December 6, 2013
Last night, I attended for the third year in a row, the annual Christmas get-together held by the Class of '76.
It's far from an elaborate affair – meatballs, chicken wings, pizza, and few adult beverages in the basement of a Knights of Columbus building in Forest Glen. Every year I've attended, more than 40 alumni have shown up. That's better than 20% of a class that graduated almost four decades ago.
No one comes for the food or the charm of the location. Simply, it's all about connection. Some events from the early 70's have been forgotten, some magnified. The warmth and good fellowship among the guys from '76 offer living proof of the importance of our daily emphasis on forming enduring personal relationships. They come year after to year to reconnect and share how things are going with family, business, and old friends. They also express great affection for the Wheaton school they experienced and pride in the accomplishments of today's students in Olney.
Several of their teachers are still here. One of them, my colleague and their History teacher and Football coach, Tom Kolar, attended last night's event. Tom was recognized at school earlier this week as winner of the Ryken Award. Our students gave him a standing ovation. It was a poignant moment to see that high regard across generations. Tom's students and players from 37 and more years ago give him similarly enthusiastic recognition. Stories were shared – misbehavior during team talks, bungled football plays, being caught in acts of academic dishonesty, and lessons of history integrated into ways of living today.
I suspect that few, if any, of our teachers will ever make it to Tom's 49 years of service to Good Counsel. And I have no idea if 20% of the Class of 2014 will hold a Christmas get-together in December 2051. What I am confident of is that Tom and the Class of '76, in their witness to staying connected in simple, straightforward ways, affirm the importance of making personal the experience of a Good Counsel education.