Lost Friends

In an earlier post, I talked about friends and family members who have died. This time I'd like to briefly mention friends who have disappeared from my life. The last time I saw some of my high school friends (from St. Joe's in Cleveland) was graduation day of 1966. I particularly think of Pete Gasper, a bright guy, Beatlemaniac, fine poet, who grew up in Eastlake. I wonder if Pete ever did anything with his gift for poetry.

On June 11, 1970, I graduated from the University of Notre Dame. I have seen some of my old college friends at reunions, weddings, funerals, and football games. But I never again saw Carol Handley (a St. Mary's College girl who lived in Selma, Indiana). What did Carol end up doing? What kind of life did she make? Some other St. Mary's girls I remember: Kathy Breitenbach of Pepper Pike, Ohio; Julie Castrop, of Columbus, Ohio; Rene Mirro, of Merrillville, Indiana. Where are they now? What kind of lives?

After Notre Dame, I made some new friends in Cleveland. What ever happened to Gene Killeen, the operator of "Terminal Parking" (W. 6th and Superior). What a great guy with a great family. We had the best-educated parking lot attendants in Cleveland! Gene, Earl Hurd, and me--all Notre Dame grads (and I earned $2.50 an hour with my ND degree!).

When I moved to Cincinnati in 1971 I began working at the 12th Street Clinic. What ever happened to my colleagues there? Dale White DDS; Becky Meyers RN; Charles Couch, health educator and sanitarian; Moscoe Hendrickson; June Miehle, health educator; Joseph Alter MD, clinic director; Ernie Mynatt, consultant to the clinic.

In Cincinnati I was introduced to some of the greatest people I had ever met--Peacemakers and Catholic Workers. Where is Denny Ryan, Joel Stevens, Ruth Wynkoop (who might be known as Ruth Horne or Ruth Gorsuch), Bonnie Tompkins, John Luginbill? Where is Patrick Fanning, who worked with Urban Appalachians in Lower Price Hill?

Remembering Cincinnati's "12th Street Clinic"

In the early 1970s, I worked at Cincinnati's "12th Street Clinic," known bureaucratically as the "Pilot City Health Service." This was an experiment in medical care, a precursor to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO's)--but far better than what they turned out to be. This clinic was led by a fantastic person, Dr. Joseph Alter, a local Quaker. I worked with Charles Couch, Moscoe Hendrickson, and June Miehle in the health education program of the clinic. The dental clinic was second to none and featured the work of James Dale White DDS, who I think currently practices dentistry around Wilmington, Ohio. There were wonderful internists and general practice physicians at 12th Street Clinic. One was Dr. Goldberg (possibly Leonard Goldberg). There was also a crew of visiting nurses associated with the clinic. One name I remember is Linda Olberding--I heard that she is a professor of nursing at the University of Cincinnati these days. A nurse I worked with was Becky Meyers, a wonderful person and fine nurse (and yes, a pretty girl). I helped Becky Meyers with a program she developed teaching young mothers and mothers-to-be how to take care of themselves and their new babies. There were also some fine social workers at the clinic. Two names come to mind: Tom DiFalco (he was thinking about becoming a priest), and Mark Baker. I think Shirley Gallahan was also one of these social workers. Two other names of Clinic associates come to mind: Maureen Sullivan (of the HUB Services), and the legendary Ernie Mynatt. They weren't employed directly by the clinic, but were connected with the work of that institution. I think Maureen might have gone to work for the Urban Appalachian Council. I wish I knew if Joe Alter is still alive; and what Becky Meyers, Charles Couch, Dale White, and June Miehle are doing. This was a wonderful place to work and a model of what our medical system should be. It dealt with the whole social and medical context of the residents of Over-the-Rhine, a poor neighborhood of Cincinnati. It will be a long time before the likes of the 12th Street Clinic is seen again!

[The photo above is of the Germania Building at 12th and Walnut Streets in Over-the-Rhine, a few blocks from the 12th Street Clinic. Photo source: http://queencitysurvey.blogspot.com/2007/11/queens-crown-jewels.html]