If you attended Father Ryan High School from 1946 until 1969, it is very likely Father (later Monsignor) James Hitchcock was a major authority figure in your life (especially during the hours you spent on the Elliston Place campus).
As a Teacher (1946-1956) and then Principal of FRHS (1956-1969), he developed a reputation of being tough as nails, but fair. I was fortunate to never get in serious trouble with him, but I did have him as a moderator one year when I was in the Great Books Discussion Club.
His imposing presence while we discussed the classic books we were supposed to have read (and he seemed to ask good questions to see if we really had read our materials) was always a sobering reminder to stay up to speed on the readings.
As you can see from the photo above, Monsignor did show students his softer side from time to time. When I was a student, there were times I wasn't always sure he knew or cared all that much who I was (and in a way I kind of liked that). But as an adult alum, I always found him very warm, friendly and strongly devoted to Father Ryan, the school he graduated from in 1939.
Father Hitchcock will also always be remembered for his key role in helping to desegregate the school back in the mid-1950s when he was a member of the transition team during that critical period.
He was a man of great faith and convictions. But he also did at least one thing I never dreamed of until I learned of it many years after I left Father Ryan.
It was while Monsignor Hitchcock and I served together as members of the Board at St. Bernard Academy. He told me one day how he had gone for many years to New Orleans during Mardi Gras to celebrate Fat Tuesday.
That included riding on floats during the parades and throwing beads and trinkets to the crowd. And I am pretty sure during all this he was dressed up in something other than his priestly attire.
I must say this me gave me a whole new perspective about Father Hitchcock, who next to my parents was probably the strongest authority figure in my life growing up.
We lost Monsignor last December 9 at the age of 88. But he continues to live on in all us who he either taught or had as students while he was Principal at Ryan for nearly 25 years (1946-1969). May he rest in peace.
What are your memories of Father Hitchcock while we were at Ryan? Please send them to me, by clicking on the comments link below or e-mail them to me at pat.nolan@dvl.com
Thanks for sharing that, Pat. I have similar memories of Father Hitchcock from our post-Ryan days. He was a very warm, caring, kind and considerate pastor. In those later years he served as Pastor at St. Lawrence in Joelton. My mother's family, the Alessios, had been long time members of that parish, and every year, during the famous St. Lawrence summer barbecue, Father Hitchcock would say mass for the deceased members of the Alessio family. He grew very close to my extended family over the course of those years.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I was more than a little intimidated by him as a student at Ryan, more so while a freshman and sophomore. Once, during those early years (and some of you may remember this incident), I observed him deliver a classic feint with his left hand (in the gym, to a recalcitrant student who had been resistant to leaving the stands and joining the rest of us for an assembly on the floor)and then deck the student with a perfectly executed right cross. I heard he was a master swordsman. It showed in his technique. Nobody messed with him after that.
Toward the end of sophomore year I encountered his softer side. About 6 weeks before the end of the school year, I had the misfortune of breaking my foot in three places over a weekend. As I clumsily tried to manage crutches, big plaster cast and books (with assistance from my father) the next week, I ran into Father Hitchcock while entering the back door by the cafeteria. He was clearly very concerned and expressed his sympathy for my situation. He worried that I might be trampled during class changes between periods (always a possibility even under ideal circumstances), so he told me to tell all my teachers that I had his permission to be late for every class for the rest of the term. He wanted me to stay out of the halls during the mad rush. He also said I could designate one classmate to help carry my books (this was in the pre-backpack days, you will recall). I recall that Phil Bennett and Guy Brewer served that function for me (you may have as well), until I was able to walk again with the assistance of a walking cast a few weeks later.
I found Father Hitchcock a lot less intimidating after that. And for our junior and senior years, he seemed to be much more of a friend and mentor than in the early years.
I also remember a small gathering of our class with Father Hitchcock near the end of senior year. I think he already knew that it was his final year as principal. He told us, "Don't tell anyone I said this, but your class is my favorite from all of my years at Father Ryan." Did he ever say this to any other graduating class? I have no idea. It really doesn't matter. He made us all feel valued and respected. And that was a wonderful gift.
I was saddened to hear of his death. But as you said so well, he will live on in all of us.