Winter 2013 Issue - De La Salle Institute

ALUMNI CONNECTIONProfiling A. Fermin(Monty) Montezon ’43by Tom Lyons ’43When A. Fermin “Monty” Montezon ’43graduated from All Saints Grammar School inBridgeport, he learned that fellow classmate BillPodgornik ‘43 was going to take the entranceexam at De La Salle, so he went along, too. Goodthat he did.Monty was awarded a one-year academicscholarship and started a family tradition as hisbrother, Richard ’44, followed him to the Institutethe following year. Apart from academics, Montyplayed freshman football and intramural sports inthe gym and “the yard.”Early in 1943, he joined a group of classmatesoffered an advanced, wartime entrance intocollege at St. Mary’s in Winona, MN. An eyecondition kept Monty out of the Naval V-12Program, so after three semesters at St. Mary’s,Luella “Lu” Montezon andher husband, A. Fermin“Monty” Montezon ‘43he was drafted by the Army in early 1944. Monty served in France and Germanyin the 59th Armored Infantry Battalion, participating in the Battle of the Bulgeand subsequent central European campaigns. Two years later, he returned home.Using the GI Bill, Monty resumed his collegiate work at Marquette Universityin Milwaukee and received his BS in Zoology in 1949. After being hired byUniroyal, an attentive supervisor guided him into the company’s sales operations,where he found his niche.Thirty years later, after several stints at various locations in Illinois, Wisconsinand Indiana, having managed local sales forces, Monty retired from Uniroyal.He was only 54 and launched himself into a second career in the investmentbrokerage business with Robert W. Baird & Co. in Milwaukee. After 20 yearsthere, he retired in 2002.While attending Marquette, Monty met Luella ‘Lu’ Hildebrand, also fromChicago, and after graduation, they were married at Queen of Angels Church inChicago on June 18, 1949. They have four children, Allan, Judy and Christopherin Milwaukee, and Gregory in Chicago. They also have four grandchildren,Christopher, Alexander, Nicholas and Matthew.Monty and Lu love to travel and have visited just about every country on theplanet. Most memorable are two trips, one to the Holy Land where the HolyScripture suddenly became reality, and another to the Philippines with Monty’sfather to visit his Dad’s hometown. On a more local note, Monty and Lu attendedthe 60th Anniversary reunion luncheon for the Class of 1943, held in 2003 at theOak Brook Country Club.In his family’s faith community, Monty has logged many volunteer hours,serving on the parish council and as a trustee. He also has done more service as alector and extraordinary minister, as well as a member of the St. Vincent DePaulSociety and as a hospice volunteer.The Montezons reside in Milwaukee, WI.Alumni UpdatesDe La Salle Institute extends itsdeepest sympathies to the familiesof the following De La Salle andLourdes alumni and friends whohave recently passed away:Mr. Donald P. Barch ‘53Mr. Edwin A. Bozek ‘53Mr. Robert A. Brausch ‘53Mr. Robert J. BurkeDr. William J. Conroy ‘43Mr. Eugene T. Delaney ‘45Mr. Eugene P. Gaffney ‘47Mr. Michael R. Garcia ‘76Mr. Nicolo X. Giachetti ‘43Mr. Chester A. Grabowski ‘63Mr. George E. Janik ‘65Mr. Richard A. Kaunas ‘63Mr. John R. Keeler ‘48Mr. William A. Lauer ‘53Mrs. Patricia MageeMr. Thomas F. Mangan ‘63Ms. Kathleen S. Marciniak ‘L63Mr. Timothy McCarthy ‘42Mr. James E. McShane ‘42Mr. Matthew M. Murphy ‘43Mr. John W. Parker ‘37Mr. Robert J. Pienta ‘63Mr. Joseph P. Quattrocki ‘43Mr. Raymond J. Schroff ‘36Mr. Donald G. Sikora ‘52Mr. Patrick J. Smid ‘42Ms. Valerie Wickowski ‘L76Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,and may perpetual light shine upon them.May their souls and all the souls of thefaithful departed rest in peace. Amen.St. John Baptist De La Salle, pray for us.Our Lady of Lourdes,pray for us.Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.Alumni Connection 25