Some Of Our Teachers May Be Joining Us Saturday Night!

Drawing from 1969 PANTHER YEARBOOK by Bob Campbell,Class of 1969


He was one of our most beloved teachers.

I am thrilled to announce that Ed Johnston and his wife Sarah (who we also knew and loved while were in school and she was a Sister working at St. Thomas Hospital) will be joining us, as our guests, for the class reunion party Saturday evening at the Wilson's.

I am also hopeful that Pat Langdon (who still teaches at Father Ryan) and his spouse will attending as well.

If you've been reading this blog you know what a major role Father Ed Johnston played in our lives when we were at Father Ryan. From the classroom (I had him for Freshman Religion) to directing Showtime CYO and our Senior Class Play "Inherit The Wind," he was someone who was always there, who really cared and was always willing to help.

That was also true in his role (and Sarah's) with the building effort for the Father Bill Sherman High School in Haiti that we mentioned earlier in our Class History. And there was also the Catholic Youth Volunteers (CYV) group our senior year made up of students from Ryan, Saint Bernard and Saint Cecilia. Our Senior PANTHER Yearbook put it this way:

" (The group).. has met regularly on weekends to assist in an experience of living and loving. Their work with underprivileged children includes tutoring, playing and giving parties. Working under their own inititative, without help from city government, they accomplished many goals in their short existence. Perhaps the greatest achievement is the knowledge and love which the volunteers feel at their work and are able to incorporate into their daily lives and contact with others."

Bob Campbell and Phil Mattingly at one of the CYV outings.

I was fortunate enough to know Ed before I came to Ryan. I served Mass for him at Cathedral when I was in the sixth grade. I am also fortunate to have continued to enjoy his counsel and friendship since leaving Father Ryan, particularly as a colleague on the Father Ryan Board of Trust for several years and also for our time together on the Board of Saint Bernard Academy.

Ed was particularly helpful when an effort was made to purchase the school from the Sisters Of Mercy. The trust and high esteem Ed enjoyed in the Catholic community meant a lot as the plans moved froward to a successful conclusion (and SBA still flourishes 20 years later.

Frankly, Ed had to be one of the keys. Would you trust Phil Mattingly (who was the Board Chair) and I to buy Saint Bernard without knowing someone like Ed was also involved? :)