30-Year Reunion Dinner Celebrated at San Francisco Fairmont
Hotel
(Summer 2000 Newsletter)
On April 25, 1970, more than 450 friends gathered
at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel to support the formation
of a new Catholic college: Thomas Aquinas College. Mayor Joseph
Alioto introduced the event and Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
and L. Brent Bozell were among the featured speakers.
On May 7, 2000, thirty years later, nearly
the same number gathered at the same spot to celebrate what
has transpired since that last event: the formation and
establishment of Thomas Aquinas College. Archbishop William
Levada, who served as Honorary Chairman of the Dinner Committee,
was unable to be there as he was attending John Cardinal O'Connor's
funeral in New York. His assistant, Fr. Thomas Merson, delivered
the Invocation instead.
Admiral Jeremiah Denton was the featured
speaker and gave a moving exhortation on preserving religion
in public life. Denton drew insights from his seven years'
experience as a Vietnam prisoner-of-war.
Mary Neumayr, who served as Chairman of the
Steering Committee, gave the welcoming remarks and recalled
a dim childhood memory when her parents were preparing to
attend the first Fairmont Hotel benefit dinner. Her father,
Dr. John Neumayr, was one of the founders of the College.
Mary graduated from the College in 1987 and is an attorney
with the San Francisco firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene &
MacRae.
Dr. John Neumayr then introduced and presented
an award to John E. Schaeffer for his work in helping to found
the College. Mr. Schaeffer co-chaired the first Fairmont Hotel
dinner and became a founding board member of Thomas Aquinas
College. He and his wife, Jane, later saw all five of their
daughters become graduates of the College. He served on the
Board until 1996 when he became a Governor Emeritus. He is
a partner in the law firm of Cooper, White and Cooper in San
Francisco, having earned degrees at St. Mary's College and
College of the Pacific and his law degree at the University
of San Francisco.
President Thomas Dillon gave the concluding
remarks, observing that the success of the College has been
due to the prayers, sacrifices, and gifts of so many people.
A Mass of Thanksgiving preceded the dinner
at St. Dominic's Church. Monsignor John T. Foudy was the celebrant
and the Grimm Family Choir provided the music. Following a
cocktail reception and dinner at the hotel, guests danced
to the music of the Rick Martini Orchestra.
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