RAN - Summer 2005 08.indd - Regis High School

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4 Regis Alumni News 2005 Alumni Senior Luncheon Recap On May 4, 2005 at the Alumni – Senior Luncheon the Regis Alumni Association honored Don Gross ’43 with the St. John Francis Regis award. Don received the award in recognition for his lifetime of service and generosity to those in need. The following is the text of Don’s remarks from that afternoon. Father O’Hare, members of the faculty of Regis High School, fellow Alumni and soon-to-be-graduates of the class of 2005. In reviewing the list of those who had previously received the “John Francis Regis Award”, I was very impressed with the credentials of those individuals who were honored. I was also very humbled that Regis saw fit to make me this year’s honoree. Since I am the first graduate from the 1940’s to be so honored, I can only assume that the decision may have had something to do with respect for the elderly. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Fr. O’Hare and the administration of Regis High School for this honor. It means a great deal to me because Regis High School has played such an important part in the formation of my life. “Each of us has our own unique talents and God given abilities that we should be truly grateful for.“ When told that I would have to say a few words to you today, I wondered what I could possibly say to this year’s seniors. I thought of the Jesuit educational mantra of preparing “men and women for others”. While at Regis, I was never a great debater or speaker, so I can’t expect to say anything to you today that you’ll find unforgettable. I would, however, like to talk to you about just two words and I hope that you will think about them after you go home today. The first word is EXAMPLE. A dear friend of mine, Msgr. Jim McNamara recently wrote that - “our worth lies not in what we do, but in who we are”. He was writing about the life of Pope John Paul II. Msgr. Jim’s point was that the Pope was such a great example to the world. It wasn’t so much what John Paul accomplished in his life but the model he was for all to see of a man living a dedicated life and accepting the suffering he had to endure. These words apply to us too. Your worth and my worth doesn’t come from the things we do or the goals we achieve, but in the kind of person that we are. What kind of an example are we to those around us? Those who are in contact with us each day? Our family? Our friends? Our co-workers or co-students? Are the people around us better because we are who we are? As I was preparing this talk, I thought of so many people in my life whose example was such a gift to me. People whose goodness and kindness and yes, love made a difference in my life. I thought of my parents and my elementary school principal, a nun who was the one person mainly responsible for my attending Regis. I thought of the many wonderful examples that were given to me at Regis by such dedicated Jesuits as Fr. Dan Burke and his brother Tom Burke. My freshman year teacher, Fr. Mike Costello and two presidents at Regis who meant a lot to me, Fr. Bill Wood, a dear friend and Fr. Ray Swords. To me these men were outstanding living examples to be imitated and followed. There were wonderful lay teachers like Joe Quintavalle and Harry Kirwin, who gave their lives to the students of Regis and were outstanding examples. You can think of those people in your own life who are great examples including those wonderful teachers at Regis today. Just six weeks ago, Regis lost a great teacher, Fr. Steve Duffy. He gave over 50 years of his life to the students of Regis, but it was his example of how to live a life joyfully and humbly that touched so many. To some, Fr. Stephen Duffy was “just” a high school teacher but he was a wonderful example to so many Regis grads. Steve’s worth was not in what he did~ but in who he was.
Summer 2005 5 To The Right: Rob Gross, Kathy Gross, Rev. Joseph A. O’Hare, SJ ‘48, Don Gross ‘43, Donne Gross and Rev. James R. Carney, SJ ‘43 I would like to share with you one final person who was such a great example to me. Just over six months ago, I lost my wife of 51 years. She was for me the finest living example of true goodness. She was a gift to me for which I will be eternally grateful. This was a woman who accepted everyone just where they were. She treated everyone in the same loving manner. She never accomplished any great deeds but she touched many lives because she treated all she met with respect and kindness. She was one of the most loved people I have ever known. Her example touched many more people than she ever realized. I would like you to ask yourself, “What kind of an example am I to those in my life?” Do I measure my worth by the things that I do? The goals that I accomplish? The awards I receive? Am I aware of the Example that I project by the person I am? Are the people around me better because of who I am? I mentioned earlier that there were two words that I would ask you to think about when you leave here today. That second word is “I encourage you today to be a living EXAMPLE of goodness and truth and to be GRATEFUL for your life, your talents, your family and friends AND for the opportunity to be an EXAMPLE for others.” GRATITUDE. I’m told that St. Ignatius Loyola said that, “the basis of all prayer is gratitude”. When you think of the attitude of the world around us today, it seems that our main goal is to acquire as much money as we can, as much power as we can, as much recognition as we can. We never seem to be satisfied with what we have. Every day we ought to set aside some time to consciously be aware of the gifts we have been given...to take the time to thank God for who we are and for the many blessings we have received. There is no one here today, who, if you are completely honest with yourself, can’t say that I have been much blessed. So often we concentrate our thoughts on the things we DON’T have in our lives. Each of us has our own unique talents and God given abilities that we should be truly grateful for. I urge you to spend a little time thinking about gratitude. When we are thankful people, we are happier people. I have asked you today to consider what “being a man for others” really means. I have offered you two words, EXAMPLE and GRATITUDE, that will, I hope, make this idea a little clearer. We can accomplish many great deeds in our life but we can sometimes over emphasize our accomplishments. I encourage you today to be a living EXAMPLE of goodness and truth and to be GRATEFUL for your life, your talents, your family and friends AND for the opportunity to be an EXAMPLE for others. Thank you.
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Page 7 and 8: Summer 2005 7 Regis Repertory: A Ye
Page 9 and 10: Summer 2005 9 Ladies and Gentlemen
Page 11 and 12: Summer 2005 11 “A Margin of Luck
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Page 19 and 20: Summer 2005 19 appears on the Home
Page 21 and 22: Summer 2005 21 1979 Richard J. Webe
Page 23 and 24: Summer 2005 23 1998 Daniel D. Kirch

RAN - Summer 2005 08.indd - Regis High School

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