More about Sharon

 Sharon's photo was included in our graduation issue of Echoes, May 31, 1961.






From Maria Latessa Drackert...
I had forgotten that she died over Easter weekend so now I remember why there was extra energy in the air.  As a boarder, there was great excitement about the upcoming Easter break so we could travel home and be with family.  I can still remember being in the girls lavatory on first floor (it was across from my home room w/Sister ??? and the windows faced the tennis courts) and Sharon was in there as well.  She asked if someone had a comb, and I lent her mine.   (You probably may not do this today.)  After she used it, she put her hands on my cheeks, gave me a big smile and said 'thank you'.  Imagine my shock after returning to school to learn she had died!  As you mentioned on your blog, at that young age, death was a hard concept to grasp, and the sadness prevailed on our class for the remaining years.

Almost Friends

    It was Easter weekend and I am sure I spent the days away from school doing what Catholics do during that season of rebirth.  I know I spent quite a bit of time in church, praying for my eternal soul.  I was exhilarated by the smell of incense and eager for forgiveness, so I never minded pulling extra duty.
    I was a Freshman and had started to get comfortable with new friends, girls I hadn't known in elementary school.  Sharon had attended the other Catholic grade school, Pete's and Paul's, while I went to St. John's.  We were in study hall together at Good Counsel and probably other classes now long forgotten.  I remember that I loved her zest for life and I looked forward to getting to know her better.
    That never happened.  Sharon Kehoe was killed in a car accident on Good Friday.  While it was the end of her life, I suspect it was the beginning of many of her classmates' lives.  At least I know that her tragic and untimely death had a profound impact on me.   I had only limited experience with death: my maternal grandfather had died when I was too young to grasp its meaning.  But now I could understand the concept of mortality.  Here was someone my own age, 15, dead.  Gone.  Forever.
    Father Scheid  took a few of us to her wake.  I don't remember who went, all I remember is seeing Sharon, my almost friend, dead.  Gone.  Forever.  The Easter season always makes me think of her, even after all these years.

   Sharon Kehoe is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Mankato, MN.

Back in the Saddle

If any of you have looked for this site and couldn't find it, it was temporarily shut down by me so I could figure out how to make it more interesting.  Then I ran out of time and didn't accomplish anything!  So here it is again, plain and simple.

R.I.P. Patricia Dumont Birch

Dear Classmates,

I was so hoping Patty would be able to join us at our next reunion.  My heart is heavy today with this news.

Love,

Kathy Dorn

From The Rochester Post-Bulletin

Patricia Ann Birch — Mantorville

9/1/2010 2:21:31 PM

DODGE CENTER — The funeral Mass for Patricia Ann Birch will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1904 N. Mantorville Ave. Kasson; Father Paul Surprenant will officiate. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Mankato, following a light lunch at the church.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Holy Family Catholic Church, and one hour prior to the service Friday at the church. There will be a prayer service at 6 p.m. Thursday at the church.

Patricia, 67, died on Monday, Aug. 30, at Fairview Care Center in Dodge Center.

She was born on Aug. 29, 1943, in Mankato to John and Florence Dumont. She married Dennis Birch in February of 1967 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mankato.

After moving to Mantorville in 1978, Patricia became an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Kasson, and enjoyed quilting and gardening.

She is survived by her husband, Dennis Birch of Mantorville; daughter, Rebecca Zacharias of Mankato; and son, David (Cherie) Birch of New Richmond, Wis.; 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild; 2 brothers, John (Barbara) Dumont of Plymouth and James Dumont of Santa Rosa, Calif.; and sister, Karen Germann of Eagan.

Dibble Funeral Home of Kasson is in charge of arrangements, (507) 634-2331. Online condolences may be left at www.dibblefuneralhome.com.

 

 

Speaking of Orchestra

From Echoes, Nov. 30, 1960

I always wanted to play a musical instrument, but had not the time nor the money to pursue lessons.  When I was in my forties, we lived down the block from a piano teacher.  My husband's parents had given us a spinet piano a few years back with the intention of giving our children an opportunity to learn to play.  Music was a very important part of my husband's family's life.  He and all of his siblings took piano lessons from the nuns at Good Counsel.  Now it was our children's turn to bang out tunes; however, we opted for the convenience of our neighbor instead of hiring the nuns. The kids learned, each to a greater or lesser degree, but for quite some time our piano got used.  Occasionally, my husband even entertained us with his rendition of "Tammy" or some other top 40 hit.  One day I decided it was my turn.  I called Mabel and asked her if she'd be willing to teach me how to play the piano.  She agreed and I was on my way to fulfilling a childhood dream.  Not so fast!  Although I encouraged, prodded and nagged my kids to practice piano, it seems there was no one who would do that for me.  Maybe my husband tried, I don't know, but since when did I ever listen to him?  So there you have it.  I never learned to play a musical instrument.  But I have a son who is a musician and two daughters who are passing on their love of music to their own kids.  Our piano is not used much any more except when the grands come over and treat us to the songs they've made up.  I know lessons are in their future.  It's all good.

Holiday on the Hill

It's a muggy, late-summer day with dew points in the high 70s, so the perfect thing to do in such miserable conditions is to sift through old Echoes looking for "cool" articles.  I found one!  On Dec. 21, 1960, the front page of our newspaper was devoted to all things Christmas.  Apparently our class caught the seasonal spirit big time.  I particularly enjoyed the expository piece above the masthead about the legend of the holly and the ivy and Phyllis Keltgen's visual interpretation of the legend along the left side of the page.
Besides Phyllis, other classmates getting ink on this page were: Mary Jenson, Patricia Dumont, Helen McCloskey, Karen Baynes, Sue Krenik, Marlys Koehler, Joyce Reinhart, Joan Engel, Veronica Schoch, Sue Bohrer, Ann Groh, Sharon Rollings, Maria Latessa, Mary Carr, Sharon Zachman, Mary Lou Gatzmeyer, Mary  White and Judy Krueger.
Another article not visible on the accompanying image tells of a field trip by Glee Club students, including two octettes [sic], to KEYC-TV where they performed "a special selection of Christmas songs."  Also, both the Glee Club and Orchestra recorded a number of songs at the radio station KYSM to aid "in promoting better Christmas spirit."  The octets included seniors Lucy Forster, Jeanne Cuddy, Mary Ellen Goettl, Kathleen Ruddy, JoAnn Johnson, Diane Sterner and Kathleen Bach.

Pop Culture

From Echoes, Sept. 13, 1960

Even though the author of this little column is typed as "Jean," this was really written by Jeanne Cuddy.  I came across a March issue of Echoes identifying the author as Jeanne.  She had the critic chatter down pat.

It's a little slice of life in 1960.

I had completely forgotten that we started the year without our uniforms.  Check out what Jacque Krueger said about wearing "civilian" clothes.  I completely agree with her sentiment.

Every once in a while the 'uniforms in public schools' debate would surface among the students I taught at Mankato East Junior High School.  Of course, the idea of giving up their need to go gothic, grunge or garish, in the name of freedom of expression, did not appeal to these adolescents, many of whom changed hair color as often as I change my mind, a lot!

Some were intrigued when I explained that my bed and I had more time to bond in the mornings with no apparel decisions to be made.  And, I told them, uniforms leveled the playing field.  While we probably had some idea of whose families had money, I don't think it factored much into our relationships with each other.

It may seem like I've got a touch of the Old Fogy Syndrome, but I can't imagine what it would have been like to have the distractions kids face today with respect to what they decide to hang on their bodies.  They'd never admit it, but I saw that the pressure was enormous!

Ahead of the Curve

From Echoes, Oct. 19, 1960

"Now instead of taking 2,520 minutes typing all the transcripts for the graduates of 1961, Sisters estimate the job will consume only about 168 minutes."

Now we live in an age where we can scan, copy, cut, paste and do a gazillion things in a matter of seconds.  We have the Internet Machine to tell us what to believe and think.  We even have bloggers who can tap out inanities at a steady pace.  Imagine!

Be well.

Literary License

Who remembers this English project?  Who remembers Silas Marner?  Actually, I do, but mainly I remember how much fun it was working on this collaborative effort.  I thought we were so clever...and I still do.  I wonder what the other projects were.

Since it's hard to read the copy on the right, here's a transcription of who was on The Raveloe Pen staff:
Editorial Policy....To Present Unbiased Views of News
Associate Editors...Gloria Potz and Jane Johnson
Editor...Roberta Smith
News Editors...Kay Postels and Madonna Stanton
Features...Karen Eichten and Pat Keenan
Sports Editor...Karen Fisher
Columnist...Kathy Ruddy
Artists...Dotty Barnett and Margaret Magnell
Bus. Mgr....Pat Reedy
Typists...Kay Postels, Kathy Ruddy, (How did I get this job?  Have I mentioned my dismal record as a typist ?) Gloria Potz, Roberta Smith

Typing this tawdry tabloid must have been arduous.  We had to use mimeograph paper for goodness sake!  That dinosaur was the bane of many secretaries and teachers at the time.  But Good Counsel was on the cusp of modern technology as you will see in the next posting!

Old Main

This drawing by Lucille Sunderman of historic Old Main--Mankato State University was published in a calendar for the Blue Earth County Historical Society in 1980.  This is where our gathering on April 30th will be.  Many classmates attended and/or graduated from this institution.  Those of us who live in the area are glad that this building was not torn down to make way for "progress."  It is now a retirement community.

Beauty and the Beast

The BEAUTY part is Pat Dumont in this ad; the BEAST part is that Pat has terminal cancer.

I spoke with her in the Spring and while she's probably suffering greatly, she was cheerful and upbeat on the phone.
You can send a card to her at:
Pat Birch
P.O. Box 242
Mantorville, MN 55955
Or you can try calling her at 507.635.5839.  She wasn't up to having visitors then, but maybe she will be now.
                                                                                                 

The Press

Of course this was way before we ever heard of terms like lamestream media or liberal and conservative rags.  These conscientious correspondents just reported the facts, unless of course there was an opinion or two to share.  I loved Echoes!  Did anyone else go through them looking for her name or photo?  I admit I did and I even underlined my name on more than one occasion.  Vanity, thy name is Kathy -- or in some cases, Kathleen.

Marigold vs. Polly Meadows

I guess these were the Ice Cream Wars. These ads appeared in the same issue of Echoes.

No one can dispute that these are POWERFUL  images, not unlike those on the trendy TV drama, "Mad Men."  Don Draper, watch out!

Living Globally, Typing Locally

I'm pretty sure my wolrldview was quite limited in March of 1961 when this article appeared in Echoes.  And I know for certain I couldn't type.  At all!  In fact, when I took typing in college, I had to drop it because it made me so nervous I got sick to my stomach.  I still can't type correctly even though I was a keyboarding teacher in a middle school for 3 years.  Go figure!  That's a story for another day!  Or not.

Good Talkers

From Echoes, Feb. 28, 1961

Debate was an activity I shied (literally) away from.  Thinking and talking on my feet scared the $%# out of me.  To this day I get dry mouth just imagining it.  This quartet, (Pat Carlson, JoAnn Johnson, Judy Mulder, and Mary Hancuh), plus others (Janet Derner, Judy Fitzpatrick, Pat Reedy, and Karen Fischer have been mentioned in other issues of Echoes) put their money where there mouths were and qualified for membership in the then newly-formed chapter of the National Forensic League. I don't know if some of the group were declam participants or if they were all debaters.  Anyway, they earned my respect that's for sure!

Like Good Wine, We're Better With Age

Unofficial photo of  the class of '61 taken at Real Life Cooperative, 2006

Official photo of the Class of '61 taken at Homecoming on the Hill, 2006

Our 45th class reunion in 2006  was particularly poignant because it was Patty Keenan's last.  She shared her experience as a terminal cancer patient in a powerful and humbling little "farewell" to the group.  Ever the teacher, she removed her wig and allowed us to see her shiny pate, giving us a lesson on dignity, humor, and love in the face of the most adverse condition of life, death.  Pat's in the second row on the left in both photos.  Isn't she beautiful?

There are other classmates we've lost (Mary Jean Cirhan, Jeanne Cuddy, Janet Derner, Noreen Hartwig, and Margaret Magnell) and some who are just now having serious health challenges.

Be well.

Brunch 2001

We invited a few of our teachers to this extra event in 2001.  The only ones who were able to attend were Sr. Margareta and Sr. Elisabeth.  The sisters were kind enough to answer questions we asked of them, most of which centered around what the nuns thought of us back then.  When Sr. Margareta was asked how she would compare teaching at a co-ed school to teaching all girls, she replied, "Oh, it was more difficult to teach you girls."  When asked why she thought that, her answer brought down the house.  She said the sisters had to work hard to keep ahead of us because WE did our homework!  I think this might have been a case of time healing all wounds, but I suppose overall we were quite diligent.  For me it was a warm, fuzzy moment to hear her say that.

The Brunch Bunch at the Mankato Golf Club

Sister Margareta and Sister Elisabeth

2001 A Good Counsel Odyssey

40 years!

Both photos are a little fuzzy, but between the two, you might be able to recognize yourself.

We held our celebration at The Country Inn and Suites that year.

1986

Our 25th was held in Loyola's cafeteria

I can recognize just about everyone unless they are nearly completely hidden behind someone else.  In the digital age photos like this are mostly non-existent.  We just take another one if the first one isn't right!

Look at those two going head-to-head in the back row.  I know the blonde is Anne McQuaid.  Is the one on the left Phyllis Rivard?

Thirty Years Ago

April 1981

Phyllis Keltgen Rivard sends her greetings along with this photo she came across while she was doing a scrapbook for a grand nephew who is getting married.  Thanks, Phyllis.  Keep 'em coming!

  

Back Row, L to R:  Carol Wussow Frederickson, Anne McQuaid, Mary Cay Burg Sanger, Sharon Gilligan, Connie Mau Fleming, Judy Krueger Siebenaler, Mary Ellen Goettl Probst.  Seated, L to R:  Jacque Krueger McDonald, Mary Burkel James and Phyllis Keltgen Rivard.

Who Are These People?

OK.  A few of you are not sure where they are in the photo of our graduating class.  Let's see who can accurately pick out her own beautiful face.  From there we'll move on to others you recognize.  If I'm sounding a little smug, it's because I have a list right here in front of me with everyone identified!

In the Days Before Title IX

Did we earn these or could we buy one to wear on our uniform sweaters?  If we had to earn one, what was the criteria?  Does anyone remember?

A Moment to Remember

We did it!  June 4, 1961

Who are these people?  I know, but do you?  Give it a whirl, girl!

This Is A Test

OK, it worked!  We can post IMAGES!  Classmates can forward photos which can be posted on this blog.  Yay!

This is my engagement photo, 1965.  I didn't have my high school graduation photo scanned in.

Be well.

New Tricks

That old cliche still holds -- you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.  Maybe.  I decided to try my hand at this blog thing.  What I am hoping to do is keep connected with my high school classmates as we prepare for our 50th class reunion.  I am pretty sure it will be ignored and I can't say I would blame anyone.  I'm already bored!  I want to include some images, but I guess that's a task for another day.  It's late and I am old after all!  But tomorrow means another day and another trick.  Be well.