Alumni News & Notes
John D. McCormick '70
My four years at CBC were a combination of academic challenges and comradery with my fellow classmates. During my junior year I had a remedial reading class in the school library. (A few years later it was established that I suffered from dyslexia.) I believe it was Brother Benjamin who was in charge of the library and my class. I had groused about my lack of academic abilities to him. He let me finish and then said; "John, we are the Christian Brothers, not the Jesuits. The Jesuits only want A and B students in their high school. Yes, we want A and B students. But we also want C students. We want students who are fighting for everything they can get. Why? Because the A and B students get lost in their thoughts and the C students are more grounded." I interrupted him and said, "OK, Brother. I will make sure that the A and B students get to their chemistry lab and then I will come to my remedial reading class."
As Brother Benjamin was speaking with me, I could see a book on the shelf behind his head. The title read; "Yes I Can." Brother Benjamin moved on, and I took the book off the shelf. The author of "Yes I Can" was Mr. Sammy Davis Jr. In my house Mr. Davis was very much respected for his incredible talents. My sister Mary Clare had a record album he recorded live from a casino in Las Vagas. I checked the book out. When I went back into the main school building, I stopped and admired the statue of St. John the Baptist de La Salle that was in the quadrangle. That night I started reading Mr. Davis's book. It took him from his early days in Harlem, NYC, to being on the road performing in Vaudeville with his parents and family. He was challenged many times throughout his life because of his race. He lost an eye when he was forced off a highway in one of the western states by a man who hated him for marrying a woman from Sweden. I was very impressed with his story and my takeaway is that Mr. Davis never quit. He would not buckle under. So, I thought to myself, I have teachers, parents and family on my side. I must not give in to my problems. I must try harder. I did and was able to graduate in the spring of 1970. Saint Louis University admitted me on "probation." I was given a semester to prove that I could compete.
College turned out much better that I could have hoped for. My GPA was 2.6 for the fall and 3.4 for the spring semesters. My family moved to Long Island, NY, after my freshman year and I was able to transfer to Hofstra University for my last three years. Upon graduating with a degree in Communications in 1974, I went to western Kentucky as a disc jockey at a small Country Western radio station, and one year later was in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Because I was required to read "cold news copy" my dyslexia got in my way. I returned to Long Island and started my second career at a film mixing studio in NYC. I learned how to do many forms of Mag Transfers. It was my entry into the audio engineering world. After 2 1/2 years I was laid off. I caught a break, and, in the summer of 1979, I was a Summer Relief board operator at WABC-AM and WPLJ-FM in NYC. It got me started with the NABET union that represented the engineers.
All went well. But when I went back in December to apply for the summer of 1980, the head of engineering said, "John, don't bother to fill out an application. I won't even look at it. We must meet our Affirmative Action goals." I was totally bummed out. However, I reflected back to my summer work while a student at CBC. After my freshman and sophomore years I worked at the Brentwood Steak N' Shake making the shakes and other drinks. In the summer after my sophomore year a fellow CBC student named Stanley was working the "Bun Toaster." Stanley was African American, and he had just completed his freshman year.
There was a local businessman who would eat lunch at the counter. He would always have a Coke, light on the ice, to drink. One day he sat on the other side of the coke machine. I was pouring drinks, and he said to me, "The complexion is getting darker around here." I looked at him and said nothing and kept working. He said it a second time. I kept working. After a few minutes he said it a third time and nodded over my right shoulder. I turned, saw Stanley, and said, "That's Stanley." This was in the summer of 1968. Our African American citizens were having "sit-ins" at Woolworth's and other department stores, for the right to eat lunch in public. Now here I was in 1979 not able to apply for work because of my race. Was it fair to me? Absolutely not. However, I remembered that businessman and realized that Affirmative Action policies were necessary. If this man thought that he should not have to see a young black man working while he ate lunch, what chance would a black person have in working at his company? Absolutely none!
My mind went back to Sammy Davis: I can't quit the business. I was introduced to "freelance" film production. It took a couple of years, but I was able to start earning a good living. I also got to travel. I went from Antarctica to Greenland, Asia to Europe, and all over the US on various documentaries. After 16 years in documentaries, I was able to become the sound mixer in episodic TV production in NYC for the next 20 years.
Brother Benjaman and Sammy Davis gave me the right "Pep Talk" at just the right time in my life. CBC was very good for establishing the need for personal discipline and organization. I was most fortunate to have been a student there in the late 1960s.
When it comes to a specific "lesson learned" from one of our CBC teachers I always remember Mr. Findley, my history teacher. I have shared this story quite a lot lately. We are not talking with one another enough.
In December of 1969 in Mr. Findley's history class, he divided the class down the middle. One side was told to read that weeks' Time Magazine. The other half was assigned U.S. News and World Report. The following week he called upon both sides to give reviews from the same national stories: Vietnam coverage and other political and social stories from the US. After eight or 10 reviews from each side he said to us: "Gentlemen, do you see what is happening here? The preceding week events took place; they were covered by two sets of reporters. Now Time Magazine is considered politically liberal and US News politically conservative. It's great to be a liberal and fine to be a conservative. But you might want to read how the other side thinks so that you can sit down and talk to them about it." I have been referencing this anecdote for the last few years. Right now, I think we need more Mr. Findley in America!
Honoring John Wilbur Grutsch '63 and our CBC Brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice
“To the perpetual memory of these gallant C.B.C. heroes who generously laid down their lives for God and country, this memorial is reverently erected. May they rest in peace.”
While it became a voluntary program in 1977, before it was discontinued, every student before then and those who chose to voluntarily, proudly wore the CBC uniform every day and participated in military structured drills, parades, and student life on campus. And even today, while the students no longer wear a uniform or participate in weekly drills and in military-style parades, the precepts and traditions formulated during those Jr. ROTC years are still revered and respected throughout the CBC Community.
Peter Lakey '84
Peter Lakey ’84 has created a new math tool that he is looking to share with the public.
“With this tool I am able to generate challenging math puzzles that I post on my website each day,” Lakey said. "This is free to the public. Anyone can access my site and try to solve the new puzzles I post there each day. I would like the CBC community to be aware of this because I’m certain that some of them will get enjoyment out of it. I have been posting new puzzles each for one year now. There are a handful of people throughout the world who solve them each day. They love the puzzles.”
Lakey’s math puzzles can be found at: https://www.cognitivecardgames.com/dailychallenge.
“I plan to start selling my X-Squared Card Deck to the local public this year,” Lakey said. “I will produce a First Edition of 2,500 units. My plan is to submit the order once I accumulate reservations for 1,000 units.”
People can request to reserve a copy of the game through the Products page of Lakey’s website: http://www.cognitivecardgames.com. He has also created a YouTube video that captures the essence of how the card deck may be used:
Q&A with Dan Lesinski '08 and Ryan Murphy '17
How did CBC help you become the man you are today?
What do you hope to accomplish with the Young Professionals groups?
Q&A with Matthew Cibulka ’07
Another lasting lesson came from Mrs. H (Charlotte Hanselman), our librarian. She ran Karen House, a shelter for individuals escaping abusive relationships. Every Tuesday after school, we would drive down to cook dinner for the residents. I remember stressing over what to make or whether the food would turn out well, but to those we served, our presence mattered far more than the meal itself. That experience taught me an invaluable truth: Everyone wants to be seen and acknowledged. No matter who you meet, smile, recognize them, and treat them with kindness.”