------------------------------------------------------------------

These are some comments received from Prepsters:

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave,

Thanks for your willingness to check into the whereabouts of Fr. Brendan, maybe he will turn up if he is still alive. Last year at the reunion someone told me that they heard that he is living in Florida. When I spoke by telephone with Tom Langan last week, he said that he heard that Brendan is living in the northwest section of the country. Anyway, let me know if you learn anything about him.

Thanks for asking how I feel. Physically, I feel fine and remain quite active. Emotionally, I get down occasionally knowing that I have prostate cancer and that I also lost my wife to cancer. I get checked every 3 months; my PSA continues to go up slowly but is not very high at this time. I am in a period of “watchful waiting” according to my urologist. He is the Chief of the Urologic Division at Duke University Medical Center, which is considered one of the best in the country. He is rated as one of the top doctors in the country for treating prostate cancer patients and patients from the surrounding states travel to this area to see him. I like him and feel that he is taking good care of me. Neither he nor I can predict what the future will bring. In the meantime, life goes on.

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been to Virginia Beach and thoroughly enjoyed the beach music festival that was occurring and then I spent some time in historic Beaufort, NC which is on the coast. Tom Langan has invited me to visit him and his wonderful wife on Long Island and I think that I may do it. The thought of driving to Long Island, through NYC, isn’t pleasant however. Maybe I’ll fly but I wanted to stop and see Joe Potter along the way. I’ve heard that he has a few health issues and I would like to see him as well as Tom. Joe, Tom and I were roommates in our junior year and were great friends. Our room was directly across the hall from Fr. Brendan’s room as he was the floor monitor. Whenever he would hear a disturbance, he would always come to our room and give us a hard time, even if we were not guilty. Oh, what great memories!

Enjoy the weekend and slow down with your new work schedule. Life is too short.

Bill

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave,

Thanks for the note about Father Ronald, I was saddened to learn of his death. I remember him very well and recall that he was also at SFC (now SFU) at some point during my time there (1962 to 1966). I don’t recall if he was there on assignment or just visiting. I can still remember some very thoughtful conversations that he had with me, always trying to be helpful in guiding me and motivating me. I had shared a few very personal issues with him and he was wonderful with me. I considered him a real friend. If I lived closer to Loretto, I would have attended his funeral.

Do you know the whereabouts of Father Brendan Malley? I’ve heard that he had left the priesthood and got married. A few of us, (Tib Gunsallus, Tom Langan and me) and maybe some others as well, are trying to find him. Langan and I spoke by phone about a week ago and we both agreed that we would try to visit him if we knew where he was located and assuming that he is still alive.

I’m sure that you hear it all the time but I want to thank you again for all that you do to keep the memory of SFP alive and the grads connected.

Have a great holiday weekend.

Bill

------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi G,

Thank you (and Dave) for letting us know of these passings. We will all remember Ronald fondly. It was responsible for the beauty of the campus.

I will not be able to come as this weekend Tara is graduating from Colby College. Please give my condolences to the community.

We have fallen out of touch in that I have failed to respond to several of your communications. I have been traveling quite a bit since February (Japan, China, H.K., Brazil, Argentina, Chicago, California) and have been under the usual pressure felt upon return from each trip, not to speak of jet lag.

The next few weeks are equally challenging and we must also prepare Tara for the start of Vet School in Scotland (either Univ. of Edinburgh or Univ. of Glasgow). Bear with me, please.

My best to both of you, John


------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave,

Thanks for getting the information out.
Fr. Christian Oravec, former President of St. Francis University, is now Minister Provincial.
The meeting that is going on in Loretto at the moment is the General Chapter of the Order that is held every six years. It will include the election of the new Minister General and General Council. The present Minister General, Fr. Ilija, is a Croatian, who did a doctorate in the States and worked at the Voice of America. The current Vicar General is Fr. Mike Higgins of the Sacred Heart (Loretto) Province.
Thanks again. Have a good weekend.


------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Dave for the info about Father Ronald----I will make every attemt this weekend to go and pay my respects.
Father Ronald was a close fried of my family and visited my home on numerous occasions---he will be sadly missed.
I am also quite close with his sister Flo and her
husband. Again, thanks for the notification---Joe
Poltack

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Dave: Here are the details of what we discussed. Father Ronald Bodenschatz, TOR, 90, who was at the Prep from 1959 to 1966, died at St. Francis Friary, Loretto, PA on May 23, 2007. A Vigil Service will be held in the chapel of St. Francis University on Sunday, May 27 at 7:30pm. The funeral Mass will also be at St. Francis University Chapel on Monday, May 28 at 11:00am. Burial will be in the Franciscan Friars community cemetery on the University campus. A lunch will follow. Many will fondly remember the late "Doc" & Mary McGinty, who were great friends of the Prep community and the friars and who lived at the Gatehouse for many years. Their family recently suffered a tragic loss in the death of their grandson,"Nic" Nichol, 42, of Newport Beach, California. Nic was the son of Doc & Mary's daughter, Karen McGinty Nichol and her husband, Dr. F. Richard Nichol. I attended the funeral. Condolences may be sent to the family at the following address: Dr. & Mrs. F. Richard Nichol, 14 Cypress Point Lane, Newport Beach, CA 92660......GOD bless...Bro. John Paul ("G")

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave...Thanks for keeping me up to date. I remember Father Ronald well, especially seeing him working on the grounds--he was the headmaster before Father Paso (?).
I remember him as a follower of St. Francis; very earthy and always a promoter of PA. I'm glad I knew him.
Tom

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave: I am saddened by the death of Fr. Ronald B. I saw him about 2 yrs. ago, and he was hobbled but happy. I am saying some prayers for him. Lee Aulisio

------------------------------------------------------------------

5/24/07

All,

Fr. Bodenshatz was also the priest who accompanied Mr. Pater Erno Shultz (German teacher) and a group of 15-16 Prepsters on the famous (?infamous) three-week trip to Germany, Switzerland and Italy in the summer of 1964. He was a kind and stabilizing force fur alle die Touristen.

Jack DeBoy, '65

------------------------------------------------------------------

Peace and every other blessing.
Glad Fr. Kevin thought of telling you about the death of Fr. Ronald. I should have thought of it myself. Below is the e-mail that Fr. Christian sent to Friars and others about the funeral arrangements.
Have a good summer.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, Dave, We all remember him well. He had a wonderful joy of living and the greenest of all green thumbs. He made the Prep flower and bloom in all seasons. I will never forget the beauty of the Saint Joseph and Saint Francis Gardens, the Boxwood Garden and so many lovely green spaces at our beloved alma mater.

I remember visiting him many times in his office on Saturday evenings to listen to his Hawaiian music on an electric zither. He was a wonderful example to each and every one of us: a kind, prayerful, spirit-filled Franciscan. God bless him now that his earthly journey is over.

Requiescat in pace. Christopher Linstrom

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave: Thank you, again, for keeping news coming our way. May we all live to enjoy 90! Len Cockman '62

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave,

There are some individuals that I remember with the fondest of memories. He was a gentle giant and sincerely and deeply Christian in the best sense. On my desk is a radio that I bought from him in 1964. It was his Zenith Trans-Oceanic. It is a beautiful radio and often evokes warm memories of Fr. Ronald and his devotion the beautiful grounds and gardens of the 'Prep' and most of all his kindness to one and all!!

Ed

------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave,
Man, you're right on the "ball!!" Thanks for the up-date; he was a great Priest and a "somewhat" pretty good friend. He "helped" me a number of times, while I was at the Prep, to keep out of trouble and/or got me out of trouble...I'll remember him in my prayers...Paul