The Spirit of the Berkshires

The winds soughing through the quick changing trees of autumn, the somber and abiding scrutiny of the hills to the south, the welcoming lawns sloping down to the playing fields or neglected apple grove, the thickly forested retreat of the solitary path to the north of the school, the winter snow everywhere challenging, the stunning clarity and mystery of the stars, the shock of the cold and then the welcoming green springtime that always seemed late, those countless days walking alone, thinking and dreaming and meditating, on the official days of silence, never quite alone in the omniscient New England landscape.

Pax vobiscum,
John Francis Holland
BellefontaineIHM 1963-1967

IHM Remembered

I was delighted to have stumbled onto this web site by chance and rekindle the fond memories of my mid teens there. I attended IHM for two years and was part of the first freshman class. My recollections of Lenox are so many and varied that I’ll try to just say what comes to mind.

I remember Prefect – Fr. Casper’s bell early in the morning to rise. Back then, we were on the third floor of the Seminary – windows facing the courtyard. “Vivat Cor Jesu!” Was the greeting of the day. “Per Cor Mariae!” was the response. Father Casper (a real great SCJ), not only taught Latin, but would drill us in the use of the language throughout the day. “Caesar est Magnum!” “Quid est novum?” Dude!

As I reflect back and think about some of the juvenile pranks, I recall our seminarians – the first class of freshman at Lenox – kids from all over the East Coast. That first week many were collectively dubbed with knick names, such as: “Animal” “Tanker” “Frenchie” etc. by the group. Actually, during the first week we were shown a movie: “Stalag 17” ergo – one of the students: “Animal” was born. The first time one of the parents visited, that practice ceased.

We were rather impudent then – calling Father McGuire “Muggsey”. The Masses were said in Latin then and I couldn’t remember who taught Gregorian chant until now. It was Father Hogya (a spiritual man). He loved the VIII Mass of the Angles Kyrie, but more importantly, he loved his cigarettes!

Other memories include: Naglesdmiths milk, flag football, swimming in the old pool outside in the woods, ice skating on the lake near the girls prep school, trips to Springfield and Lee to see Museums, JFK’s Cuban Missile Crisis and air aid bomb drills in the basement, the Rotunda foyer and the spiral staircase to our small classroom, Tanglewood, and our climb up one of the hills, NYC RDC train from Pittsfield to NYC for Thanksgiving break, that freight train whistle every night after lights out, the rosary around the sunken garden, and of course – Brother John from Africa.

It’s funny what you remember after forty two years but that time was innocent and left an indelible impression on a young man. I was very disappointed to know that the property went back into the hands of the wealthy. Thus, the cycle of life!

As for myself, I am happily married for the past thirty-some years living in Turnersville NJ and have two grown children. I work for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in Philadelphia as a Technical Instructor and hope to retire in two years.

IHM was a great prep for life. No regrets! I hope to find out how other students and faculty of that time are doing now.

“Father Leo John – Thank you for the blessings and favors granted!”.

Pax vobiscum friends,
Nick Frankunas

Harry and the sheets

Who remembers Harry Williams jumping into the clothes shute, when opened all the white sheets followed by good old Harry. (i think in 1963)

Vivat!

One of my most enduring memories is of the day when, out of nowhere, someone gave “Vivat!” during beakfast, challenging the “Irish Mafia’s” hold on feast days (ie. St. Patrick’s Day).
Guilty Party: Jim Pezzulo.

Greatest memory: The look on Fr. Bruder’s face!

Consequence: TAD for 25 years to life. Rumor has it that had Tony Buder not left the priesthood, Jim would still be on TAD.

Mrs. McGuire's Cooking

When Father McGuire was rector every year the sisters would go on retreat for a week. When this happen Father McGuire’s mother would come up to the seminary and do the cooking which was a treat as she was an excellent cook.

Peter Adams 1961-63

Mr. Kiley's Term Papers

While I was living in Chicago , I had the chance to visit with Mike Gerardi and his lovely family. Our conversations would recall the quality of education we received at IHM. Mike remembers our senior English teacher, Mr. Kiley, returning our term papers to us with giant quotation marks from beginning to end. We all had to do our papers over again. Little did we realize what that lesson would mean until we each entered graduate studies and had to write a thesis for our Masters’ program.
Mike received a Business degree and is serving in upper level management. My Masters Degree was in Spirituality. My studies at IHM made me realize that I would never become an accountant or Financial advisor since I struggled in math. But the language studies opened a niche for my future. I am grateful for studies in Latin and Spanish. I eventually learned Italian and have used these three languages for congregational as well as personal ventures.

Rick DiLeo SCJ-Class of 1970

Bart and Ian Fleming

One of the hottest things going in 1964 (sophomore year) was James Bond, both movies and novels. Bart Sorenson had brought an Ian Fleming novel to school and he must have forget to have it approved by the dean of boys. One fall day all the sophomores were in the study hall. The freshmen class was also there in front of us. It was quiet, as always, when suddenly we hear Fr. Bruder say, “All freshmen go down to the language lab now.” I look to see Fr. Bruder standing right next to Bart’s desk. Bart had his face down in that James Bond novel completely oblivious to Fr. Bruder’s entrance until he made that announcement right over him. Bart’s face had turned bright red. Luckily for him Fr. Bruder had paid no attention to him nor to what he was reading.

1967

I think some of my greatest memories of I.H.M. deal with Fr. Krah. His teaching, glee club, and the personal touch he offered always come back when I remember my high school years.
May Fr. Krah rest in peace.

Do, Re, Mi

I remember listening during recreation periods to the popular Broadway musicals of the day: South Pacific, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, and of course, the Sound of Music. We sang some of those tunes in the “glee club”, and couldn’t get enough of them. I remember hanging out of the French windows and little balconies in the classroom above the library with Steve Henner and singing Do, Re, Mi from the Sound of Music, out into the courtyard below. When the new wing was being constructed, we lived one year at St. Joseph’s Hall at the corner of the property. Every night we would have to walk down the front driveway, and cut through the cemetary, to get there. To pass the time or to aleviate our fear of the dark, we would go down singing “Tonight” from West Side story. Crazy, but fun.

The sweet smell of grass...

No not that kind of grass….real grass. I remember one of my work assignments was to mow the cemetery. I would start up the riding lawn mower and putt-putt down the long front drive way, before taking a left into the cemetery. It cemetery was a long rectangular patch of grass completely surrounded by tall evergreens on all four sides. At the far end of the rectangle were 8 or 10 graves of members of the Fathers of Mercy who had owned the property before the SCJ’s. I remember skillfully dodging the head stones, while trying to trim every blade of grass. Then it was just back and forth to finish off the space, before putt-putting back up the hill. Tough duty, but someone had to do it.