Peter McGorry, Bayshore 1964- RIP

Pete, second from right, with Jack Coyne, Ben Colbert, Ed Dilgen and Lou Miller, at Niagara Falls, August, 2023

Peter D. McGorry, 78, most recently of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away Friday evening, March 1, 2024. His daughter and 3 sons were at his side and his passing was peaceful. Peter had recovered from open heart surgery and valve replacement in 2021 but was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor in December 2023. Although surgery at the University of Iowa Medical Center removed most of the tumor, life expectancy was measured in months. Peter declined further treatment and entered hospice care in Dubuque.

 

Peter was born in Bay Shore, NY on December 16, 1945, the second of 6 children born to Tom and Jean McGorry. He attended grammar school at St Patrick's Catholic School, then enrolled at Montfort Preparatory Seminary in Bay Shore in 1959. During his teen years, Peter spent his summers at his uncle's ranch in Absarokee, Montana and enjoyed working as a ranch hand herding cattle, baling hay and rounding up stray dogies. He was invested into the Company of Mary in May,1964 and entered Marybrook Novitiate in August. In March 1965 he left seminary life and returned home to Bay Shore. He attended Farmingdale College and St John's University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in history.

 

Peter married Joan Brochu on August 9, 1969, at St Bridgit's Catholic Church, Westbury, NY Peter and Joan began their married life in Port Jefferson and Peter began his teaching career in the History Department at Central Islip High School in August 1969. After 3 years at CIHS, Peter and Joan relocated to the Midwest, initially living in Kenosha, WI, then moving to Minnesota where Pete taught English Composition and History at the Breck School in Golden Valley, MN. During the summers of those years, Pete earned a master's degree in American History from Montana State University in Boseman. While at Breck, Pete learned to write computer software and reinvented himself as an IT guy. He had his own IT business in Cannon Falls, MN for a number of years until he fell ill with type1 diabetes in his mid40s. Once his diabetes was under control, Peter went to work for the National Methodist Church, initially in Chicago, then in Nashville, TN in the IT Department where he worked until retirement in 2012. 

 

Peter and Joan then returned to Northfield, MN to be closer to their children and grandchild.  Pete then returned to his first love and passion: teaching, working with elementary age children to improve their reading skills. He especially relished working with children with disabilities with the express purpose of making their lives better. He continued to work as a reading specialist until his wife Joan died in 2017, when Peter moved to Dubuque, IA to be close to his daughter.

 

Peter was a remarkable, loving, kind and compassionate man. He never had a bad word to say about anyone nor did anyone ever say a bad word about him. He was deeply concerned about the atrocities we as a country have committed against Native Americans both historically and currently.  He shared his concerns with the hope that such atrocities never happen again.

 

Peter is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Jean McGorry, and by his wife Joan. It was the great tragedy of Peter's life to lose Joan after more than 48 years of marriage and he missed her every day thereafter.

 

Peter is survived by his daughter, Beth of Dubuque, IA, and 3 sons: Peter (Jean) of Big Lake, MN, and fraternal twins Matthew of Minneapolis, MN and Christopher of Boulder, CO; grandchildren Luke and Kiera and 5 siblings; Sister Jean Ellen CSJ, Eileen, Patricia, Tom and David.

 

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, April 27th at 10am at St Dominic's Catholic Church, Northfield, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the church service.

Don LeClerc RIP - February 2, 2024

 

Donald A. Leclerc

Born: Aug. 9, 1933           Died: February 1, 2024

 

Don Leclerc, a former confrere to many of you, has passed away at the age of 90. A native of Claremont, New Hampshire., he entered Marybrook Novitiate in 1954 and made his first profession of vows on August 15, 1955. Don was ordained a Montfort Father on February 25, 1961 together with his late classmates Everett Brown, SMM and Joseph Minsterman, SMM.

Following ordination, Don served for several years as SMM New England Vocation Director, based in Litchfield, Connecticut. He was subsequently assigned to Montfort-staffed parishes St. Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park and Infant Jesus in Port Jefferson. His ministry was youth-focused, and he became well-respected for his work. Don had a friendly manner. In the parlance of that era, he was known as a “good guy.”

Don departed the community in 1991 and subsequently became employed by AARP and remained on Long Island for the rest of his life. He married Christine Franzem in 1993. She and their children survive him. Most recently, Don and Christine made their home in Floral Park. Following extended illness, he passed away in a memory care facility in Garden City, NY.

No obituary has been published and there was no wake. Postmortem arrangements were managed by Park Funeral Chapels in Garden City Park, NY. A Feb. 12, funeral Mass at Church of St. Anne in Garden City was celebrated by his close friend, Fr. Francis Pizzarelli, SMM. His ashes will be buried in the garden of remembrance on the grounds of an old monastery in Mt. Sinai, Long Island known as Little Portion, Friary. Fr. Pizzarelli lives and works there with recovering opioid addicts. Rest in peace, Don.

 

Brian Harrington

Investiture class of 1961

Feb. 28, 2024

Marybrook Novitiate 1963

 

Mini Reunion in Buffalo

 Jack and Diene Coyne recently invited a number of the Montfort Alumni to gather at their home near Buffalo, NY for a few days.  One of the highlights of the trip was the requisite visit to Niagara Falls and a ride on the Maid of the Mist. 

L to R: Jack Coyne, Ben Colbert, Ed Dilgen, Pete McGorry and Lou Miller, at lunch overlooking the Falls. It was way too wet to take pictures on the Maid of the Mist.

 

 

The Buffalo skyline as seen on an evening cruise on the Niagara River.

Pete Ballenger, RIP

 

With heavy heart, I write to report the March 9, 2023 death of beloved Montfort alum, Peter Ballenger at the age of 80 years. For the past 5 years he has resided in memory care facilities in Hartford City and Muncie, Indiana until entering hospice care a few days before his death.

Born in Portsmouth, Virginia on June 12, 1942, Peter was adopted by Howard and Delores Ballenger. After the Second World War, Howard’s work at a defense plant ended and he returned with his family to their home in Hartford City, Indiana.  Years later, when the Pursley family donated their Hartford City mansion for use as a novitiate, the Ballengers became S.M.M. friends and benefactors. During my own novitiate year, Howard and Delores were welcomed as frequent visitors.

In 1956, Peter entered Montfort Prep as a high school freshman. He was athletic and excelled in soccer and basketball (Hoosiers all play basketball, don’t they?).  Following 6 years in Bay Shore, he was invested in 1962 and returned to Hartford City to begin novitiate and made his first profession in 1963.

He completed Philosophy training in 1965 in St. Mary, Missouri. Peter undertook the first 2-years of Theology at Montfort seminary in Litchfield, Connecticut. He completed the remaining 2-years at St. Louis University and was ordained in June of 1969. Peter’s first assignment (assistant/later Pastor) was at St. Theresa of Avila Church in St. Louis.  Then an “inner-city” parish and considered a difficult appointment, Fr. Ballenger's ministry attracted the notice of a wealthy benefactor and transformed it into a fully functioning, thriving community of involved Catholics. His tenure there lasted for 10 years.

In 1979, Peter accepted a new assignment as Pastor of the Parish of St. Mary Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park, NY. After 5 years in that position, he resigned as a priest, left the SMM and became a professional carpenter in New York City (reminds me of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus). In 2001 he retired from carpentry and returned to the Ballenger family residence in Hartford City he had inherited from his mother. He never married and has no biological descendants. Nearest next of kin is Peter’s brother Patrick Ballenger.  May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. 

Brian Harrington

Investiture Class of 1961

Steve Palmer RIP

 

STEVEN PALMER  May 27, 1947 - January 25, 2023

Published by Fort Wayne Newspapers on Jan. 28, 2023.

Steven Richard Palmer

May 27, 1947 - January 25, 2023

Steven Richard Palmer, first son of William and Jeanette (Lopshire) Palmer, died on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

He was the gentle, steady heart of his family, a beloved teacher, and a talented musician. He was thoughtful, witty, and kind. He enjoyed simple things – a favorite bakery or treat, freshly ground coffee, a snow day, a good book, and a well-made fire.

A devoted husband of 49 years, he said of his wife, Jo, “On my best day, I couldn’t have picked anybody better.” He loved being a dad and grandpa, nurtured special bonds with each of his kids and grandkids, and cherished family time – a chat across the street, holiday sing-alongs, trips to state parks and Lake Michigan, making homemade ice cream and pizza, and everyday moments together.

He was a graduate of St. Andrew’s Catholic School, Montfort Preparatory Seminary High School (Long Island, NY), St. Louis University, and Indiana University with undergraduate and graduate degrees in history.

He was a teacher for 45 years, beginning at St. Joseph and ending at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. He was especially remembered for inspiring civic engagement and bringing his guitar or banjo into his classroom. He forever appreciated connections made with students and colleagues and was honored to receive the diocesan Light of Learning Award.

He loved music and sharing it with others – attending folk and bluegrass concerts, hosting hootenannies, and providing encouragement through daily song videos during the pandemic. Over decades, he humbly shared his faith and talents as the music director at both St. Joseph and St. John Bosco. A self-taught builder and son of a carpenter, his affinity for St. Joseph culminated in the only song he ever wrote, In the Hands of the Carpenter.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann (Harber); his son, Michael (Heather); daughters, Darcey Palmer- (Michael) Shultz, and Christa Palmer (Zach) Lange; daughter-in-law, Brooke Charleston; grandchildren Aubrey, Eli, Ella, Jude, and Eve; as well as his siblings, Thomas (Mary Winicker), John, Julie (Mark) Maddocks, Vince (Kathy), Ron (Karen), and Tim (Kara). He was preceded in death by his son, Andrew.

A funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 4, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2213 Brooklyn, with visitation at 10 a.m. To honor his wishes, contributions will support the placement of a memorial tree at a Fort Wayne park near a memorial tree for his son (via Venmo @StevePalmerMemorial). Memorial gifts may also be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana.

 

Steve is third from right with "The New World Singers" circa 196?

L to R: George Sullivan, Jack Callery, Jack Lyons, George White, Steve Palmer, Larry Cullen, and Dennis Kelly. 

 

 

Steve at Montfort Reunion 2000