Volume 2, Issue 3 June 2018

Summer 2018 Newsletter

Summertime By Roberta McManus

Time in the summer just seems different. In fact, life just seems to change gears in the summer. Is it the longer daytime hours? More kids around now that schools are letting out? Vacation plans crystallizing? Humidity? Time just seems to go slower in the summer. Whatever it is, life here at Immaculata is different too. There are not as many LLI members walking the halls, fewer classes are offered, and the biggest change is the absence of the undergrads. We may not know them but we sure do miss them. They are polite, helpful, and their youthful presence is energizing. Unlike them, we are gathering in classes. Crafters are knitting and quilting, movie lovers are delighting in Michael’s new series, books are being read, and Ross is packing them (literally) into history classes. With the cafeteria and cafes closed, we seniors are finding empty classrooms to gather in over lunch and, consequently, forging new friendships. We are relaxing together and sharing our stories. In this newsletter, you will find articles about a In This Issue: popular history teacher, an honored veteran, and the fund raising project. We also offer you advice, trivia, recommendations, and  Summertime a sneak peek for fall semester plans and dates.  Important Semester Dates  Summer Movie Series  Trivia As we enter these lazy, hazy days of summer, what will you be  Curtis Symphony Orchestra doing? Vacationing in a new place or letting a good book take  Into the Wild Blue Yonder you away via the comforts of your favorite chair? Will you put  Join a Club your toes in the warm sand or maybe enjoy mountain breezes?  Make Your Days More Meaningful Are you gardening and enjoying the fresh vegetables, flowers,  May We Recommend? and fruits? After all, nothing beats a sweet fresh watermelon or  Enjoy the Outdoors, Safely taking corn straight from the stalk to the kettle. What books and  LLI Needs You! movies will occupy your time? How will you stay in touch with  LLI Gives Back your LLI friends? Whatever occupies your time this summer,  Instructor Spotlight relax, and refresh. Enjoy. After all, it is summertime and the  LLI Photos  Quote from Barbara Failini living is easy.  Trivia Answers Instructors interested in teaching in the fall semester must submit their course proposal by Friday, June 15th. All fall courses MUST be submitted before this date to allow appropriate time for review, editing, and formatting. If you need to complete a course proposal please CLICK HERE to be directed to the online form.

The Fall 2018 program will be mailed at the beginning of August and registration will be processed on a first-come first-serve basis.

The ten week fall semester begins on Tuesday, September 11th and will end on Monday, November 19th. There is NO CLASS on Monday, September 10th in observance of Rosh Hashanah, and Friday October 6th as the University is closed.

10 Week Classes: September 11th-November 19th Session A: September 11th - October 12th Session B: October 15th - November 19th

New Member Orientation

Do you know someone interested in joining the LifeLong Learning Institute? The New Member Orientation is the ideal opportunity to learn more about the program, ask questions, and meet other new members.

Invite your friends to attend the orientation on Tuesday, August 21st at 11:00am to learn more about the Institute. More details will be included in the fall 2018 course catalog. FREE Summer Open to Movie Series the

Wednesday’s beginning at 1:00pm Public! Loyola Hall, room 127 Bring a guest, bring your lunch, bring your love of film!

July 11 – “Labyrinth of Lies” (2015, 2 hrs, 4 min.) Roberta Matz 1968 Germany, almost no one remembers the war nor recognizes what Auschwitz was nor feels any guilt over their past. A young prosecutor takes a case against a former concentra- tion camp guard. (German language, English subtitles)

July 18 – “Up” (2009, 96 min.) Michael Simeone An animated film about an elderly man who is disappointed with his life until he embarks on a wild adventure with a young companion. (English subtitles)

July 25 – “Murder on the Orient Express” (2010, 93 min.) Ann Calef This Agatha Christie murder mystery explores the nature of justice and the limits of law. (English subtitles)

August 1 – “Roman Holiday” (1953, 2 hours) Ross Kershey A princess escapes for a 24 hour holiday from royal duties and has a brief romantic inter- lude with an American journalist, Gregory Peck. The film was nominated for an Academy Award and Audrey Hepburn won for her portrayal of the princess.

August 8 – “Cabaret” (1972, 2 hr. 4 min.) Terry Smallacombe Cabaret is set in a glamorous, foreign venue – Berlin’s KITKAT club – and has great memorable music sung by Liza Minelli and Joel Grey; there’s a chorus dancing in fabu- lous 1930’s costumes. But underneath is the oncoming Nazi threat, as the club’s clientele subtly changes from noisy foolishness to solemn, booted watchfulness.

August 15 – “The Sting” (1973, 129 min.) Amanda Atkins Winner of seven Academy Awards, The Sting is an intricate comedy about a small-time crook (Robert Redford) and a veteran con man (Paul Newman) who seek revenge on a crime lord. Music Trivia - by Carole Curtis 1. The licorice stick is the nickname for what musical instrument? 2. Name the 4 string instruments in an orchestra in size order from smallest to largest. 3. The movie Saturday Night Fever used the soundtrack from what singing group? What style of music was it? 4. What is another name for waltz time? 5. What American composer grew up in a house on Church Street in West Chester, PA? 6. Who is the present music director and conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra? 7. What composer wrote The Firebird and The Rite of Spring? 8. List the birth order for Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach and Mozart. 9. Who is known as the Queen of Disco and her real name is LaDonna Adrian Gaines? 10. What is the official home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and when did the building open?

*Answers can be found on the last page of the newsletter*

Saturday, October 27, 2018 At 3:00pm - Alumnae Hall Theater 1145 King Road, IMMACULATA, PA 19345 Into the Wild Blue Yonder By Roberta McManus

He is an honorary citizen of a Chinese city. He’s greeted by the Chinese with cries of “American Hero!” Chinese President Xi Jinping presented him with his country’s highest military medal (the equivalent of our Congressional Medal of Honor). Who is this man – a politician, a rock star, an Olympic athlete? No, it is LLI’s own Jack Goodrich. Jack earned his accolades during World War II in what is called America’s “forgotten theater”. Most people think of WWII as having been fought in the Pacific or Europe but fail to realize the aid China received from the brave airmen who provided it. Fortunately, the Chinese people have not forgotten and have expressed their gratitude. Let’s go back to the beginning of this story….

After Pearl Harbor the principal and guidance counselor of Jack’s high school in Michigan, both of whom fought in World War I, gathered the senior boys (Jack included). They urged them to stay in high school to earn their diplomas before joining up. They told them that the war wouldn’t be over quickly and they needed to think about which branch of the service they would join. Jack considered this to be sound advice and followed it. As soon as he graduated, he registered for the draft. However, so many men had joined that the recruiter told him that it would be a while before he was called up. So, Jack started college at Michigan State, joined ROTC and was assigned to the artillery. After a friend took the tests for the air corps, he told Jack that the tests were so ridiculously hard that Jack couldn’t pass them. Indignant, Jack bet him $5 that he could – and of course, he did! Jack qualified as a pilot, navigator, and bombardier. When he had to make a choice, Jack decided to become a pilot. It took almost two years from leaving college to landing at Myitkyina, Burma in January 1945, his base of operations for his overseas tour of duty. It consisted of four airfields; Jack flew out of the southern one.

China had been cut off from the world by Japan. Her harbors were all under Japanese control and the Burma Road supply route had been cut off. The Japanese controlled all access to China except for over the Himalayas. Things were so desperate that China’s Chiang Kai-Shek, leader of the Republic of China, was considering a negotiated peace with Japan. However, Roosevelt didn’t want the Japanese soldiers in China released to fight Americans in the Pacific and didn’t want the Japanese emboldened to invade India either. Roosevelt wanted the Republican troops and the communists, headed by Mao Zedong, to continue their alliance and fight the Japanese. The US proposal was to supply China from Burma by flying “over the hump” to deliver supplies. This meant flying over the easternmost part of the Himalaya Mountains, which thankfully are not as tall as the western section (the location of Mt. Everest and K2). And thus was born the world’s first, longest, all weather, 24/7 aerial supply line in history. Into the Wild Blue Yonder cont. by Roberta McManus

The C47 cargo planes that Jack flew were propeller driven, unarmed, not pressurized, had no radar, and were nicknamed “the old gooney birds”. The aircraft stopped only to refuel, reload, and get a new crew assigned. Unlike army troops, these airmen did not work with the same fellows on a day-to-day basis. There were three separate lists of unequal length of pilots, radiomen, and navigators. The crew was different each time. Whoever was at the top of the list went out together. They were given their destination, the weight of the cargo on the manifest, told, “Good luck,” and off they went. They flew five flights into and out of China every two weeks. In all, Jack flew 88 missions. The flights were difficult over the mountains, which were subject to high winds and monsoons. Icing was also a concern. Monsoon season ran from late May to late September and was especially dangerous. When the heavy rain-filled air started to hit the mountain up-slopes, the air would twist and turn creating violent turbulence with winds up to 125 mph. Flying then became really hazardous. Jack arrived in Burma with no experience in that kind of flying. Heck, he had only tallied 150 hours of flight time upon his arrival! When asked if he was scared, Jack replied that he was “too busy to be scared.” He had to keep a sharp eye on his altimeter, air speed, and control board. It was during the monsoon season that the greatest number of these planes were lost. Jack only knew about the crashes when he saw men’s names erased from the duty board. 1,314 Hump crewmen lost their lives in this theater of the war.

Jack and his comrades flew spare engines, ammunition, and gas to the American pilots fighting for the Chinese in the Flying Tiger Squadrons. All told over 650,000 tons of material were delivered. One destination in China that Jack repeatedly flew to was Kunming. He always flew with an oxygen mask over 8,000 feet. Jack preferred night flying as the sun was not around to warm the air and start the churning effect. The quieter air was appreciated. He wore a sidearm every day for one year in case he was downed. Normal flight altitude was achieved by “going straight up” after takeoff and cruising at 16,000 feet over the mountain ridges. The planes were always overloaded. The flight to Kunming was 2.5 hours long going east, and fighting headwinds made for a 3 hour return trip.

In mid-1945, it was decided that the US would build a harbor in China to facilitate the distribution of bulk supplies. The Hump pilots started to fly supplies to the site. A plane could only fit half of a truck in its hold – so trucks were split in half, ferried over in different planes and welded together again on site. Jack’s most unusual freight was mules needed for transportation by the American MARS Trask Force, a small group of jungle-trained infantry. Jack felt sorry for the terrified animals. However, the animals grew “lazy” and sleepy in flight because of the altitude and lack of oxygen. Jack and crew kept a close watch on them (didn’t want to deliver dead animals) and did not want to worry about them kicking the sides out of the plane in their terror. Every mule had his vocal cords surgically removed as the Japanese were alert to the sounds of braying mules to find our troops in the jungle. Three big mules or five medium sized ones could fit in each flight. Jack particularly remembers one flight that was out of the ordinary. He had landed safely in Kunming but was told that rather than heading straight back, he and his crew would spend the night and were to report to the flight line at 8 am. A police escort arrived along with a large car carrying “officials” and some women. Into the Wild Blue Yonder cont. by Roberta McManus

They were told to fly to Lashio, Burma while maintaining radio silence. While on the flight, Jack asked his radioman to go into the turret and watch behind them. Before long, he came down and reported that three Japanese Zeroes were on their tail! Jack immediately dove into the thick cloud cover and without any visibility, flew by instruments. After landing, the English-speaking wife of one official informed Jack that her husband was the Chief of Staff and he was honoring soldiers on the trip. Recognizing that the flight was hazardous, she promised to send Jack a souvenir. It wasn’t long before Jack received a piece of jade, symbolizing good luck to the Chinese. Jack had it fitted into his Air Force ring. The jade must have brought good luck because the war ended shortly thereafter. Jack’s next flight was to bring troops home.

Back in the states, Jack refused three job offers from domestic airlines. Why did he say no to flying? Jack didn’t like all the rules and regulations; there was “not enough freedom.” After all, Jack was used to just being pointed in the right direction, not answering to multiple control towers and ceding control to others. Jack did stay in the Air Force reserve and almost went to Korea. Instead, Jack moved on with life. He used the GI Bill to pursue degrees in both civil and mechanical engineering, and attended one year of law school. He married Lois in September 1950 and together they raised four sons while moving around the country. Jack worked in major construction and Lois says, “He enjoyed bossing around a thousand men.”

Let’s fast forward to the year 2000. Mao was long gone in China and Jack and other Hump Pilots received invitations from the Chinese Air Force to visit their country. They were taken to various tourist spots and feted at every stop. Again in the year 2005, Jack and Lois visited China as guests of the Chinese government. The occasion was the 60th anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty between China and Japan. The government was so appreciative that the Goodriches’ trip was gratis, and they were offered significant discounts to bring along family members. Jack and Lois were especially pleased to share this experience with three of their sons, their wives, and one grandson. The invitations were sent to three groups of flying American “Veterans of the Japanese War of Aggression”. One group was Jack’s Hump Pilots. Another was the members of Doolittle’s Raid that bombed Tokyo in April, 1942. Members of the Flying Tigers, the Americans who had defeated the Japanese Air Force in the skies over China, were the third group. They were treated to arrival ceremonies in five separate cities. Hordes of children greeted them at every airport, bands played, concerts were held, speeches given, and gifts were bestowed. So many gifts were given to the group that they exceeded the weight limit on their plane, and another plane was added to the entourage. They visited monuments to their efforts during the war.

As Board Chairman of the Hump Pilots Association, Jack gave several speeches in China. He said, “…my strongest and fondest desire is that the bonds of friendship forged in the heat of battle will remain strong to form the basis for peace that will last for many years.” Jack and Lois have also been guests of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.. Jack and other veterans were again called American Heroes and thanked profusely by the Chinese. Into the Wild Blue Yonder cont. by Roberta McManus

When Jack marveled to one man in the embassy that he couldn’t believe how wonderfully they were being treated, his companion explained, “In all of Chinese history, every time a foreigner came into our country, we had to fight them or bow down to them. You were the first to come and fight on our behalf and never asked for anything in return. Nothing is too good for you.”

During the interview for this article, Jack and Lois shared their many mementos, photos, and souvenirs of their trips to China, D.C., and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Jack’s medals are proudly displayed. One question to Jack brought forth his largest smile: How did you find out that the war had ended? Jack recalled that while flying to Kunming, another plane that was higher in altitude than his was broadcasting that the war was over. Jack had heard about the atomic bombs but thought that this person would be in trouble over this crazy announcement. But when they landed, the people were running around like crazy and celebrating. On the nighttime ride home over the hump, Jack saw lights in the sky that he had never seen before. Jack directed his radioman to find their flares to set off and add to the display. “The Hump glowed like a Christmas tree that night,” said Jack with a broad grin. Upon landing in his south airfield he received a visit from his hometown friend, Jim, who flew from the west field. Jim was carrying a bottle of VO whiskey that he had been saving for a special occasion. “I can’t imagine a more special occasion than this,” said Jim. Jack’s last memory of that night was stumbling down a dirt road in the rain, joining arms with his buddy, waving the empty of bottle of booze, and singing their high school fight song at the top of their lungs.

Jack met with fellow Hump Pilots (“a great group of guys”) and their spouses many times in the years after the war. Finally, they decided to hold their last reunion in 2005 in Nashville. At the end of a wonderful evening, the dance floor was cleared as the couples returned to their tables where they all joined hands and sang as the band played “Auld Lang Syne”. By the end of the song, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. But that all changed as the band swung into the U.S. Air Force Song, and many voices mightily and happily sang, “Off we go into the wild blue yonder, climbing high into the sun…”

Jack, we thank you for your service.

Join a Club

First Friday of each Month 1:15pm in Loyola Hall room 219

July 6 - Gentleman in Moscow- Amor Fowles August 3 -Sister Carrie- Theodore Dreiser September 7 - Killers of the Flower Moon - David Grann

Every Monday 12:30-2:30pm Located in the Mac Shack in the lower level of Good Counsel Hall

Every Friday, Loyola Hall, room 123 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Interested participants are invited to bring their current knitting projects to work with LLI members and help one another. June 15, 27, 29 July 6, 13, 20, 27 Make Your Days More Meaningful with RSVP By A Retired Senior Volunteer

People volunteer for many reasons. Sometimes it’s a way to give back, sometimes it’s a way to support a passion.

Many volunteers are looking to meet new people with whom they can share time enjoying the same kinds of interests. They might have just moved to an area or become “empty-nesters”.

Other people are looking to learn new skills that they can use to expand their knowledge or enhance their own lives. Would-be volunteers are just curious: parents might want to see what really goes on inside their child’s school, while a citizen might wonder how city hall really functions. Some are simply looking for meaningful ways to connect with their communities.

There are hundreds of reasons people volunteer. So, where do you start when looking for a volunteer opportunity?

Since 1973, RSVP has been the region’s leading volunteer placement agency for adults. Staff will meet you in person or over the phone to see what your skills are, what kind of time commitment you want to make and what you did during your career. Then RSVP helps find the best match for you within an extremely diverse group of organizations or causes.

Every day, countless RSVP volunteers tutor struggling students - in classrooms or virtually, drive homebound seniors to medical appointments, present STEM career choices to students, counsel Medicare recipients, help adults improve their literacy skills, mentor at-risk youth, provide counseling help to struggling nonprofits, read to Head Start preschoolers, lead tours at historic sites and museums, deliver meals-on-wheels, support veterans programs and so much more. There are many kinds of volunteer opportunities to choose from - sporadic, seasonal, monthly, and weekly – the choice is yours!. RSVP provides supplemental insurance which is free to you during your volunteer activity. Additionally social events such as the annual Volunteer Celebration Luncheons, the annual Run Wild 5K Run/Walk and new this year, their first golf outing held on July 24.

In 2017, 1,200 RSVP volunteers provided support and services to more than 11,000 local community residents. Learn about RSVP opportunities by attending a free Volunteer Information Session (VIS) at locations throughout Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties. Upcoming VIS sessions are scheduled in Bala Cynwyd, Broomall, Exton, Glen Mills, Havertown, Kennett Square and Media and more.

There’s no commitment required and no experience necessary. For a listing of VIS dates and times see: www.rsvpmc.org or call (610) 834-1040 ext. 123. America Reads volunteers coaches a student to improve his reading ability. May We Recommend?

Greetings! Happy Summer! This is the season of gazing at endless waves, soaking up the warm sun, enjoying the smell of suntan lotion, and burrowing toes in the sand. And that leads us to this issue’s question: What is Your Favorite Beach? Maybe you will smile and recognize these endorsements or add a new beach to your bucket list. Thank you to the LLI members who took the time to respond to the question and share their faves. Enjoy!

Beach: Siesta Key off Sarasota, FL Recommended by: Lois and Jack Goodrich The sand is soft, pure white sugar. With no sharp drop off, the beach slopes gently to shoulder depth. It is a short walk from the beach to the village for food and drink. In annual contests, Siesta Key is frequently voted “Best in USA”.

Beach: Avalon, NJ Recommended by: Eileen Huston and Sheila Dahl Sheila says that the beaches are huge. The boardwalk is small and not crowded. The town is nice though getting larger. She has been taking her family there every two years since 2002. Eileen reports that the town is beautiful, the community safe, and free beach parking is available. The restaurants are wonderful – both upscale and family friendly. In addition, there are summer camps for kids and the library offers events throughout the summer.

Beach: Marbella Spain on the Costa del Sol Recommended by Arlene Kehoe Bask on the sands of the famous centrally located La Fontanilla Beach or the less crowded Cabopino Beach. Some hotel beaches are private. Warning – topless sunbathing is accepted and quite common! You can enjoy the hint of Moorish occupation, the diverse languages of the beachgoers, a nearby bullfight, a flamenco show, browsing in many interesting shops, and dinner at a tapas bar. All will add to many pleasant memories of your visit to Marbella, Spain. May We Recommend? Cont.

Beach: Ocean City, NJ Recommended by: Judy Alters Judy loves the beach and everything about the “shore atmosphere”: the walks on the beach (early morning or late at night), shell collecting, listening to and watching the waves and the birds, relaxing under the sun, the many restaurants with seafood on the menu, shopping on Ocean Avenue, the boardwalk with all its fun and activities, sights and sounds, the clubs with music and dancing. Ocean City and its surrounding towns offer a great experience for people of all ages!

Beach: Belleair Beach, Florida Recommended by: Christine Schmidt and John Bakken Another beach that is the top pick of two LLI members! Christine says that this is a beautiful beach on the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Clearwater. It’s a place in the sun to relax and just enjoy the views. John agrees and recommends this very private beach. The community doesn’t allow any hotels, motels, restaurants, etc., and condos can only be three stories tall. Therefore, there are just a few people on the beach.

Beach: The long stretch of sand between Surfside Beach and Miacomet Beach on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts Recommended by: Roberta McManus Roberta and her family follow the Land Bank paths through the dunes to this beautiful beach that seems so private since the nearest group is a few hundred feet away from them. They love watching the seals watch them. It’s an ideal spot for relaxing, surf fishing, family fun, and long walks at the water’s edge. Enjoy the Outdoors, Safely - By Roberta McManus

Serendipity occurs when a discovery is made by accident or good fortune. Serendipity plays a role in this narrative. The story begins when two women, living in different neighborhoods in one town, noticed something strange, gathered information, and alerted health officials. The result? They brought a new disease to the attention of the world. It is a disease that threatens all of us – especially those who live in southeastern Pennsylvania. These two women noticed that there were too many people in their churches, schools, and neighborhoods who were on crutches, including people in their own families. Children were being diagnosed as having juvenile arthritis. Just what was happening here? The two women, unbeknownst to each other, called around to neighbors and began to compile data. They found information of fifty cases! Here’s where serendipity steps in. Each woman decided to contact the State Department of Health to talk about her list of cases. Both women ended up speaking to the same doctor. What are the odds of that happening at a state agency? And, serendipitously, this doctor they connected with also happened to be trained as an epidemiologist at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. He went on an investigative hunt for facts, looking at existing cases, new cases, symptoms, commonalities between patients, and other links. He knew he was on to something, but what? Serendipity again. This first doctor had a good friend who was not only an expert in rheumatoid arthritis but was also trained at the CDC to investigate outbreaks. The friend immediately offered to help. It took seven years for the work of many to bear fruit. But because Dr. David Snydman and Dr. Allen Steere paid attention to the concerns and facts gathered by Polly Murray and Judy Mensch, a new disease was discovered. The two women lived in Connecticut, in the town of Lyme. And now you know that we are talking about Lyme Disease.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria carried in infected deer ticks (not all deer ticks are infected). Symptoms will typically include fatigue, headache, joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, and often, a red bulls-eye rash. If left untreated, the disease can spread to the heart, knees, and nervous system. Antibiotics are used for the treatment. In a small number of cases, months and even years after treatment, some lingering symptoms of fatigue and muscle aches may occur. This is called Post- treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). It is thought that this is caused by an autoimmune response as the body continues to respond to the disease.

The simplest way to avoid Lyme disease is to enjoy the outdoors safely. Light colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks. Use insect repellent that is recommended by the CDC and EPA. Perform tick checks after being outdoors. Remove ticks promptly using tweezers. More information is easily available online from the CDC, the Lyme Disease Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and chesco.org.

We are #1. (And this is not a reference to Eagles football or Villanova basketball.) In 2016, Pennsylvania had 8,988 confirmed cases of Lyme disease. That is over 5,600 more cases than the state in second place. We are vulnerable living in our beautiful rural and suburban areas. Enjoy the outdoors this summer but be smart about ticks! LLI at IU Needs You! Teach with Us!

We need instructors to help make the LifeLong Learning Institute the best it can be!

Share your hobby, expertise, interest, or passion with your peers!

Help the Institute. Help the LLI members. Expand our diverse courses.

It’s rewarding. It’s important. And it’s fun!

Please call or email Amanda Atkins with your questions about how to become a LifeLong Learning Instructor. See contact information below.

For more information: Call 484-323-3236 or email: [email protected] LLI Gives Back By: Mary Ravenfeld - Director, Annual Campaigns

The generous nature of the members of the Lifelong Learning Institute has truly revealed itself with the LLI’s recent decision to fundraise for the Nutrition Department. Beginning last Fall, the first university department to offer classes with LLI was the Nutrition and Exercise Science Departments. In this unique partnership Immaculata upperclassmen provided nutritional and exercise classes to members of the LLI group as a part of their capstone for graduation. The LLI members enjoyed the experience tremendously, and immediately connected with their undergraduate Immaculata colleagues. In gratitude for this energizing and fun experience, the LLI Advisory Board recommended giving back to the University and these aspiring health professionals by providing some much needed equipment to help further update the recently renovated Nutrition Lab. Donations to outfit the Nutrition Lab with new equipment such as blenders, mixers, bowls and the like have been steadily coming in, and the effort is quickly climbing towards its goal of reaching $1,900.

It’s not too late to be part of this great opportunity to show support for our fellow Immaculatans. Gifts can be made payable to Immaculata University at the College of Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS) reception desk on the Terrace Level of Good Counsel Hall. Checks and credit cards are gladly accepted. Updates will be provided as we move towards completion of our goal. A heartfelt thank you to all who have already supported this effort. Your generosity speaks volumes, and Immaculata University is grateful for your thoughtfulness! Instructor Spotlight - Bob Collins By Roberta McManus

“He’s just the kindest man,” said one classmate to her companions relaxing at one of the tables in front of the library. The other four nodded their heads in agreement. Many others would also agree. Robert Collins has a reputation as being not only a wonderful teacher but also as a wonderful human being. He delights in the many friends that LLI provides him as he both teaches and attends classes. Bob finds all of the people that he has met over the years to be very friendly and welcoming, so he really enjoys his time on campus. In his classes, he passes on that enjoyment to others. It’s so easy to sit in Bob’s classes as he leads us through events in our nation’s history. Bob is always well prepared and has a calm, engaging way of presenting information.

Bob started teaching lifelong learners in 2014 on the Exton campus of Widener. Bob was inspired to teach by a very good teacher at Villanova, Father Joseph Ryan. Reverend Ryan’s course on immigration prompted Bob to conduct research and then teach a course that he called American Immigrants. His interest in the topic was sparked by his father-in-law who was a sixteen-year-old immigrant when he arrived in this country from Italy in 1920. In addition to that class, Bob’s repertoire now includes classes called The Great Depression, The Making of America, The People Who Helped Make America, and, just recently, Civil War Prisons. Bob’s curiosity about living through the depression, colonial times, and the Civil War motivated him to read books, search the world-wide-web, and watch documentaries on the History Channel and PBS stations. Bob believes that if it wasn’t for the internet, he would not be adequately prepared for his classes. He enjoys having a wealth of information just a key stroke away. But despite all of his intensive research, Bob knows that there is always more to learn about his chosen topics. Bob is also a teacher who relishes learning from his students. In every course that he has taught, his students have provided him with either new information or the push to search for more knowledge. Bob believes that, “The students who attend classes at LLI are probably among the most well-informed people in the entire country.” That is due to the wide range of students and their careers, travels, and experiences. Bob loves it that his students provide the impetus for him to be a well-prepared, effective teacher.

Currently teaching The Making of America’s Infrastructure, Bob is able to draw on his 45 year career as a civil engineer to explain events to his students. As an engineer, Bob was concerned mainly with construction, road building, public utilities, and re-use of industrial by-products. The presentations on the building of canals, roads, railroads, and mass transit draw heavily on his work experience. But, life isn’t all work and no play. Furthering his track and cross country athleticism from high school and college, Bob remained a runner until his mid to late sixties. Sore knees caused him to become an avid bicyclist until arthritis put a brake on that. Ever the sports enthusiast, Bob still enjoys track meets, attending the Penn Relays every April since 1957. That makes 61 consecutive Penn Relays over the years!

Nowadays, Bob’s hobbies tend to be more confined to reading and watching TV documentaries, especially on topics for him to use in his LLI classes. He has always had an avid interest in American history and learning. For that, we are grateful, as he shares those interests with his students here at Immaculata. Thank you, Bob! One can only wonder what his next course topic will be, and we look forward to finding out! LLI Spring Picnic - May 4, 2018 LLI Group Trip: Grounds for Sculpture LLI Group Trip: Purls of Wisdom Have you tried Quilting?

Instructor: Deby Everett Volume 2, Issue 2 March 2018

Thank you to those who contributed to the summer newsletter. And a special thank you to Roberta McManus and Jeanne McFeely for making the newsletter possible.

Interested in helping with the Newsletter? Contact Roberta McManus to submit your ideas! [email protected]

Summer 2018 Newsletter Quote:

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” -Abraham Lincoln Submitted by Barbara Falini

Read the Fall 2017 Newsletter by Clicking Here! Read the Summer 2017 Newsletter by Clicking Here! Read the Spring 2017 Newsletter by Clicking Here! Read the Fall 2016 Newsletter by Clicking Here!

Summer Trivia Answers

1. Clarinet 2. Violin, viola, cello, bass 3. The Bee Gees - disco style 4. Three four time or three quarter time 5. Samuel Barber 6. Yannick Nezet-Sequin 7. Igor Stravinsky 8. Bach (1685), Mozart (1756), Beethoven (1770) 9. Donna Summer 10. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts - opened 2001