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Irish Troubles? Not with Pat Sullivan

“I feel more and more the time wasted that is not spent in Ireland.”  Lady Gregory Tom & Pat Since my first trip to Ireland in 1994 with my sister, brother, and our spouses, I have returned many times for a variety of reasons and accompanied by friends and some family members. That first trip was … Continue reading Irish Troubles? Not with Pat Sullivan →

Braidwood Saloon Society in the 1940s and 1950s

"There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern." Samuel Johnson The Riviera, Braceville, Illinois Why did dad and other men go to the bars? (And it was mostly men.) While I can’t speak to all men, I have enough experience to … Continue reading Braidwood Saloon Society in the 1940s and 1950s →

Learning Through Books, Music, and People

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”  Alvin Toffler Still have some of my old library. Learning and Unlearning When we are young, we are sponge-like, soaking up all that surrounds us while we are formed into the people … Continue reading Learning Through Books, Music, and People →

My Alaska Trip with Tony Delgado on a Dollar a Day

“Where is the boy to whom the call of the wild and the open road not appeal?” Baden Powell de Aquino Alaska! We talked about it for years, but it was all talk. Tony Delgado and I were teammates at Lewis College in 1962. Four years later in 1965-66, we were once again together teaching and … Continue reading My Alaska Trip with Tony Delgado on a Dollar a Day →

The Enigmatic Rhymer of Lewis Intramurals: The Purple Poet

“I am the gray purple poet,My words are etched for all time;If you hear me on campus you’ll know it,I speak in verses and rhyme.”P.P. Alert…Alert…Alert: Readers should know that this blog, although primarily relevant to a particular audience of former Lewis University students, may contain interesting elements to a more diverse population.  The Lewis … Continue reading The Enigmatic Rhymer of Lewis Intramurals: The Purple Poet →

Moving to Colorado: How a Decision was Made

“If your world doesn’t allow you to dream, move to one where you can.” Billy Idol A move, no matter the distance, is artless once the decision is made.  The hard part is actually arriving at the decision. I used to think that, for my parents, it should have been fairly easy to move from Walker Street … Continue reading Moving to Colorado: How a Decision was Made →

A Legendary Lewis Baseball Game

“It was the greatest individual pitching performance, and the greatest game pitched in Lewis College history.”   Coach Gordie Gillespie on pitcher Bob Bachman’s masterpiece.  Unfortunately, Coach had to watch the last five innings of the 13-inning game from the stands, having been ejected along with two Flyer players in the 8th inning. Instead of being … Continue reading A Legendary Lewis Baseball Game →

Journey into the Past

“People say you're born innocent, but it's not true. You inherit all kinds of things that you can do nothing about. You inherit your identity, your history, like a birthmark that you can't wash off…”   Erik Pevernagie We all hope to learn more about who we are and how did we get this way.  For me, I have … Continue reading Journey into the Past →

Era of the Lewis Intramural Nation

“Creative ideas come from marinated observations of the obvious.” TK Coaches Paul Ruddy and Tom Kennedy Looking back to my days of teaching and coaching at Roncalli High School in Aurora, Illinois, it is easy to see the genesis of a highlight in my career. That highlight, of course, was the Lewis University intramural program … Continue reading Era of the Lewis Intramural Nation →