To all my Notre Dame family:
There is no question that I never would’ve made it out to South Bend if it weren’t for my dad. In the senior year of high school, I was focused on going to college in the northeast. But I made a deal with my dad: if he sent away for the application, I would indeed fill it out. He was one of the legions of ‘subway alum’. I always remember watching the Sunday morning 1 hour TV show (with Lindsay Nelson) of the highlights of the ND game from the day before (I thought all games only took about an hour as a kid….boy has that changed!). He was thrilled when I was accepted, elated when I decided to go – and enjoyed another dose of satisfaction when I returned to work for Notre Dame 10 years ago. He was a true fan.
Dad is first generation Irish American. He spent a few years as a child – with his mom and 2 siblings – back in Ireland caring for his sick grandmother. He grew up in Bayonne New Jersey. He was a Sacred Heart brother (based in Metuchen, New Jersey – primarily a teaching order) and was sent down to teach (highschool) in Baton Rouge, LA and then later in the Bronx and Queens. In his 30s he decided to leave the order to start a family. He met my Mom shortly thereafter and they were married in 1960, and quickly started the family (I have 3 siblings). Dad was a teacher (as was my mom) and then later an administrator, and high school guidance counselor. Mom and Dad just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year – a real blessing.
He was a quiet, gentle, kind, spiritual man. Like Fr. Ted, he loved God, family and Notre Dame. Attached is a photo of Dad and me from my wedding in 2009 (Dad is sporting Ken Hendrick’s tie – a long story!). We shared the same name and so much more. He is sorely missed now…but he was blessed with a full life and surrounded by God’s love.
Tom Gibbons
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