Procrastinator 2

PROCRASTINATOR
Volume 1, Issue 2 June 2017
Vincentians Banish Class
of ’67 from Bluff Rd. Site
Going Rogue in Reno for a retro reunion after 50 years
By Tom Beigel
Dogged reporter
Some people remember June of 1967 as the month the
Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Not
the boys from Bluff Road, class of 1967. These boys are
gathering to remember the day when the 16 survivors of
the 1963-64 freshmen class of 40 seminarians graduated
from St. Vincent’s Seminary. It almost didn’t happen for
the editors of the 1 st issue of the Procrastinator.
That 1 st issue was published via mimeograph machine
without administration approval. The Rector, Fr. Walter
Housey, carefully considered whether it was a good time to
winnow the flock so to speak. At a hastily arranged class
meeting, it was only after the artful defense offered by the
Student Body President, Jerry Jackson, that mercy prevailed
and the Procrastinator crew lived on to work on that 2 nd
issue. And here it is!
Remembering Ready
By Daniel Knutson-Bradac
He Who Dances With Bears
It’s junior year at St. Vincent’s Minor Seminary. I am sitting in
the Study Hall. It is just after dinner, and I am trying to digest
fried chicken, mashed potatoes and canned beets. We refer to
this chicken as “leprosy legs” as it is deeply fried and when you
stick your fork in it, you are likely to send a pocket of hot oil
across the table at someone else’s white shirt. As you can likely
tell by now, I am not studying here in the study hall. I am
staring out the window at the Goodyear blimp which is flying
overhead and hovering over the Rose Hills sign on the Whittier
continues on page 2
1 | P a g e

continued from page 1
Hills. I am thinking of Taco Bell just beyond the fence of our
14 acre compound, as even Taco Bell seems positively
epicurean compared to tonight’s dinner. It’s possible I am
daydreaming about the girl from Up With People, but I am not
admitting to that. It’s about this time that I have the very
clear sense that I am being watched.
There are people in the world who have weaponized stares,
which is to say that when they are giving you that look that
cannot be ignored, you just have to respond. Father Ready
has one of those stares. I turn away from the window to look
and sure enough, he is focusing his considerable attention on
my delinquency. I quickly turn away and take out my history
book, since Fr. Housey is likely to submit us to another
edition of the Purple Flash during class tomorrow. I begin
to study, though I am somewhat preoccupied by receiving
Fr. Ready’s disfavor. This makes me unhappy, because of all
of my teachers, he is my favorite. He has had the most
impact on my life, and sense of optimism about the future.
TROCHEE trips from long to short;
From long to long in solemn sort
Slow Spondee stalks, strong foot! yet ill able
Ever to come up with Dactyl trisyllable.
Iambics march from short to long.
With a leap and a bound the swift Anapests throng.
Back in my sophomore year, one day sitting in the Fr.
Ready’s precious Library, one rare day when I was actually
studying, there suddenly dropped in front of me, the Arts
section of the New York Times. I look up and Fr. Ready is
walking away, looked back and nods his head. This simple,
but very specific act of recognition of my nerdy theatrical
obsession, bowled me over. It was a ritual that would
continue for the rest of my years at St. Vincent’s.
Some years later, as a result of my new found love of
literature and by way of the New York times Arts section
encouragement, I landed the lead role in Hamlet, a rare once
in a lifetime opportunity for any actor.
The last time I saw Fr. Ready was when I returned to St.
Vincent’s to try and thank him for all of his encouragement.
I performed one of my favorite soliloquies for him and tried
to give him credit, which of course, he deflected. There was
however, an unmistakable and rare smile on his face.
THE SENILITY PRAYER :
Grant me the senility to forget the people
I never liked anyway, the good fortune
to run into the ones I do, and the
eyesight to tell the difference.
In Memoriam by Tom Beigel
Our parents gave us a lot of support through the years,
especially during our seminary sojourn. Every week I
received a letter from home in the graceful script and
uplifting tone of my mother Kathleen Beigel. Every week
for six years!
After leaving the seminary, it took me quite a while to find
a new direction for my life. Marriage and starting a family
gave me the motivation, but I struggled to find my niche.
While visiting home in 1981, an ad for the Computer
Learning Center in San Francisco came on the idiot box.
Hardly knowing whereof she spoke, mom suggested I
check it out. Thus was born a career in IT.
Back in ’97 when I got the news of my mother’s cancer, I
felt moved to write a song that would give her hope and
consolation for her last trial. By the time my brother
Steve and I got to her bedside, she was barely able to
acknowledge our presence. She seemed to withdraw into
some space within where I could not go to her. I sat on
the bed with her and sang the song I’d been given.
Slowly, the gift was turned back on me. I realized the
song was an expression of her life and her final gift to me.
To Live Is Christ
If the road you travel makes you weary and sad
There's a friend who walks along the way
Take his hand; the path will lead to glory
And His love will light the way.
Ch. For me to live is Christ
I love that glad refrain
For me to live is Christ my Lord
And to die is only gain.
When evening comes and storm clouds appear
And the rain is beating on your door,
Just remember, sorrow lasts a moment in time
In the morning, comes joy evermore. – Ch.
I know who holds the future
And I know He cares for me. – Ch.
St. Therese of Lisieux declared on her deathbed that she
would spend her time in heaven “doing good upon
earth,” and that she would “let fall from heaven a shower
of roses.” Within a few minutes after my mother died, a
couple came to the house with a bouquet of roses. They
did not know that she had just died, but felt a strong sense
that they should bring the flowers over immediately. Such
are the tender mercies of the Lord.
2 | P a g e

C L A S S O F 1967 50 TH
R E U N I O N
The St. Vincent’s Seminary Montebello class of 1967 is
having their 50 th reunion in Reno, Nevada beginning
Friday, June 23 and concluding on Sunday, June 25.
Survivors of this 3-day event will gather at a local golf
course on Monday, June 26, to show if they’ve still got
some game. Local police and civic organizations have been
advised of this gathering but have declined to offer any
special services, e.g. getting in and out of cars safely. It
looks like we’re on our own, guys.
Why meet in Reno? Only one reason—George Montoya is
here. Safe travels everyone!
C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S
FRIDAY, TACOS AND BEER
TRUCKEE RIVER HOUSE, 3195 IDLEWILD DR.
5 – 8 PM
Food, drinks, and fellowship
SATURDAY, VIRGINIA CITY EXCURSION
CARPOOL FROM TRUCKEE RIVER HOUSE
10 AM – 2 PM
Enjoy historic old west town, lunch
SATURDAY, DINNER AT PIETRO’S
834 VICTORIAN AVE, 7 PM
SUNDAY, 10 MASS (FOR THOSE SO INCLINED)
ST. THERESE LITTLE FLOWER, 875 E PLUMB LN
SUNDAY, AFTERNOON BBQ
TRUCKEE RIVER HOUSE, 3195 IDLEWILD DR.
ALL DAY EVENT FROM NOON ON, BBQ AT 2 PM
Hangout all afternoon with special guest, George Montoya
MONDAY, GOLF TOURNAMENT
HOSTED BY GREG WONACOTT (707)319-8840
MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY
Portrait of an
Irish Vincentian
An interview with Fr.
Jim Cormack, C.M.
Fr. Patrick Keeley (right)
Tom: My class from Montebello had Patrick Keeley for a prefect
in 1964 and then of course he was our novice master at Santa
Barbara. What was he like to work with?
Jim: He was a gentleman; I always looked for his picture in the
dictionary at that word. When asked about his years at Santa
Barbara--he was there from ‘64 when it opened to ‘68--he told
me, “long periods of absolute boredom punctuated with
moments of stark terror."
Tom: Were we that bad?
Jim: He of course was referring to the fire in ‘64.
Tom: Where did you work with him after you were ordained?
Jim: I lived with him twice, when I was first ordained in ‘76 at
Cardinal Glennon College, the seminary in St. Louis, and then in
1995 when he was associate pastor with me as pastor at St.
Vincent’s parish in St. Louis. I told him that it was absolute
proof of God’s Irish sense of humor that he ended up with me
as his boss.
Tom: What did he say to that?
Jim: He informed me that to his knowledge the Irish have no
sense of humor at all. We worked with the poor, African
American mostly, living in public housing. He pulled his weight,
but never warmed to it. As we saw in Santa Barbara, he was a
man who did what was asked.
Tom: The Novice Master playbook probably didn’t encourage
familiarity. How would you describe him out of that role?
Jim: He had a wry sense of humor, very dry. He was steady. I
had a never prudent mouth and he would talk sense to me, not
in a patronizing way, often in a pleading way. I learned to listen,
he learned to endure.
Tom: What were the living arrangements?
.
Continued on page 4….
3 | P a g e

Winter Sky
Lyrics for a Gary Kielhofner composition
by Felix Roy
In Winter Skies of beautiful cold
A single bird flies high
Singing softly songs of old
A faint, familiar cry
I watch with envy at his flight
But why should I be sad?
Turning back into the night
I grasp the thought I had
I find its life is taken up
With visions of two hands
One demanding from a cup
One answers those demands
I look for new thoughts but in vain
Yet trying all the while
To break the laughter of that chain
I'm captured by a smile
And worst of all, I need my chains
Their wonder and their wine
Living for their frequent pains
I make their colors mine
For me those colors whirl around
And end up in a bow
Bringing Heaven to the ground
A sign I love them so
Those Masters hold me by their side
Despite how much they gave
Now the love I have says I'd
Live freer as a slave
A slave can dream of swimming free
Alone in clear, clean streams
No such hope remains for me
For I'm a slave to my dreams
No such hope remains for me
For I'm a slave to my dreams
Continued from page 3 – Interview with Cormack
Jim: We lived simply at St. Vincent’s by choice, that
being mine as I was there long before he arrived. When
he came, we had no cook or housekeeper. Up to that
point he had lived in institutions, so cooking and
laundry and housework were not words in his lexicon.
Tom: Life with the Josephinas Hermanas nuns can
spoil a man.
Jim: I asked him how he found the life at St. V’s after
a year. He always spoke in a sing song kind of way with
the Irish habit of repeating. His response was
“primitive, Jim, primitive.”
Old ‘67
By Elton John
Old '67 what a time it was.
What a time of innocence, what a time we've lost.
Raise a glass and have a laugh, have a laugh or two.
Here's to old '67 and an older me and you.
Tom: He liked the phrase, “precious little”, if I remember.
Where did he go after his years with you at St. Vincent’s?
Jim: After 6 years at St. Vincent’s, he was sent to be pastor
at St. Catherine Laboure. He had never been a pastor
before, but he was a gamer. At age 65 he said, “I’ll do
what I can, I’ll learn what I must.”
Tom: Well, he had a good example to follow, Jim. How
would you sum up your relationship?
Jim: I never felt close to him as a brother or friend, but I
did hold him in high regard. He was a good man. I hope
when I die at least a few will say the same thing about me.
Tom: The last time I visited Perryville, I saw his
headstone in the community cemetery. Anything you can
tell us about his last years?
Jim: He developed Alzheimer’s and spent his final years at
Perryville, where we have a retirement facility. The old
novitiate and student buildings are gone. He would pack a
suitcase and try to escape. Somewhere in that vague,
morphed memory space he must have thought he was a
college seminarian. He died in 2011. He was 81. May he
rest in peace.
4 | P a g e

Roll Call and Reminiscences
A Rorschach of Sorts
from One Who Should Know
by Felix Roy
Exclusive to the Procrastinator
This is by no means complete, but a near chronological
order of those I met, recall and knew and some of the more
dominant impressions that they left me with in the path of
formation:
Michael Boyle, CM – As Vocational Director, he was the
early face of the Community. Soft-spoken and always kindly
(Just like a PR man for a non-profit should be).
Eulegio Coello, CM - Spiritual Director, low-key and
seemed almost to glow spiritually. Right off a Holy Card.
Roy Persich, CM – Feared his crooked smile more than
anything. Next words out his mouth could be a laugh or a
lashing. But years later, came to respect his spiritual side as
well as academic.
John Golden, CM – Mostly remember that we were with
him and his projector when we got the news that John
Kennedy had been assassinated. Throughout my
professional careers, I have often been in gratitude to him
because of how much algebraic formulae have helped me
help people. I did not have any particularly negative
interactions unlike those I have heard from so many
confreres.
William H Ready, CM – Far and away the most entertaining
and influential teacher I ever had.
Brother Bernard Stein, CM – Worked for him with the
greatest respect. And how many times over the years have I
uttered one of these two phrases regarding typing
proficiency or errors: “Brother Bernard would be proud of
me” or “Brother Bernard would be ashamed of me”.
Jacinto Iroz, CM – How odd that he taught us Social Studies
(was he not Castilian?). More importantly, he taught me to
love Gregorian Chant and I still listen to it on Rabbit TV!
And I vaguely recall that he was in the Philippines during
WWII and either hid out from the Japanese or was captured
by them.
Thomas J McIntyre, CM – Two most vivid memories were
waving George offstage and him chewing Aspergum during
Mass after he had his tonsils removed. Second possibly a
Karma pay-back for first. I also remember him being very
gracious to my parents. So, 2-1.
Mr. David Windsor (not CM at the time) – Almost too
many to recount; intelligent, refined, talented.
Patrick Keeley CM – As for when he came in as a late
inning replacement for Persich, I have little recollection.
Most pre-dominant memories were from Santa Barbara,
especially in my role as his first Admonitor.
John Overkamp, CM – Again, almost too many. Some
great Scoff memories, and many worries about his
brooding over so many things, almost inexplicable
mysteries.
Paul Zimmerman, CM –Great love of history. “I was
there!” Istanbul – To the City. And I thought a truly
wonderful confessor (and Spiritual Director).
Walter L Housey, CM – Smoother times when he arrived,
or we were just getting better at rolling with the changes.
Kindly and open to speak with. Kept us on our toes with
his unannounced “Purple Flash” quizzes.
Edward Brennan, CM – He had a somewhat gruff exterior,
I wondered what he had done before replacing
Zimmerman as Spiritual Director. But no negative.
Brother Fred Oberlies, CM – A worthy replacement for
Brother Bernard on Maintenance. He taught me all I know
about maintaining water-softener systems. More than I
wanted to know. And he just seemed too young.
Brother Bill Piletic, CM – At that time I think barely a
Postulant? But what a great friend and confrere. Some
great walks and discussions along the perimeter of the ball
fields. All good memories, although really developed most
of it at Santa Barbara and even over the years (visited him
in Chicago once).
Richard Zak, MD – I don’t recall ever seeing him, with the
possible exception of football physicals? I remember some
who had allergies made frequent visits, but only vaguely.
Some of the Retreat Masters had their moments. I
remember one talking about a protection racket that he
and other teenagers (from St Vincent’s in LA) would pull
on people parking their cars for the 1932 Olympics in Los
Angeles. If they saw some well-heeled gent parking his car,
they would say that they would keep an eye on it for $5, or
else someone might urinate in the radiator. Meaning them!
And of course, Las Hermanas. I loved the food, especially
their Mexican dinners- I know not appreciated by those
who had it all the time from home, but for me a treat. One
exception was when the cows got into the onion grass in
spring and we got all that free ice cream that a local dairy
couldn’t sell. But my favorite was likely the Department of
Agriculture excess butter program. All the butter you
wanted. Often in our childhood we had lard, not butter on
our sandwiches and such.
5 | P a g e

The way we were….
Larry Alvarado (Machine)
Tom Beigel (Doggie)
Daniel Knutson-Bradac (Bear)
Jerry Hurkmans (Hurkie)
6 | P a g e

Jerry Jackson (The Purple Pit)
David Leahy (Snake)
Gil Martinez (Gilwa)
Maury McCaffrey (Boris)
7 | P a g e

Steve McGlone (Gooney)
George Montoya (King of Spain)
Ed Noriega (Stumpy)
Tom Pistone (Tomato)
8 | P a g e

Felix Roy (Frog)
Mike Thatcher (Barney)
Greg Wiedower (Weeds)
Greg Wonacott (Bull)
9 | P a g e

Cary Woolgar (Woolgie)
Fr. Patrick Keeley (Santa Barbara)
Fr. Ken Grass (Perryville)
“Do the good that presents itself to be done.” St. Vincent de Paul
10 | P a g e

Thru the years….
2 nd year Novitiate, 1968-69. This picture was taken on the steps
of the Novitiate building at Perryville, Missouri. Tom Pistone
was already showing signs of losing his vocation.
(Below) Las Hermanas Josephinas, Santa Barbara.
The infamous Super Sunday Singers. Delighting family
members on Visiting Sundays in Santa Barbara, this
illustrious group performed That’s What You Get For Loving Me
on the Charlotte Peters show in 1969. The decline and fall of
St. Mary’s of the Barrens followed swiftly after.
11 | P a g e

Reunion at Montebello 2007. Fr. Landry said a Mass in
memory of Geri Montoya. Brunch in the refectory and
then an afternoon BBQ at the Pistone residence.
This picture was taken in the Whittier Hotel 1999. Looks like our
middle-age girth had taken a firm grip on some of us. Everybody
looks healthier now (wink). Below picture from St. Vincent’s
earlier in the day at the De Paul Center.
Tommy Tomato’s dream reunion site—the Pope’s room
at Buca di Beppo. Anybody remember when this
happened? Best guess 2010. Usual suspects with Matt
and Holly McDonagh.
Fr. Jones kindly gave us a tour. After lunch at the Whittier Hotel,
we drove out to Arrowhead for an evening of reminiscing at
Pistone’s chalet by the lake.
First gathering in Reno after George Montoya was
admitted to the Reno VA hospital. Ruthie, Rhio, and
Marcia bravely participated. Summer of 2012. Promises
made to celebrate 50 th in 2017. (To the right) Clowning
around to commemorate George’s efforts to get
attention at assisted living home. Walk all over me!
12 | P a g e

Across
2. Dr. Bera
6. Barbie's pal
8. Rookie level Holly
Love Digimon
11. Onetime friend of
Sr. Mary Edwin
13. Unscrupulous
opportunist (who is
not a member of class
of ’67) – slang
14. Canadian producer
of nail polish
16. Texas Longhorns
17. Comedian with
bigger jaw than
Herr Beigel
19. What JJ does
21.Luxury womenswear
Collection
22. Soup __ jour
23. Where guidelines
for publishing are
kept – abbr.
25. Japanese manuf.
28. A type of iron
31. Homerism
32. Representations
33. Native (suffix)
36. “Be a ____ of the word”
37. Comes from
38. Belief
Down
1. Novice master or weed
2. What Bradac, Wiedower,
and Jackson were
3. Ditch
4. No room there for Jesus
and Mary
5. Nikki’s gig
6. “Precious little”, his
favorite phrase
7. Razor's edge
9. Expressing lack of interest
10. Lapse
12. Awkward fellow,
seminarian
14. Carries
15. Disclaimer of sorts
18. Major European river
20. Land of the gringos
24. Faith of some Founders
26. Freshman by definition
27. Thatcher’s favorite
classroom activity
29. Friends to Camus
30. Who said, “Drink deeply
of the cup.”
34. Latin conjunction
35. Regarding
36. __ profundis
Extra credit:
What Vincentian appears
here without a clue?
___________________
13 | P a g e

14 | P a g e

15 | P a g e

Finally, caught Fr. Ready in a spelling error. – Editor
16 | P a g e