Venard_53-54

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Venard 1953-54

Pictures from Richard Kelly

I still have powerful memories of the Venard, where I was a special student because I had already graduated from high school. I went on to Glen Ellen for a semester, then left the seminary. After I left, I did my freshman year at Nebraska and then returned to NYC to attend CCNY, at which I got my BA. I got my MA and Ph.D. from Duke. I have been teaching at the University of Tennessee since 1965 and retired about two years ago. English professor. Grew up in New York City.


- standing far left barely in the picture..Larry Louis (elf)
- sitting far left partially in picture....Joe Herring (rk) ????
- reclining on ground - hand on head.......John Ryan (rk) ????
- reclining on ground - black tie..........Frank Schexnayder (elf)
- sitting on ground - facing camera........Bob Lilly (rk) ???
- crouching on ground - facing left........Bill Sweeney (dec)(elf)
- left to right sitting on bench ..........Vincent Buonello
- left to right sitting on bench ..........Paul Czaja
- left to right sitting on bench ..........Ernie Lukaschek (elf)
- left to right sitting on bench ..........Brian (Barry??) Dunleavy (elf)
- strolling in background on left..........????
- strolling in background on right.........Jim Hilgeman (pm)????
- standing in white jacket.................Dick Ratazchek (elf)(Ratzchek ??)
- standing against tree....................Charlie Brennan (elf)

This old abandoned house was in walking distance from the Venard but not on Venard property. We all went there during our free time from the seminary. Jim Sinnott(MM) also used to go there with us and we would make up stories about the long-gone inhabitants. I still hear from Joe, a retired psychiatrist, and Gene, of course, went on to become a priest.

From left: John Ryan, Paul Ramsey, Gene Toland (who went on to ordination), Joe Herring. Foreground and seated from left: Joe Johnson, Frank Schexnayder (pronounced "Check Schneider")