berries for a dessert treat he was preparing for that evening. I asked him what he was thinking about as he went through that monotonous task. He said, as he picked each berry, he wondered whether that particular berry would be the best berry he'd pick that day. Then he'd move to the next berry with the same thought.
I was fascinated that a scholar and award-winning educator would be thinking about the quality of each individual berry as he picked them, but I set the thought aside as just "interesting". Upon further reflection, I realize how critical that "skill" is in Frank's make-up, and how hard it is for some people (me) to master. In theater, I think it's called "being in the moment". Again, not as easy as it seems.
*For those of you old enough, it was an island owned by Ernie Schmidt's family. Ernie was a math teacher at Ignatius from the mid-40's until he died
on the first day of school in 1966.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Father Menke
Blog #10--(Only 1066 to go!): Fr. Menke
After nearly fifty years of association with Saint Ignatius High School/College Prep, I have met, and enjoyed the friendship of many Jesuits, but none more so than Father George Menke, S.J. I was excited when I received an email from Mike Ulmer (’72), containing a newspaper article about Fr. Menke. Mike lives in Indianapolis and found this article in the Indianapolis Star.
The following is a brief summary of Mr./Fr. Menke‘s history at Saint Ignatius:
Mr. Menke, as he was called in 1967, came to Ignatius as a scholastic. He left in 1974 to complete his studies for the priesthood. After ordination, he returned in 1977 for 20 years before taking on his next assignment at Brebeuf in Indianapolis. Over those 30 years, he was the freshmen basketball team coach for one year, my assistant as athletic director for two years, and soccer coach for underclass boys and girls teams for many years, all the while teaching Spanish.
He was pure Cincinnati, saying, “Please?”, when he meant, “What?”, and hassling me about why the Cincinnati Reds were VASTLY superior to the Cubs. Our friendship grew rapidly when he was the freshmen basketball coach and as assistant athletic director. My years as AD were interesting. The school was low on funds. I had neither the training nor experience for the job, and I was suppose to be the “boss” of Dr. Malliard, Fr. “Moos” and Bob Gabric, among others. Each was a very successful coach, but very demanding. George, bless his soul, was there to back me up and, not infrequently, pick me up. It wasn’t pretty, but we survived...barely.
Over his years, there were many stories told...lovingly...about Father, but one of my favorites will probably have the most meaning if you knew him; it's an example of his spirit and loyalty. After "Mister" Menke stopped coaching the freshmen b-ball team, he became a permanent fixture at the scorer's table during the games. Terry Smyrniotis ('72) reminded me of how George would holler, "Judas Priest, Ref!" after a questionable call. Since George was sitting near the announcer's "mike", his dulcet tones would fill the gym "from on high", as if it were the Lord Himself speaking. When the assemblage finally realized what they had just heard, and they were able to get their heart rates below 150, there was a round of giggles and smiles from everyone but the refs.
In 1977, he returned as “Fr. Menke”, taught Spanish and became the soccer coach for the underclassmen, then went on to Brebeuf. According to the article, Fr. Menke has taken on an iconic status at Brebeuf High School.
It seems to be a part of the human condition that, when people's paths separate, they lose contact. Having read the article reminded of what a good friend Fr. George Menke was to me and to Ignatius, and I'm pretty sure that I never told him that while he was here. I think I'll write him a note and tell him.
(I’ve included the code for the attachment, but I doubt that it’s going to be enough to allow someone to pull up that article. Maybe those of you more versed in electronic technology will be able to find it.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011102030340
After nearly fifty years of association with Saint Ignatius High School/College Prep, I have met, and enjoyed the friendship of many Jesuits, but none more so than Father George Menke, S.J. I was excited when I received an email from Mike Ulmer (’72), containing a newspaper article about Fr. Menke. Mike lives in Indianapolis and found this article in the Indianapolis Star.
The following is a brief summary of Mr./Fr. Menke‘s history at Saint Ignatius:
Mr. Menke, as he was called in 1967, came to Ignatius as a scholastic. He left in 1974 to complete his studies for the priesthood. After ordination, he returned in 1977 for 20 years before taking on his next assignment at Brebeuf in Indianapolis. Over those 30 years, he was the freshmen basketball team coach for one year, my assistant as athletic director for two years, and soccer coach for underclass boys and girls teams for many years, all the while teaching Spanish.
He was pure Cincinnati, saying, “Please?”, when he meant, “What?”, and hassling me about why the Cincinnati Reds were VASTLY superior to the Cubs. Our friendship grew rapidly when he was the freshmen basketball coach and as assistant athletic director. My years as AD were interesting. The school was low on funds. I had neither the training nor experience for the job, and I was suppose to be the “boss” of Dr. Malliard, Fr. “Moos” and Bob Gabric, among others. Each was a very successful coach, but very demanding. George, bless his soul, was there to back me up and, not infrequently, pick me up. It wasn’t pretty, but we survived...barely.
Over his years, there were many stories told...lovingly...about Father, but one of my favorites will probably have the most meaning if you knew him; it's an example of his spirit and loyalty. After "Mister" Menke stopped coaching the freshmen b-ball team, he became a permanent fixture at the scorer's table during the games. Terry Smyrniotis ('72) reminded me of how George would holler, "Judas Priest, Ref!" after a questionable call. Since George was sitting near the announcer's "mike", his dulcet tones would fill the gym "from on high", as if it were the Lord Himself speaking. When the assemblage finally realized what they had just heard, and they were able to get their heart rates below 150, there was a round of giggles and smiles from everyone but the refs.
In 1977, he returned as “Fr. Menke”, taught Spanish and became the soccer coach for the underclassmen, then went on to Brebeuf. According to the article, Fr. Menke has taken on an iconic status at Brebeuf High School.
It seems to be a part of the human condition that, when people's paths separate, they lose contact. Having read the article reminded of what a good friend Fr. George Menke was to me and to Ignatius, and I'm pretty sure that I never told him that while he was here. I think I'll write him a note and tell him.
(I’ve included the code for the attachment, but I doubt that it’s going to be enough to allow someone to pull up that article. Maybe those of you more versed in electronic technology will be able to find it.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011102030340
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