Reunion Essays

Since we will be going to our 50th reunions in New Haven, we were both asked to write essays for our reunion books. I didn't write one originally, but after receiving the massive 300 page reunion book from Yale, we were given the chance to write for a supplement.

My essay was as follows:

Class of 1959 Essay

Richard J. Fahy

I had originally decided not to respond to the request for an essay because I have never done anything unique or outstanding enough to justify writing about myself in the essay book. However, having read some of the essays in the wonderful book created by Sandy Wiener, and given a second chance, I did think of one relatively unusual characteristic that might justify an essay -- I've moved a lot.

This may seem normal to many people, but for lawyers of our generation, it was most unusual. Most lawyers graduated from law school and returned to their hometowns, where they developed their legal practices among people they had known their whole life. Graduates of major law schools often went to large law firms in big cities, and stayed there the rest of their careers. I, on the other hand, worked for three major companies, practiced as a solo for 15 years, and lived in four different cities.

My life has been fairly conventional -- married my college sweetheart 48 years ago, and still married; raised three children, none of whom created problems such as drugs or alcoholism, and each of whom is happily married and producing grandchildren (we now have a total of eight); and enjoyed a career of 40 years in the airline business and related industries. By the time I was 35, we were happily ensconced in a beautiful brick colonial in Pelham Manor, with a short commute to my job in Manhattan. However, in 1978, the Chairman of American Airlines, where I worked in the Legal Department, decreed that the headquarters was moving from New York City to Texas -- specifically, to a location halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth.

This was devastating to me for two reasons. First, somebody else had made a major life decision for me, over which I had no control. This had never happened before and was a very unpleasant experience. Secondly, I was being told to move to the equivalent of a foreign country. In the view of a parochial New Englander (I had never been west of the Hudson until I was 21), Texas was the strange land where JFK was assassinated, people wore cowboy boots, and there were no trees.

I tried desperately to avoid the move, searching for a job in New York, but unable to find one in the short time frame before we either had to commit to Texas or take our severance pay. Since, with three children, I could not afford the risk of unemployment, it was off to Texas. I sulked for six months, while my wife did yeoman work organizing the move, consoling the children, and collecting information on communities where we might live. The only contribution I made was to call the Yale Admissions Office and talk to the recruiter for North Texas about which schools they regarded highly. His particular endorsement of a private school in Fort Worth tilted the balance, and we were one of the few people in management to move to Fort Worth, rather than Dallas. (For those who don't know Texas geography, Fort Worth is not a suburb of Dallas. It is a separate city 35 miles west of Dallas -- about the same as the distance between Washington and Baltimore.) In July, 1979, we moved into a large white colonial with a swimming pool in a heavily-treed neighborhood.

My family loved Fort Worth. My kids enjoyed the private school and loved having their friends over to our swimming pool. My wife became a docent at two of Fort Worth's three world-class museums. We discovered that Fort Worth was in some respects like a renaissance city in which a benevolent aristocracy (primarily the Bass family) supported major institutions and built concert halls and museums. However, it took me a long time to adjust. Since my office was out in the boondocks near the airport, it was difficult to get involved in local activities. It was not until the late 80s, when I join the Opera board and a country club, that I felt more a part of the community. By then, I was also living in Los Angeles.

In 1985, I was given responsibility for a massive antitrust case in which the rest of the industry sued us for over $4 billion because of the alleged monopoly of our computerized reservation system, Sabre. I spent almost the entire next four years in Los Angeles, commuting home to Fort Worth weekends. I loved Los Angeles. The weather was great, the work was exciting, and I was on an expense account for four years. We worked hard all day and then explored the many fine restaurants in the evening. In late 1989, we won a jury verdict after a three-month trial.

When I returned to headquarters, it was like the return of Rip van Winkle. The Legal Department had restructured and I had a new boss, 10 years younger than me, who didn't know quite where I would fit in. I decided it was time to take early retirement and start my own legal practice. Since I was so specialized in airline economic matters, the only feasible place to do this was in Washington, DC.

In 1991, we moved to Alexandria, Virginia. My wife was again a yeoman in this move, particularly because she was not nearly as pleased to be leaving Fort Worth as I was. Washington was okay. Mary Ellen became a docent at the National Gallery of Art, but it was far more bureaucratic than the museum life she had enjoyed in Fort Worth. My legal practice did well, and we joined a country club, where I played a lot of golf. However, we were not entirely satisfied in Washington. Costs were high, traffic was terrible, and several friends that we had made during our early years in Washington had already moved away. When my legal practice wound down a few years ago, we decided after considerable discussion that it made sense, for both economic and family reasons, to return to Fort Worth. Most of our children and grandchildren are in Texas, and we still had some friends here from our previous existence in Fort Worth.

In 2007, we moved back to Fort Worth, moving into a different tree-lined neighborhood, 10 minutes from downtown. Now that we are here of our own volition, I am truly enjoying Fort Worth. We attend the Fort Worth Opera and Symphony, and even go over to Dallas for the Dallas Opera. I play golf a couple times a week and am involved with a service club that helps kids. Mary Ellen is again a docent at the Kimbell Art Museum. My son and his wife just had twins, so we now have four grandchildren nearby and two more in Austin. We feel well positioned for what we expect will be the final chapter of our lives.

Mary Ellen responded to two separate questions, and somehow had two different fonts.

Much has happened in the last 50 years of my life that I certainly would not have anticipated. Who would have thought I would end up in Fort Worth, Texas? But here we are and happily so.

We started out in Connecticut, then to Brooklyn Heights and Pelham Manor, New York. Dick was an attorney for American Airlines and we moved with its headquarters to Fort Worth, Texas in 1979. In 1991, he took early retirement from American and went into private practice in Washington, DC. We, therefore, moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Now that he is really retired, last year we moved back to Texas where we have two of our children and six of our grandchildren. Moving is challenging, but one learns from new places and new people.

Because of our airline privileges, we have traveled a great deal over the years. When the children were young, we took them abroad on vacation every year -- it was cheaper than going to Cape Cod. Dick's professional life has also required travel to Europe, and I have accompanied him on a number of occasions. We have had many adventures.

Over the years, I developed a great interest in art and architecture. This interest has been nurtured by my travels, as well as museum experiences. Dick and I share a love of Opera and happily have lived in cities with fine opera companies.

I have learned that you can't plan your life. Things happen and you must be flexible and adaptable, and seize opportunities as they present themselves.

Dick and I have been married 48 years and have three children and eight grandchildren -- including a new set of twin boys. I have a very eclectic employment history -- teacher, computer programmer, bookkeeper, relocation counselor, and tour guide.

I have been active in the Junior League in the cities in which I have lived, including chair of the Junior League of Washington, DC Sustainer Committee. My great love as a volunteer has been as an art museum docent at the Kimbell and Modern Art Museums in Fort Worth and the National Gallery of Art in Washington. I have been a docent for 30 years and am back at the Kimbell again.

I enjoy reading and belong to two book groups, one here in Fort Worth for ladies and a couple's group in Washington, DC which I started over 10 years ago.

Ellen's Poem

Miss Ellen Pasquarette, age 10, has composed the following poem, entitled "Grandparents"


These are my grandparents
Mimi, Poppop, Nanny, Pappap
They're all the best!

This is Mimi
She's all about artwork
She loves to read
She's full of great stories

This is Poppop
He's totally wonderful
He loves to see movies
He loves to play golf

This is Nanny
She travels a lot
She's the Queen of her home
Paris holds some of her friends.

This is Pappap
He is a movie kind of guy
He's been to China
He's really really cool!!

Will's First Communionon

Last weekend, we gathered in Austin for Will's First Communion. On Saturday morning, Ellie had a volleyball game at nine o'clock, and Will a baseball game at 10:30.











In the afternoon,we all had a tour of Kathleen and John's new house. It is a lovely home in a development called Steiner Ranch, which looks relatively restrained and modest from the front, but which actually has a lot of space and a very large game room upstairs.

They were supposed to close on the house the following Wednesday, so they presumably own it by now.

The house has a swimming pool and a large backyard ( the lot is a full acre), with a spectacular view.


John Pasquarette's parents were also able to come for the weekend, so the kids had all four grandparents there at the same time.




On Sunday, April 26, we had Will's first communion at 9 a.m. Mass. There must've been 100 children receiving First Communion, so the church was quite crowded with all the families. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great -- it rained before and after Mass. John and Liz and all four children drove from Grand Prairie, leaving at 5:30 Sunday morning. After mass, we return to Kathleen's house for brunch, and then all went to the minor league baseball game in the afternoon, where Ellen and her school chorus sang the national anthem. Here are some pictures from Sunday.

Picture for 50th Reunion

Since our 50th reunions from college are coming up the first weekend in June, we have been receiving material from our colleges. St. Thomas More, the Catholic church at Yale sent out a card to all reunion classes inviting them to brunch that Sunday after 10 am Mass. On its cover is a picture from the 1959 yearbook of the "St. Thomas More" club. Do you recognize me?




I don't have any recollection of a "St. Thomas More Club". I think the priest, Father O'Brien, simply asked some of the Seniors to show up for a picture. In any event, it was quite a surprise to get a 50 year-old picture of me in the mail.

Mimi and PopPop with all 8 grandchildren! Dec 2008

New Twins

John and Liz added two more to their family yesterday, December 9. Eric Henry was born at 1:26 pm, weighing in at 6 lbs, 7 oz. John Richard, Jr. (Jack)was born at 2:27 pm, and weighed 6 lbs, 15 oz. All went well. Here are some pictures.




Here is Jack
And here is Eric.


Eric is names after Liz's grandfather. We can tell them apart because Eric has more hair. Liz will be home Thursday afternoon.

Honora Falvey

A couple of weeks ago, Kathleen asked Mimi to tell her again some of the story of her grandmother, Honora Falvey -- Will had to do a report for school. Mom had a written report from 1979,which she rewrote for Will, and Kathleen was kind enough to type them up. Kathleen also suggested that the rest of the family might be interested, so here are the notes.

Notes on Honora Falvey

By Mary Ellen Fahy

Written in 2008

Honora Falvey was born on 3/12/1870 on Valentia Island, County Kerry, Ireland to Martin and Honora Falvey who were tenant farmers. Honora is a common name on Valentia. She was baptized at one day old on March 13, 1870. So many babies died as infants.

Her parents brought Honora and her eight brothers and sisters over to the US in two stages. They left Ireland because they and just about everyone else was poor. Failing crops made it difficult to feed everyone. At this time, Ireland was not an independent country. The Falveys were British subjects. In 1883, the British government began to subsidize sending the Irish to the US. It was at this time that the Falveys departed Ireland.

Mary, the oldest, was a widow. She had one son and was expecting a second son. Honora stayed behind to help her sister. She was probably no older than 13 or 14. She may have been only 11. (dates are often difficult to pin down). Her family must have considered her very responsible. Mary and Honora and the two baby boys followed the family to the US shortly after.

They settled in Bridgeport, Conn. They may have had relatives there but also work was easily found there.

Honora was a baby nurse for the family of a doctor (or nanny), again showing her competence. She purposely lost her Irish brogue (her Irish accent) saying that is what you do in America to get ahead. She looked down on her relatives who did not make the effort.

She married John Steele when she was in her early 20’s. He was a toolmaker. They had 9 children – 4 girls and 5 boys. My mother Florence was the youngest.

In 1918, her son John, a pharmacist, died in the Influenza epidemic.

Her husband died very suddenly in 1919. My mother was 8 years old when her father died. Honora took the insurance money she received and bought a two-family house in Howard Ave. in Bridgeport, CT. She raised her children there. In later years she was active in her parish church. She died suddenly in September 1959.

The records in the presbytery are only legible from 1867 on and only the birth and baptism have been recorded – there are no marriage or death records.

Written in 1979

Honora Falvey Steele was born March 12, 1870 and baptized one day later by Rev. J Kearney. Her Mother’s name was Honora Sullivan and her Father was Martin Falvey. Her godparents were Thomas and Mary Shea. The Falvey family lived in West Cooil Craheg. This is just west of the present bridge to Port Magee and south of the main road. It is rough and bog-like earth and there are few houses there now.

Honora’s sister Joanna had been born and baptized in September of 1867. Her brothers were Patrick Falvey, who was baptized in the 21st of February 1872, Michael who was baptized on Feb 16 1874, and Denis Falvey who was born and baptized on Feb 17, 1877. (Perhaps he died as a baby or young child). Martin and Honora Falvey’s last child was born in August of 1881. The child had no name listed nor any further dating – only the parents’ names were listed. Presumably the child was stillborn. Honora’s other siblings were Mary, Ellen, Kathleen, Julia, and Bridget. The baptismal records are not legible for these children.

Mary Falvey Connell and Philip Connell (Honora’s oldest sister) had a son Timothy born the 10^th of April 1879 and baptized the 12^th of April. Their second son John was born sometime after August 1881 (the date of Honora and Martin’s stillborn child). The priest had checked the records from 1867 until that date. I did not press him to go further.

However I know now that it is an important date. It would establish more definitely the date of the family’s emigration. The story that had been told to me by my mother was that the whole family came over together except Mary who was expecting her second child (John?) and Honora who stayed behind to assist her sister – Phillip Connell having died. If this story is true it assumes that Martin and Honora Falvey had a great deal of trust in their young daughter Honora’s abilities. They must have indeed sensed that she had a great sense of responsibility. At the minimum she could have been eleven years. I wonder if she were a year or two older. In any case it would seem that John Connell’s birth date is important.

Following are excerpts of my notes from an article in the 1972 edition of An-T-Oileãnac. I have also read about the period in several Histories of Ireland. However, this article (which had excerpts from the newspaper of that time) gives the flavor of the times.

The question of Free Immigration puzzled me. It could have affected the Falveys or they may have left earlier. Prior to the British government paying passage for the immigrants the Quakers and local landlords had provided money for transportation. (The landlords did not provide passage out of kindness. They were taxed by the British Government for each person who lived within their estate who took government aid such as it was – i.e. those in the poorhouse – It was cheaper to ship them out of the country.) The Quakers however were not active in County Kerry but confined themselves to Galway – where conditions were reportedly worse – if that is possible.

“It was not until 1883 that the British Government decided on subsidizing the trans-Atlantic movement on a national scale. The government granted 5 pounds per head for adults, half that for teenagers, and 1 pound for infants. Under the scheme, which was administered by the Board of Guardians, it was not permitted that any member of a family be left behind. After a number of families had been sent out through the usual ports of Derry, Galway, and Cabh, it was found that money could be saved and more emigrated by arranging for ships to call at selected ports on the coast apart from normal ports.”

“All passengers traveled steerage. Every effort has been made for the health and comfort of the passengers especially in ventilation.” (This is after the passage of the Passenger Acts).

“On June 1, 1883 the ship Belgravia, 5000 tons, 500 feet long of the Anchor Line with Captain Hutchinson in command on way from Liverpool stopped at Valentia. There were 800 immigrants to the USA boarded, of whom a large proportion were from Valentia. Since the Belgravia was a large ship, it anchored of Glenleam. Many of the passengers were taken to the ship on local boats. Later HM Gunboat Redwings conveyed the remainder from Ringard Point.”

“Each batch of passengers passed on board under the supervision of the Guardian of the Division Captain Canton, local government inspector Major Spaight, Mr James Butler Chairman of Cahersiveen Board of Guardians, and clerk of the Union, Mr. J. O’Driscoll. All Immigrants were tidily dressed and presented a healthy appearance.”

“On the urging of the priest from Cahersiveen many immigrants took the pledge.”

Also – the Belgravia was a steam screw-propelled vessel and the voyage took nine days. Two weeks after the Belgravia sailed the Furnessia left in the same manner – June 16 1883. The Cork Examiner reported that whereas there had been dockside scenes during the departure of the Belgravia, no such scenes occurred upon the sailing of the Furnesia. Gloom had settled over the area.

Patty Lynch, a 12 year old in 1883, reported that there were 220 people on the rolls of his school before the Furnessia sailed. Afterwards there were but 56 pupils left.

I have a 1910 census copy that states that Honora emigrated to the United States in 1883. But it states that her age was 42 (in 1910), which would mean that she was born in 1868. However, since I have seen her baptism record, I think 1870 is correct. William emigrated in 1878 at the age of 44 according to this document. Both were naturalized citizens of the United States.

I think the 1883 date for immigration is most likely correct. So many people left Valentia island that year on those two ships, and their passage was paid for by the British government. The problem is the story of Honora staying behind to help her sister Mary with the birth of John Connell. The dates and details could have been altered in the telling of the story. It is difficult to be actually served in a mini dates (except those written in the baptism records).

When we visited Valentia Island, relatives did say that Honora Falvey's family and many other residents left for the U.S. in 1883 when the British government paid the passage.