Thursday, May 14, 2015

OOps!!! Error

With apologies, if it matters to anyone, and contrary to the information posted in blog # 74, the Jubilarian Reunion will be on Friday, May 22 starting with Mass in Holy Family at 9:00.    js

Monday, May 11, 2015

Reflection #74 (Only 1002 to go): That Time of Year


         Reunions at Ignatius happen all year round, but, from February through June, there’s a surge.  There’s the Law Luncheon, the Athletic Hall-of-Fame Induction, the April Reunions, the Jubilarian Reunion and the Golf Classic.
           Related to these, I want to give a shout-out to Christine Cesak, a member of the Development Staff, and, for me, the “lynch pin” in the department.  Her official title is Alumni Events Manager, and at each of these events, and many more than I’ve listed here, you can see her, clipboard in hand, scurrying around, making sure everything is going as planned and “putting out the proverbial fires”.  Additionally, she treats grumpy old men…me…with patience and dignity, and if the solution to a problem is not in her domain, she will direct the issue to the right person.
          Christine’s degree is a master’s in Social Work, but if she had known what her job would be like, she might have chosen Abnormal
Psych.  Anyway, thanks, Christine, for all you do at 1076.

The Jubilarian Reunion had previously occurred on the last Friday in May as a part of the end-of-the-year school Mass.  This year it will take place on Saturday, May 23.  This reunion is for alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago.   For details and registration, as well as information about the St. Ignatius Golf Classic, contact Christine Cesak at christine.cesak@ignatius.org.

Finally, it’s time again to celebrate Frank Raispis’ birthday.  On May 1st, Frank turned 88 and was joined by several members of the class of ’63.  Also joining them was fellow retired Classics teacher, Don Hoffman. 
Frank has some physical limitations, but his mind and spirit are still fine.  His one concession to his age is that he tends to repeat stories, but then so do I…or, at least, that’s what my wife tells me.  When I tell Frank what an inspiration he is to me in how he handles his challenges, he dismisses that suggestion with a grunt.  To him, that’s all a part of life’s challenges.  Quoting Shakespeare, it’s what he refers to as the “slings-and-arrows of outrageous fortune”.