Alumni love coming back to Fenwick, and earlier this month we welcomed back more than 500 of our own to Oak Park and neighboring towns. They came to see us from Chicago, from the collar counties in Illinois and from 21 other states. Some graduates traveled from as far away as Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, New Mexico, Oregon, North Carolina, Texas and Seattle, Washington. A wide age range was represented as Friars five years out of high school joined octogenarian alumni who have been loyal to their alma mater since the late 1940s.
Young and old alike, many of these men and women visited with former teachers and coaches, took campus tours and celebrated Mass together. They also renewed long-standing friendships and were reacquainted at venues all around town. Some attended Friday afternoon’s pep rally in Fenwick’s storied Lawless Gymnasium. Members of the Class of 1969, celebrating their milestone 50th reunion, congregated on Friday evening at Jim and Pete’s in Elmwood Park. Other alumni tailgated at Triton College, our home field in River Grove.
At the football game we celebrated Gene Nudo, our head coach for eight seasons now, who garnered his 100th high-school victory in September. Our 2019 squad proceeded to defeat Catholic-League rival Marmion Cadets from Aurora, by a score of 31-26, earning coach his 101st win! The Class of 2014 alumni in attendance enjoyed post-game festivities at Doc Ryan’s in Forest Park.
On Saturday, soccer alumni cheered the Friars to victory on our new (second year) artificial-turf field at the Dominican Priory/House of Studies in River Forest. Later, the ’69 group reconvened at Winberie’s in Oak Park; the Class of 1959 met at Poor Phil’s in Oak Park; and the Class of ’54 assembled at Tom’s Steak House in Melrose Park. (Yes, it’s still there and is still good!) We even had a few “Forty-Niners,” 88-year-old members from the Class of 1949, commemorating their 70th reunion! Other graduating classes spread out to celebrate at these popular venues in nearby Forest Park:Â
• Class of 1974 at Slainte Irish Pub
• Classes of 1979 & ’09 at O’Sullivan’s Public House
• Class of 1984 at Old School Tavern and Grill
• Class of 1989 at Doc Ryan’s
• Class of 1994 at Fat Duck Tavern and Grill
• Class of 1999 at Healy’s Westside
• Class of 2004 at the Lantern Haus (formerly Murphy’s)
Needless to say, good times were had by all. Fenwick thanks all these fine, local establishments for working with us to make it a memorable Homecoming/Reunion Weekend for all our Friars who came home. Thank you, and Go Friars!
Rev. Richard Peddicord, O.P., is in his eighth year as president of Fenwick High School. He taught French at the school between 1986 and 1990 and was chair of the Theology Department. A native of Howell, Michigan, Fr. Peddicord entered the Dominican Order in 1981 and was ordained in 1986.