In my previous post I mentioned some of the changes that occurred in the 1978-1979 year. It was during that year that I began to identify my role in this ever changing place called Saint Martin’s. In earlier years I spent very little time away from the Registrar’s Office and although I spoke with and met many students and faculty, it wasn’t until I was “in charge of the office with Br. Ramon Newell at that time a recent graduate from the college and loyal work study student Debbie Glass Long ’81 that I really got to meet and greet students and faculty on a regular basis. I worked very hard to make the Records Office a place of welcome and not just the Office of the Registrar. It was this year that I shook off the advice of “Olga Bays” (from my undergraduate college) “To be a good registrar you must be staight laced and hard nosed” and embraced the Benedictine traditions of listening, caring and most of all serving the students, faculty, staff and monastic community.
We were small then and once the door was opened some wonderful people came in and shared their lives and stories and my world expanded beyond belief. I found out about Road Rallys from Dave Boren ’77 or (fifty ways to get lost in Thurston County) and Veteran Fridays in the SUB (where the snack bar was located) Casino Nights without driving to the Red Wind or Little Creek and much better stage shows (thanks to the cocktail waitress Elsa Stevens McDonell ’82 and Susanna Trasolini and male “strippers” (Chris Thomsen ’80 and not Magic Mike but maybe Mike Peterson as Spock) Gong Show with Dave O’Hara ’71 “Dave the Dancing Rave” where even the judges dressed for the occasion and not to be missed the pie throws (you know who you are). Ellen Esser and her theatre students Karl Engel ’82 and his soon to be wife Janet Bosch Engel ’82 , Matt Cleveland ’82, Mark Bateman ’80, Bunnie (Bernadine) Determan Griffin ’82, Angela Taeschner entertained us on and off the Old Abbey Theatre stage and in the dining hall with their dramatic and humor skills. Fr Kevin Myles ’65 and Fr Killian Malvey ’64 served Campus Ministry with retreats at the Lodge, fellowship and folk mass. Winter months were warmed by the Saints Men’s Basketball 17 wins with the coaching of Len Stevens. The Saints Women’s team a little less successful in the win/loss department but exciting and fun to watch Julie Gillis ’82, Sandra Wanner, , Susana Trasolini, , Janet Gates ’82 and others.
I am still at the beginning of my history and I have only scratchted the surface. I started this as chronological but as you know the “memory is the second thing to go”….. Please bear with me and correct when necessary. I hope you will feel comfortable adding your own memories to this blog and encourage friends to read and do the same. You folks have given me such a gift through these years and it needs to be captured.
Blessings
MaryLaw
Mary's Law: Memories of Saint Martin's High School, College and University 