Spring 2003 - Fenwick High School

The entire Fenwick community extends its prayers and condolences to
REMEMBRANCES
families of these deceased Friars. We appreciate the kindness many of
our readers have shown by providing information for our
“Remembrances” page. Please submit all obituaries, prayer cards, and
letters of remembrance to the Alumni and Development Office.
* INDICATES MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON WEB SITE: WWW.FENWICKFRIARS.COM
William A. Calabrese, Jr. ‘57
John Cantu ’46
James G. Catarina ’36*
John J. Jack Coakley ’47*
James R. Creighton ’37
Robert D. Del Greco, Jr., ’63
William R. Demmert ’35
Edward B. Dunigan, Jr. ‘40*
Daniel J. O’Brien ’34,
Fenwick’s Athletic
Director Emeritus, died
on Saturday, March 22,
2003. Dan had fallen
earlier this month in his
Oak Park home.
Mr. O’Brien’s nearly
lifelong association with Fenwick began
when he entered the school as a freshman
in 1930. He joined the football team, but a
serious injury during his first season
resulted in the loss of one kidney and the
end of his playing career.
Encouraged to become an athletic
manager by Fenwick’s coach and Athletic
Director, Tony Lawless, the young Dan
O’Brien joined the Fenwick faculty as a
physical education teacher and athletic
trainer as soon as he graduated from high
school. In 1937 he became freshman
football coach and during his 34 years
coaching football, the freshman Friars
compiled 20 undefeated seasons.
In 1943, he became head swimming/diving
George E. Eder ’51*
Alfred E. Ellsworth ’49
Raymond Gillen ’43
Donald Grimm ’47*
John M. Jack Hardin ’34
Richard C. Hurley ’41
Thomas J. Kane ’77*
William Lynch ’39
“One of Fenwick’s Greatest Treasures…”
coach and for the next 28 years, his
Fenwick teams never lost a meet in
Chicago Catholic League competition.
Under his leadership, Fenwick won the
league championship more times than the
rest of the league combined and produced
74 All-American swimmers and divers.
Mr. O’Brien was the first coach selected by
the Illinois Interscholastic Swimming
Coaches Association to win the John H.
Newman Award as the outstanding swimming
coach in Illinois. His record number of
victories in swimming competition
(including 325 dual meets) has been listed
in the Guinness Book of Records and
recognized by the Swimming and Diving
Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
After retiring as swimming coach in 1965
and football coach in 1970, Dan continued
as Athletic Director and athletic trainer until
1989.
“Dan O’Brien was one of Fenwick’s
greatest treasures,” said Rev. Richard C.
LaPata, O.P. ’50, President of Fenwick. “He
represents everything the school stands
Fenwick Faculty
Member for 25 Years:
✄
The Gift of a Great Teacher
Enclosed is my donation of $ ___________.
Rev. Raymond Nicholas Ashenbrener, O.P.
Robert L. Marquardt ’44
Edward J. Praisa ’32
Edward V. Quinn ’53*
Richard A. Sergo ’62*
Frank R. Trankina ’50*
Charles L. Tyrrell ’46
CHARLES L. WRIGHT ’39
for: integrity, hard work, and an unwavering
commitment to excellence. He has inspired
not only several generations of young
athletes, but motivated all who knew him to
give 100% at all times.”
Mr. O’Brien was the first president of the
Illinois Swimming Coaches Association, a
recipient of the Loyola University Finnegan
Humanitarian Award, and a member of the
Chicago Sports Hall of Fame, the Chicago
Catholic League Hall of Fame, and the
Illinois Water Polo Hall of Fame. He was
voted the Illinois Athletic Director of the
Year in 1988.
In 1973, he married Meg Helme
McSheehy, a widow with seven children,
and became the center of a large and
loving family. The couple celebrated their
silver wedding anniversary before Mrs.
O’Brien’s death last January.
To read excerpts from Dan’s book,
“Fenwick Over the Years,” and a tribute by
Timothy Rooney ’76, Fenwick’s Chairman
of the Board, please turn to page 26.
Fr. Ashenbrener, who taught Latin and religion from 1952 through 1977 died in February at
the age of 78. He was well-known for his love of the German language and culture and his
numerous trips to Germany accompanied by students
in honor of (teacher’s name) ________________________________________
My name ________________________________________________________ Graduation year ____________
Address ___________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________ Zip ______________
✄
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SPRING 2003