Page 30 - The Gonzaga Record 1986
P. 30
work, he was sent to learn to cut hair which skill he duly inflicted on the
soldiers. Years later in Athens, a certain Archbishop Roncalli who was
Apostolic Delegate to Bulgaria turned up in connection with the appoint-
ment of a Unionate Bishop. He mentioned that he needed a haircut and
enquired where he could go. No need to go far: Signor Volpi in the
Institute had barbered in the army. And so it was done, and Signor did
the job on the Archbishop.
Several years later Signor Volpi along with a few others was being
favoured with a private audience with Pope John XXXIII, alias Roncalli.
The Pope spoke to Signor, was charmed to hear he was born down the
road in Trastevere, and made to move on. But then turned back to Signor
again and said: 'I don't need a hair cut this time'! Beat that if you can!
Mr Raymond Kearns
Ray was born in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. He did his
secondary schooling at St Nathy's College, Ballaghaderreen. In 1960 he
won a scholarship to the University of Pittsburg where he obtained a
Master's Degree in New Mathematics. He must have been one of the very
few in Ireland at that time who was qualified in, or knew anything about
the New Mathematics.
In 1962 he joined the staff of Gonzaga College as Senior Mathematics
Master during the rectorship of Fr John Hughes SJ. In the summers of
1963/4/5 he attended Fordham University and Boston College on Nat-
ional Science Foundation scholarships.
Ireland was waking up to the New Mathematics, and Ray gave courses
to teachers in the new maths for the Department of Education from 1963
to 1966.
He went into the private sector and established the Institute of Educat-
ion in 1969, first in the old Sacred Heart school in Leeson Street, and
later in his own million pound building on the other side of the street.
He retired from full time teaching at Gonzaga in 1979, but happily still
remains with us in a part time capacity. Quite apart from his talents as
a maths teacher people will remember Ray for his unfailing good
humour, geniality, common sense; a good man to have with you in a tight
corner!
Mr Catha/ O'Gara
While Cathal was actually born in Dublin, that doesn't mean anything.
The place that claims him is Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. He did his
early schooling there, and then at fourteen years of age went as a boarder
to Garbally Park Diocesan college. After a year at Garbally he went on
to Summerhill College, Sligo. Those were tough years in Irish boarding
schools. But for Cathal were even harder. By the end of his third year in
Summerhill he was orphaned by the deaths of both his father and
mother.
28
soldiers. Years later in Athens, a certain Archbishop Roncalli who was
Apostolic Delegate to Bulgaria turned up in connection with the appoint-
ment of a Unionate Bishop. He mentioned that he needed a haircut and
enquired where he could go. No need to go far: Signor Volpi in the
Institute had barbered in the army. And so it was done, and Signor did
the job on the Archbishop.
Several years later Signor Volpi along with a few others was being
favoured with a private audience with Pope John XXXIII, alias Roncalli.
The Pope spoke to Signor, was charmed to hear he was born down the
road in Trastevere, and made to move on. But then turned back to Signor
again and said: 'I don't need a hair cut this time'! Beat that if you can!
Mr Raymond Kearns
Ray was born in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. He did his
secondary schooling at St Nathy's College, Ballaghaderreen. In 1960 he
won a scholarship to the University of Pittsburg where he obtained a
Master's Degree in New Mathematics. He must have been one of the very
few in Ireland at that time who was qualified in, or knew anything about
the New Mathematics.
In 1962 he joined the staff of Gonzaga College as Senior Mathematics
Master during the rectorship of Fr John Hughes SJ. In the summers of
1963/4/5 he attended Fordham University and Boston College on Nat-
ional Science Foundation scholarships.
Ireland was waking up to the New Mathematics, and Ray gave courses
to teachers in the new maths for the Department of Education from 1963
to 1966.
He went into the private sector and established the Institute of Educat-
ion in 1969, first in the old Sacred Heart school in Leeson Street, and
later in his own million pound building on the other side of the street.
He retired from full time teaching at Gonzaga in 1979, but happily still
remains with us in a part time capacity. Quite apart from his talents as
a maths teacher people will remember Ray for his unfailing good
humour, geniality, common sense; a good man to have with you in a tight
corner!
Mr Catha/ O'Gara
While Cathal was actually born in Dublin, that doesn't mean anything.
The place that claims him is Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. He did his
early schooling there, and then at fourteen years of age went as a boarder
to Garbally Park Diocesan college. After a year at Garbally he went on
to Summerhill College, Sligo. Those were tough years in Irish boarding
schools. But for Cathal were even harder. By the end of his third year in
Summerhill he was orphaned by the deaths of both his father and
mother.
28
