Saint Mary's Magazine Fall 2004 - Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

COTTER RATS, CLASS OF 1964 • THE GUYS OF ’ 76-’ 79 • LA
THE RUSHVILLE GUYS
OF ’76-’79
In the summer, they golf. In the winter, they ski. A large
group of SMU alumni spanning the years ’76 to ’79 has
weathered all kinds of weather.
Though Rich Reedy, Tom Evon, Kevin Dunigan, Frank
Howard, Dave Von Schaumburg, Mike Schuld, Chuck
Wolande, Phil Corcoran, Pat Kennedy, Jeff Adair, Gerry
Gibbons, Paul Curi, Don O’Rourke, Mark Olita, Vinnie
Bertuca and Terry McElroy, all of 1976; Tom Michon ’77; and
Mike Michon ’79 were all in different fraternities, they
shared a common bond, Rushville, which was a grassroots
This group of SMU students got together
in the 70s through Rushville, an organization
of students who liked to camp and hile the bluffs.
Saint Mary's alumni meeting
▼
for a ski outing are, from left:
Roger Collins (friend), Phil
Corcoran ’76, Chuck
Wolande ’76, Mike Michon
’79, Kevin Dunigan ’76,
Dale McCory (friend), Rich
Reedy ’76, Mike Schuld
’76, David Von
Schaumburg, ’76, Tom
Evon ’76, Frank Howard
’76, Jack Shemroske
(parent), and Pat
Kennedy ’76. ▼
A large group of
alumni from 1997
and family get
together each
August for their
“Party on the
River.” Getting
together were,
from left: front,
Jodie Tasto, Megan
(Murphy) Gerres,
Nancy (Carroll)
Judy; middle,
Melissa Caine, Jen
(Krol) Volpentesta,
Aaron Harwood,
Mike Silvis, Chris
Silvis; back, Mike
Richtman, Mark
Kedrowski, Mike Day
and Dan Riordan.
▼
group that liked to hike, explore the bluffs, camp and meet
after the last class on Friday’s for a few beers.
They still enjoy the great outdoors together. Frank
Howard holds an annual golf outing in June, which now
draws at least 35 SMU graduates each year.
“We usually go to one Bears game together each year
or have a garage tailgate party at someone’s house,” Reedy
said. “Every once and a while we get together at Christmas
time. Tom Evon and Phil Corcoran and I had the pleasure of
having children go to SMU together so we used parent’s
weekend to reunite. I remember my son, Patrick, looking at
me his sophomore year and saying this isn’t fair that we
were having so much fun … now he understands the bond
we all have for each other.”
Reedy finds it remarkable that no matter
how much time has passed, it’s seems
like only days since they last saw each
other.
“Words can not express the feeling
that I have for each and everyone of my
friends,” he said. “They say if you have
five close friends you are golden, well, I
have found the pot of gold and am the
luckiest man on earth.”
1997 RIVER REVELERS
Mike Richtman ’97 says that despite the fact
his group of SMU friends have gained more
education, a few extra pounds and some
additions to their families, they still act like
they’re in college.
He can’t explain how a large group from
1997 including: Marty Momsen, Mike Silvis, Rob Slattery,
Mike Day, Dan Riordan, Mark Kedrowksi, Aaron
Harwood, Steve Vetsch, Meg (Leuer) Richtman, Tara
(Jones) Anderson, Melanie Audette, Melissa Caine,
Nancy (Carroll) Judy, Jen (Krol) Volpentesta, Colleen
(Haggerty) Olechowski, Carolyn (Todd) Bray, Jodie Tasto
and Megan (Murphy) Gerres became friends. Some were
roommates in Benilde, Ed’s and Skemp. The others? “We
all just like to have fun, I guess,” Richtman said.
18 SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE FALL 2004