11/12/21 - Friday Forget-Me-Nots by Jim Silcott

Photo Caption: 7th Grade Honor Roll Recipients for First Quarter

Dear Our Lady of Peace Family:

In my own private Veteran’s Day salute I went to St. Joseph Cemetery to visit my father, who served in the Army during the Korean War. This was my first trip since his passing in April.

His headstone has not yet been set. Fortunately, he is next to my mother who died in 2016. Their next door neighbor in their plots near the river is my brother-in-law, Rich Mayo who died unexpectedly at the age of 48 in 2000. My parents gave him the plot since he had not figured on needing one so soon.

My father’s death is still pretty new and pretty raw. His death was not unexpected, he was 87 and in poor health but I still find myself getting ready to pick up the phone to call him. When I drive down Henderson Road my car wants to turn and go up Old Henderson to the Abbington Assisted Living Facility where he spent his last few years. He enlisted in the Army, married my Mom before he shipped overseas, missed my sister’s birth while in Korea and came home to find my Mom and a 10 month old daughter he had never seen before.

I probably know hundreds of residents of St. Joe, and as I drove through the cemetery I saw some of their headstones. Many more who are buried there have family names of people I knew about. Being Catholic in Columbus is like living in a small town.

On my way out of the cemetery I stopped at a small rise not very far from the chapel out there. This is the final resting place for many of the priests who have served the Diocese of Columbus. The oldest gravestone is from the 1930’s. The newest one I could find was this year, an old friend of mine, Father Justin Reis.

Walking among the gravestones of these men, veterans in their own way in the spiritual battle that we all wage, it seems as if my own life passed before me. Buried here are my two principals from St. Charles, Fathers Ralph Huntzinger and Charlie Jackson. Three of my teachers from high school were there: my freshman art teacher, Father Harold Schneider, my freshman English teacher, Father Roger Emmert, my history teacher for two years, Msgr Thomas Bennett, and my algebra and choir teacher Msgr. Thomas Gallen. I must confess that I remember the songs Msgr. Gallen taught me more than the algebra!

Next to Justin Reis was Msgr. Sorohan, who used to be Superintendent of the Catholic schools. I met him on a TEC Catholic retreat. He and my Dad were friends and played tennis together in the old days.

There was young Colby Grimes. He was called that in deference to his Uncle Colby Grimes who had also been a priest. His brother was our own Msgr. Ken Grimes, former principal of Bishop Watterson and long tme pastor here at Our Lady of Peace. He was there too and I said my hello’s to him and told him I was doing my best to run his old parish school.

Two of my former bosses were there. Father Ted Thomas was the Pastor at St. Timothy who gave me my first principal’s job. He bought a school bus for the parish and insisted on driving for all student field trips. He was succeeded by Father Jim Hanley who had a big handlear mustache. He most assuredly did not drive the St. Timothy School bus.

Father Joseph Gamba was there. He was an associate at Our Lady of Victory when I was in grade school there and worked hard to engender a vocation to the priesthood in me. Father Jackson used to work on me as well in high school. I never took up the priestly vocation but I have worked for the Church for 43 years so I hope they all give me some credit for that!

Slightly below the priests with slightly smaller cross shaped headstones was the final resting place for many Dominican Sisters, many of whom no doubt worked for a time at Our Lady of Peace and Bishop Watterson. They too are veterans of a sort. While their stories are legendary, think about the battles they had with 35, 40, 45 students in a single room and no such thing as differentiated learning!

My Mom and Dad are in good company out there at St. Joseph.



Jim Silcott