Monthly Archives: November 2011

From: Stebbins, Donald M (MC1961)
Date: Sun, Nov 20, 2011 at 10:00 AM
Subject: Poet-Bashing Police – Movement started by Mario Savio, one time Manhattan College Student

Mario Savio went to Manhattan for one year (1960-1961) at his father’s request according to his bio.

Don

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/opinion/sunday/at-occupy-berkeley-beat-poets-has-new-meaning.html

November 19, 2011
Poet-Bashing Police
By ROBERT HASS
Berkeley, Calif.

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It is also the place where students almost 50 years ago touched off the Free Speech Movement, which transformed the life of American universities by guaranteeing students freedom of speech and self-governance. The steps are named for Mario Savio, the eloquent graduate student who was the symbolic face of the movement. There is even a Free Speech Movement Cafe on campus where some of Mr. Savio’s words are prominently displayed: “There is a time … when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part. You can’t even passively take part.”

*** end quote ***

Robert Hass is a professor of poetry and poetics at the University of California, Berkeley, and former poet laureate of the United States.

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[JR: I'm far from a "liberal" (in today's vernacular) and, although accused, also far from being a "conservative". As a little L libertarian, I prefer to think of myself as a "classical liberal" who favors "the people" over "the King" or "the Church". Maybe that's a paleo-liberal. All that being said, the Gooferment is out of control with its use of force. And, while I think the Occupy folks are counter-productive, one can't help but be shocked at how "the Man" is treating them. Interesting to see this MC connection. Dona Nobis Pacem ]

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Savio

[JR: Kudos to Jasper Stebbins for a good find and remembering the MC connection. Although he probably shouldn't be reading the lame street media. He's already got too many liberal tendencies. LOL! Serious, thanks for the detective work and the report. Power to the people! Or maybe just Dona Nobis Pacem?]

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Nov-21 @ 07:17

From: McEneney, Mike (MC1953)
Date: Sun, Nov 20, 2011 at 10:31 PM
Subject: Stephen Bordas,’76 RIP

Dear John,

Here is a very nice tribute to the late Stephen Bordas,’76.

May He Rest In Peace.

http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/enewsroom/archives/archive_2232.asp

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Fordham Mourns Longtime Administrator

A member of the Fordham community for more than 30 years, Bordas was known as much for the caring work culture he cultivated as his supervision the day-to-day tasks of the registrar’s office.

When he received the Archbishop Hughes Medal in 1997 for 20 years of service to Fordham, he was lauded for innovative initiatives such as the first mail registration process for freshmen and a sophisticated interactive voice system.

In March 2010, he was one of three Fordham employees to be honored with the inaugural Sursum Corda award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the life and mission of the University.

He was cited as a creative and compassionate man who had shepherded many undergraduates through four years of work-study employment in his office, only to have them continue to work with him after graduation.

“He has built a family-like environment in the enrollment services offices of the enrollment group that embodies the values of cura personalis and magis so central to Jesuit education,” the Sursum Corda citation read.

“His approach to work with colleagues and students alike is guided by those values and recognition of the mutual dependence that enables all of us to make our way in this world.”

Peter A. Stace, Ph.D., vice president for enrollment, called Bordas a dear friend, a caring mentor and dedicated colleague.

“He always told us, ‘I am here for you guys,’ and to his dying day, he was,” Stace said.”

“Steve’s dedication and commitment live on in the those whose lives he touched. Fordham will be forever grateful to Steve for his life as an inspiration to all; an exemplar of the Jesuit ideal of selfless service to others.”

A viewing will be held at Clark’s Funeral Home, 2104 Saw Mill River Road in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. on Tuesday, November 15, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. For details, please call (914) 962-3333.

Ram Van transportation to Clark Funeral Home will be available. Vans will depart at 1:30 p.m. from the front of the McGinley Center and returning an hour after they arrive in Yorktown heights. There will be a sign in the window displaying “Clark Funeral Home”.

Please reserve a seat in advance by calling (719) 817-4346 or e-mail ramvan@fordham.edu. The trip is approximately one hour each way.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. at the Fordham University Church at the Rose Hill campus. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Cancer Society are requested.

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 15,100 students in its four undergraduate colleges and its six graduate and professional schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre at Heythrop College in the United Kingdom.

11/11

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[JR: Thanks, Mike. Much appreciated. A nice find. And nice words for a fine fellow Jasper. Even if he was working for the rivals. We poke a lot of good natured fun at Fordham, but since they sent us a Prez when we needed it, guess we have to recognize that they are not the epitome of all the evil in the world. And, Stephen, as Class of '76, was taken far too young. Guess his work here was done. But when I get to the Last Judgement, I'm going to lodge a strong complaint about all those who cut in line. Dona Nobis Pacem]

Bordas, Stephen [MC1976 RIP]

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[JR: Great find, Mike. Keep at it and in another 30 years, you'll get off the Research Desk at the Virtual Jasper Newsroom and move up to the Findings Desk. Then you'll be in the big time, reading the slush pile of news articles sifting for the gems. But, you'll have to watch ut for paper cuts. There deadly. (Yeah, I know get life and not even funny.)]

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Nov-21 @ 06:55

From: Stebbins, Donald M. (MC1961)
Date: Sat, Nov 19, 2011 at 11:23 PM
Subject: John Fandel. Manhattan College English Professor

Dear Jasper John

I remember John Fandel from the colloquia that the German Honor Society (Delta Phi Alpha) sponsored during the my years at Manhattan- 1957-1961

Harry Blair also participated along with the primary organizer, Edmund Tolk, the German Professor, and several others.

He wrote many poems in many collections but did not get the attention many thought he deserved.

Donald M Stebbins
BS 1961

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http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=10421

John Fandel was poetry editor at Commonweal from 1963 to 1979 and is emeritus professor at Manhattan College, after a teaching career of 39 years at Notre Dame, Fordham and elsewhere. He was Frost Poetry Scholar at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference in Vermont.

One Afternoon
John Fandel | NOVEMBER 26, 2007

I sat upon a window-seat.
“Sit here.” I squatted at his feet.

“I could not see you for the light.”
Sun shone that day with solstice might.

At the feet of the master, I
was held, eye by glistening eye.

Seventy-five spoke; twenty-five
listened; poetry came alive:

“The thinking heart; the feeling mind.”
“Delight and wisdom.” All in kind.

Flown, fifty-five years—flown, not lost,
that afternoon with Robert Frost.

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Bach and a Catbird by John Fandel

John Fandel’s collection of poems, Bach and a Catbird published by Roth Publishing in 1978 contains 50 poems, mostly short poems in formal meter and rhyme, although a few are in free verse. John Fandel is not a household word. In fact, information about him and his poems is meager, despite the fact that his first collection was published in 1947 and he is now 85 and still writing and publishing. The back cover of this collection states, “John Fandel has published many poems (384) in a number of periodicals (90). In addition, he has brought out collections (4), chapbooks (8), privately printed pamphlets (16), and hand-made brochures (24). “ He now probably has double the amount of publications mentioned above. His lack of recognition among the outlets for contemporary poetry is a mystery to me.

The first poem in the collection, “The Aging Astronomer” – which recalls the famous Whitman poem-has a line that characterizes Fandel’s overall technique: “ He had a windowful of sky..and wonder.” Fandel is a poet of the wonders of the physical world. But he is not a poet of the deep forest, instead the poet of the garden; not the poet of the Windhover, instead the poet of the Cardinal and the Mockingbird; not the poet of the deep sea, but the poet of the Sandpiper along the ocean’s edge. Fandel’s poems have the feel that they were influenced by both Gerard Manly Hopkins and Robert Frost (with maybe a touch of Richard Wilbur and Robert Francis thrown in), and an even more distant influence of Keats and Milton. They are deceptively simple, replete with word play, puns and all the literary devices that makes these poems a joy to read. Fandel’s classical education is obvious though subtle.

The selections I admired most in this collection are: “Mostly about Calendulas.” one of his many Ars Poetica poems; “Laws,” “Lilacs,” “Sandpiper,” “Map Reading.” and “Blessing Them,” a poem about the feminine influences in his life.

Because, as mentioned earlier, Fandel’s poems do not show up on a simple Google search – it is actually easier to locate them at Amazon or Abesbooks than to try to get them from a University or Local library- I will print out “Laws,” “Lilacs,” and “Mostly about Calendulas” below:

Laws

How the wind shook the FULL STOP sign!
How the Law stood up to it, twinned!

Neither seemed one to resign-
Though it looked pretty good for the wind.

Wind was its own legislature;
FULL STOP shook FULL STOPS like a clan.

But when has the law of nature
ever bowed to the laws of man.

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[JR: Thanks, Jasper Stebbins. I never had him or any interest in poetry. It seems that all too often folks don't get the attention that they deserve. Lady Gaga and Snooki seem to command the filed of battle for "attention". Sad. Would have like to have something to remember. Too soon these giants pass us by.]

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From: Delaney, Gerard M. (MC1975)
Date: Sun, Nov 20, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Subject: Scandals

John,

What that article did not mention, of course, is that Junius Kellogg blew the whistle on the basket ball scandal. Kind of like saying the arresting officer was “involved” in a murder.

Gerard ’75

~

Gerard M. Delaney
Go mbeannai Dia, a Mairha, a Padraig thu.
(May God, Mary and Patrick bless you!)

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[JR: I'm sure that was just an oversight. :-) Probably by the time the writer got to ten, they were tired. At least, MC is now not in his top 10! Good observation.]

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Nov-20 @ 06:19

From: McEneney, Mike (MC1953)
Date: Sun, Nov 20, 2011 at 1:10 AM
Subject: John Dooley,’65 RIP

Dear John,

The note by Dean Rust talking about the late John Dooley,’65 is a great tribute. It is too bad that we do not learn these things until some one has died.

May He Rest In Peace.

Mike

October 28, 2011

John was one of the smartest yet humblest persons I’ve ever met. We worked closely on nuclear issues during the 1980s and 1990s- John in State and me in the Arms Control Agency. I had the highest respect for his intelligence and fairness. And his grasp of substance and process were second to none. Dealing with John was a pleasure – you learned a lot and often went away smiling from some new absurdity that John had discovered within the realm of nuclear politics. He represented the best in public service and was a valued colleague. I offer my sincere sympathy to the family.

~

Dean Rust,
Alexandria, Virginia

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[JR: Thanks, Mike. Much appreciated. I am in awe of the accomplishment and humbled by the respect expressed for our fellow Jaspers. It is indeed sad we find these things out after they pass. Makes me sad to have missed the opportunity to publicize their goodness. We always seem to hear what's wrong.]

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