Gannon University - Lance Yearbook (Erie, PA)

Page 13 text:

Professor. . Counsellor. Friend. . . a Man a MeMett Jdeaia. To Father John P. Schanz, Faculty Adviser and guiding spirit of the Class of 1956, we dedicate this book. It was you, Father Schanz, who untangled us as awkward Freshmen in the fall of 1952. And now, this June of 1956, you walk with us as eager but worried Seniors to the edge of the world. In the years between, you welded our class into a cohesive unit. You tolerated our nonsense and no doubt offered up your advisorship for the poor souls in Purgatory. You cheerfully moderated our class squabbles, ran our interference with the adminis- tration, and put on the biggest and best prom. You won our respect with your quiet, dignified gentlemanliness. You were a brilliant, gentle, exacting, always interesting teacher; but you taught us even more by your example. Your deeply sincere, devout priestliness led us to a true appreciation of spiritual reality. You did all this quietly, humbly, without EVER thinking of yourself. Please accept this 1956 Lance as a dedication to the ideals you have given us, Father Schanz. We know that, in your customary lack of selfishness, you willingly will share this dedication with another

Page 15 text:

3m, Memasaam The Class of 1956 dedicates this hook to Father Schanz, the living personification of our noblest ideals . . . and to Joseph Bonavita, our foremost classmate, who lives forever in our Senior memories. Usually we called him Jiggs Bonavita, but sometimes we called him Dad as well. I Ie was older than the rest of us. and— while we kidded him about the difference in ages— we respected the wisdom and leadership that his maturity brought to our class. After school, Jiggs worked as Sanitary Engineer at the State Employment Office; we kidded him about being a real pusher. But you know, that's just what he was (with a different connotation), for he was full of burning ambition: to obtain a good education, that he might better provide for his wife and son. Why, it seems like only yesterday that he was treasurer and then ice-president of Student Council! Mis driving energy spelled success for many of our undergraduate activities. We young kids (as he laughingly called us didn't know where he got all that energy. Jiggs' leadership made the most active among us seem lazy, it made the most inactive of us ashamed. It was a cold, cloudy morning, February 1 , 1956. Coming into school, we soon heard the hoarse whispers of classmates: Jiggs is gone . . . cerebral hemorrhage . . yesterday ... No, not Jiggs . . .! Yet it was true. And there was nothing else that could be said. But there were many thoughts, recollections, yearning remembrances. Everyone recalled something that reflected the goodness of the man. Like his straight from- the-heart smiles and laughter when he organized a clothing drive lor Korean orphans. . . Now, commencement approaches. He will not be there. He will not mount the stairs to receive the diploma for which he gave himself so fully, but he has done better than the rest of us. Joseph Louis Bonavita has graduated from lite itself, 'Summa cum Laude. —Tlu)) uis McCormack, '56