“You might have put it a little differently, son, but I get your drift.” My mother, Adele Ginter Kennedy, her siblings, and classmates circa 1925 playing marbles.. It’s a good analogy because I played “mibs” when I was in St. Rose grade school. My bag included about 20 or so glass marbles that included a … Continue reading “Keep on writing, Dad, before you lose your marbles.”
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The Humility of Coach Gillespie: A True Leader
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.”C.S. Lewis When people talk about the wondrous accomplishments of Coach Gordie Gillespie, topics usually center on baseball and football championships, the number of wins over his long career, halls of fame, captivating speeches, and the impact made on thousands of students and athletes. Indeed, … Continue reading The Humility of Coach Gillespie: A True Leader
Stories of Paul Ruddy of Lewis: Funniest Man Ever
“Great stories happen to those who can tell them.” Ira Glass The first time I remember seeing Paul was at Joliet Catholic High School when I was a freshman. Walking through the old gym, I saw a gangly junior practicing free throws and a buddy of mine said, “That’s Paul Ruddy. He’s on our team.” … Continue reading Stories of Paul Ruddy of Lewis: Funniest Man Ever
“We are related to the Van Duynes?”
“Yes, son, .... and to the Hermes, the Shuttens, the Klovers, the Holmans, and many more here in Wilmington.” "No individual death among human beings is important. Someone who dies leaves his work behind and that does not entirely die. It never dies as long as humanity exists." Isaac Asimov St. Rose Church, view from … Continue reading “We are related to the Van Duynes?”
Starting a Soccer Program: Lewis College
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt https://braidwoodguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/55851_1624521213648_1804800_o.jpg?w=1024 Evan Fiffles, Alex Hernandez, Steve Janczak, Tom Kennedy In the spring of 1967, I was hired part time at Lewis as the JV baseball coach and assistant to Coach Gillespie on the varsity level. In the fall of that year, Coach … Continue reading Starting a Soccer Program: Lewis College
Reflections: Barefoot in the Snow
"...so at a knockI emptied my cageTo hide in the worldAnd alter with age."Robert Frost As old age and loneliness collaborate in an attempt to stifle life, the human spirit can once again emerge through memories of nature, youthful innocence, and vulnerability. The snow fell softly early evening and steadily through the night, Small flakes … Continue reading Reflections: Barefoot in the Snow
Starting a New School: Roncalli of Aurora
“I rarely end up where I was intending to go, but often I end up somewhere I needed to be.” ― Douglas Adams, Starting and being a part of a new situation has been nothing new to me. After my sophomore year at Lewis, I was introduced in 1960 to new sponsorship of Lewis College whereby … Continue reading Starting a New School: Roncalli of Aurora
Gangs of Braidwood: 1953 Version
"Belonging is our blessing; tribalism is our burden. Belonging is a crucial human need, but it can descend into dangerous tribalism." Saul Levine It wasn’t much of a gang. We didn’t even refer to ourselves as gang members, but rather a few friends enjoying life on East Main Street in Braidwood. Shortly after moving to … Continue reading Gangs of Braidwood: 1953 Version
Evolving Attitudes: Religion in My Family
“There lives more faith in honest doubt, I believe, than in half the creeds.” In Memoriam, Tennyson I suppose I inherited my parent’s attitude about religion in ways that surprised me in later life. Retracing my spiritual steps, it might be easier to look back over the past 60 years and see a reasonable, understandable evolution … Continue reading Evolving Attitudes: Religion in My Family
A Year That Joliet Junior College was Gym-less: 1970-71
Coach Gordie Gillespie seldom had only one coaching job. Beginning in 1951, he was coaching and teaching fulltime at Joliet Catholic and part-time at Lewis College. By 1959, Gordie was at Lewis full time, coaching basketball and baseball, athletic director, and teaching a full load of college courses as well as head football coach and … Continue reading A Year That Joliet Junior College was Gym-less: 1970-71
Braidwood Beginnings 
