Bowling with Uncle Johnny, Uncle Ron and the Angels

I have been having some pretty serious fatigue issues lately. Serious in the sense that I have a great desire to go to bed around 6:30 p.m. every night, though I rarely do. As a result, my family is getting the tired "BK" instead of the fun "BK" rather often. So this morning as a loud thunderstorm rolled into South Bend, I took the opportunity to spend some time with the family during the time of the day when I have the most energy. Instead of hurrying off to work, I saw the chance to sit with my lovely wife on our porch, drink some coffee, and watch the thunderstorm. By the end of the storm, all of our children had joined us. Rover had joined us too.

The older boys are not a afraid of thunderstorms because we have a process of getting them over their fears by sitting with them on the porch and holding them as we listen to the thunder together. This morning, Monica and Meg, Joseph were all learning that thunderstorms aren't such a bad thing. When one of the kids cringed at a clap of thunder (hmmm, maybe it was a peal of thunder - I don't know the difference) Nicholas just explained that the noise came from Uncle Johnny, Uncle Ron and the Angels bowling. And that was that. I wonder who won...

Proof women were born social!

Just to be clear, BK did NOT post this. It was someone else using my account. Although I do find it funny. :)

Please give us a hand if you have any time

We just launched the new and improved Holy Cross College website. However, we did it on a shoestring budget and are still working out the bugs. It would be very helpful if we had some people take a look at it and point any problems or make suggestions for the how it could be improved. This will be an ongoing process. So if kind-hearted person has the time to browse our site and send me some constructive feedback, I would be most appreciative. My email address can be found on my blogger profile page. Just click "BK" in the list of contributors to this blog found on the top right side of this page. Many thanks!

Uncle Ron's Wake

(Note: This has been sitting half written for weeks. I wanted to write more, but it just isn't happening. Be sure to click on the picture to see it large.)

Just a quick thought from my office desk this morning before I head to St. Matt's for the burial Mass of Uncle Ron.

For being 75 years old, Uncle Ron's wake was especially sad. I go to lots of funerals. I probably average just under one per month. Last night, I sensed a sadness that is not always present at the wake of a more mature person. I think this is in part due to the sudden way that God took Uncle Ron from the world, and is partly due to the fact that he grew into the role of patriarch of an entire family. Only occasionally do I walk away from a wake inspired and resolved to make myself a better person. That happened last night.

As I greeted Aunt Mary and my cousins, I was in the presence of some of the finest people I've ever known. I say that without any exaggeration and with the great benefit of hindsight. As children, we were always surrounded by Wisinskis and Kloskas and Kowrachs. At the time, hanging out with people of such caliber was simply the only reality I knew. As I grew older, the cold harsh realization hit me that not everyone loved God and family and cared about other people so much. Only in my adulthood can I look back with perspective and appreciate the context of my youth. As a father, I can only hope to provide similar golden days of youth to my children.

I do not mean to suggest that our extended family was perfect - far from it! We all know of many difficulties and trials and conflicts in our family. But today I feel nothing but gratitude for the Uncle Rons in my life and I'm not afraid to tell you that as I type, I weep for sorrow that he is gone.

I have many more thoughts, but life is busy and I'm not blogging too much anymore. I just wanted to post a few thoughts and share the above picture from Mom and Dad's wedding.

May God Bless Uncle Ron.

Theresa Kloska - RIP

I called this woman when I lived in Steubenville since her husband shared my name and was such a large figure in Franciscan University history.

KLOSKA, Theresa ‘‘Terry,’’ 74, of Steubenville, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Thursday June 11, 2009. She fought a courageous 28-year battle with cancer. Terry was born on November 28, 1934, in Weirton, W.Va., one of five daughters of Anthony and the late Mary (Kuritz) Dworzecki.

Terry was a member of the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church since 1966 and was an active volunteer throughout her life. Terry was especially active in church decorating, chairing this activity for holidays and special events including the church dedication in 1999. She coordinated countless bake sales and fundraising dinners and was a member of the church choir. In addition to her church volunteer activities, she participated in athletic and academic fundraisers at the multiple schools her children attended: Holy Rosary Grade School, Harding Middle School, Steubenville Catholic Central High School and Steubenville High School. Terry graduated from Steubenville Catholic Central High School in 1952, then earned a Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate from Rosalia/Passavant Hospital in 1953. She married William R. Brogan, lived in Dravosburg, Pa., and Herminie, Pa., and had four children before his death in 1965. She later married Robert ‘‘Bob’’ Kloska and moved to Steubenville where they had three children. She became an active participant and supporter of his career as athletic director at the (then) College of Steubenville and also supported Bob’s numerous sports-related programs in Steubenville.

Those who knew Terry appreciated her quick wit and humor. During Bob’s tenure as athletic director at the College of Steubenville, she would anonymously call into the ‘‘Tom Abernathy Show’’ under the moniker ‘‘Green Phantom’’ to inform and rally the community about Baron Basketball. In Terry’s own words: ‘‘My most important and gratifying job over the years has been ‘‘MOM’’ – raising, teaching and nurturing seven children to become good, responsible and well-rounded individuals.’’ She is survived by her children, Jacqueline M. Brogan (Greg) McDermott of Akron, Ohio, Diane L. Brogan (Matt) Habash of Columbus, Ohio, Richard S. (Patti) Brogan of PonteVedra Beach, Fla., Theresa G. (Lou Butler) Brogan of Sparks, Md., Annamarie Kloska (Jay) Lang of Pittsburgh, Pa., Robert C. (Hilary) Kloska of Hobe Sound, Fla., and Margaret H. (Aaron Kullman) Kloska of Jakarta, Indonesia; her grandchildren, Justin Habash, Kristen (Habash) Slaper, Gordon McDermott, Erin McDermott, Kara Brogan, Will Brogan, Mollie Brogan, Timothy Butler, Jacob Butler, Paul Garretson and Robbie Kloska. In addition, she is survived by her father, Anthony A. Dworzecki of Weirton, W.Va.; her sisters Bernadette Harvanek, Antoinette Popp, Regina (Francis) Sunseri and Mary Thomasine (Richard) Himmel. Terry was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Dworzecki in 1994, and her husbands, William R. Brogan in 1965 and Robert J. Kloska in 1993.