Terrier Volume 80, Number 1 - Fall 2016 | Page 18

Class Notes

1950s
Francis X . McCormack ’ 51 is happily retired in California . After St . Francis , he attended Columbia Law . He went on to serve as Vice President at Philco and Assistant General Counsel of Ford Motor Company before joining Arco .
Rev . Eugene F . McGovern ’ 52 recently celebrated his 60th Jubilee as a priest . Prior to his retirement , he served as pastor of St . Aloysius in Ridgewood , NY .
Neil F . Brogan Jr . ’ 56 remembers his fellow classmates in his thoughts and prayers , and wishes them a happy 60th anniversary .
Michael J . McPartland ’ 57 recently had printed a book of his poetry .
1960s
Peter J . Schweitzer ’ 60 was presented this past May with the Franklin P . Gavin Memorial Award , given to him by the New York State Bar Association Lawyer Assistance Committee . The Award is given annually to a person who has demonstrated outstanding interest and support of the goals of both the Lawyer Assistance Committees and Lawyer Assistance Programs in New York State .
Harold J . Martin ’ 61 has warm memories of his year at St . Francis College on Butler Street . He sends his regards to the Key Lords R & R Quintet and the Phi Rho Pi fraternity . He wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year , especially the Class of 1961 .
Anthony Pantano ’ 61 writes Opera reviews for the Brooklyn Eagle . He recently celebrated his 80th birthday and his 50th wedding anniversary with wife , Judith .
Robert Schaefer , OSF ’ 61 recently celebrated his 65th Jubilee from entering the Franciscan Brothers from St . Thomas Aquinas parish . Prior to his retirement , Bro . Robert was Dean Emeritus
of Registration and Academic Records at St . Francis College , where he still teaches mathematics on a part-time basis .
Charles H . Harris ’ 63 in front of the SFC Waterpolo Trophy case .
Thomas J . Keller ’ 62 recently wrote Ilium , his new book which is available on Amazon and other book stores .
Thomas J . Keller ’ 62 with Bill Barnewold ’ 62 and Irma Garcia ’ 80 , with his book , Ilium , in hand .
Charles H . Harris ’ 63 recently returned to Brooklyn to visit his Alma Mater .
Peter J . Schweitzer ’ 60 ( center ) with Jon Santemma , past President Nassau County Bar Association & past Chair , Lawyer Assistance Program , Annabel Bazante , past Chair , NCBA Lawyer Assistance Program , Carol Hoffman , past Chair , NCBA Lawyer Assistance Program , and Henry Kruman , past Chair , NCBA Lawyer Assistance Program .
James ’ 63 , John ’ 68 , and Joseph Raftery ’ 91 , along with their brothers Patrick and Kevin , were recently inducted into the 57th annual Hall of Fame of the Basketball Old-Timers of America .
The 2016 Basketball Old-Timers Hall of Fame class included , seated from left , Lee Jones , Herb Turetzky and Jim Raftery ’ 63 ; standing middle row from left , organizer Ray Nash ’ 63 , Frank Alagia , John Carey and organizer Dennis McDermott ’ 74 ; and standing back row from left , John Raftery ’ 68 , Joe Raftery ’ 91 , Kevin Raftery and Patrick Raftery .
Jack ’ 58 and Julie McCarthy — Dismas Home of New Hampshire
fter working for many years with various prison programs and seeing too many inmates wind up

A back behind bars , Jack ’ 58 and Julie McCarthy decided to try something new .

“ We came up with the concept of Dismas Home because it has been successful in 20 states . It was begun by a Catholic priest and some students at Vanderbilt University . There is no central organization ; each one is responsible for running and funding itself and so each is somewhat different ,” writes McCarthy .
They approached the president of St . Anselm College in Manchester , NH , Dr . Stephen DiSalvo . They bonded over baseball , borough parishes , and Catholic Colleges . After several discussions , they decided to devote the Dismas house to helping the women in a nearby state prison .
“ Our first home is small . It was provided by Catholic Charities at no rent but required a lot of renovation
Jack and Julie McCarthy with their
Great Dane therapy dogs , Erin and Tara .
• Medical care provided by Catholic Medical Center
• Food and culinary training provided by Catholic
Charities
• Money management and budget training from St . Mary ’ s Bank , and
• Drug and Alcohol counseling by Hope for New Hampshire .
Reflecting on his own life , McCarthy says transferring to St . Francis College from Syracuse University was the best move he ever made .
“ The Franciscan Brothers I experienced , one of whom taught my father , were disciplined , but loving . They were demanding in the classroom and wanted you to be successful , even Bro . Roger Nagle who knocked me on my butt more than once on the basketball court . From them , I learned most of the principles I have carried though a successful business career and an adventurous life , and I learned to lean
work . We will accommodate up to seven women at a time . We estimate the average stay to be five to seven months before they are ready to strike out on their own . Most of the women will most likely have addiction issues and many will be single mothers .” Among the services Dismas Home will provide :
• A safe , warm , loving environment
• Meals prepared by volunteers from the United Council of Churches
• Volunteers who join them at meals to create a family atmosphere
• Tutoring and computer literacy by students from St . Anselm
• Jobs with opportunities to grow through an alliance with an employment agency
on my faith to get me though the rough times . Those men , those wonderful teachers left an indelible mark on my heart and my future .”
Known as JB while at St . Francis , he said that many of his lifelong friends started out as classmates and fraternity brothers .
Now , with the first house renovated and ready for guests , Jack and Julie are planning to establish Dismas Homes near several New Hampshire colleges or universities .
“ I never thought that when I ’ m reaching 80 years old , I would be the CEO of a non-profit . Actually , I ’ m not . God is . He has guided us every step of the way .”
Learn more at DismasHomeNH . org . ●
16 | ST . FRANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER | FALL 2016