Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1368856
20 JUNE/JULY 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED A TRIBUTE TO LOU SOMOGYI To Lou's right, sat a telephone — a dial-less, button-less land-lined telephone. I don't recall if was red, but if not, it should've been because this was a hotline from NBC (the television network that carries Notre Dame home games) that went directly to Lou Somogyi. The phone rang incessantly during each game with NBC producers on the other end, looking for immediate historical confirmation or information after a standout or milestone moment happened on the field below. Never stumped and always ready, Lou never disappointed with a quick and accurate response. And shortly after each of these phone calls ended, Lou's historical nugget often became a graphical item that scrolled or posted during the NBC telecast. I was always equal parts stunned and impressed that a billion-dollar television network uncon- ditionally trusted one man, my boss, to deliver historical facts to millions of its viewers — most of the time off the top of his head, no media guide needed. Lou was so well versed in Notre Dame lore, he recognized a couple of factual landmines within the Irish media guide and warned me to stay away from those to protect story accuracy. I was in awe. Not surprisingly, all of these tributes to Lou So- mogyi make some mention of his encycLOUpedic knowledge and quick recollection of Notre Dame history. But to be such a reliable and important resource that a television network sets up a hotline for you? Only you, Louie, only you. Forever grateful. STEVE DOWNEY BGI Managing Editor I had the great privilege of knowing and working with Lou for the past 12 years. I had heard sto- ries about him prior to meeting him, but they all sounded too good to be true. He not only lived up to everything I was told, though, he far exceeded it. I consider myself someone who takes a great deal of pride in my work, but Lou raised that bar to a new level. I have been fortunate to work with a lot of great people over the years, but nobody cared about what we were doing as much as Lou did, nor could they match his work ethic and dedication. His passion for and knowledge of all things Notre Dame were unmatched, and it was his mission to share it with others. It is my job to manage the production process and make sure we meet our deadlines, and some- times Lou would drive me crazy with late-night phone calls on the weekend and last-minute changes to our magazine. However, I always knew that it was fueled by his burning desire to "get it right," and to provide all the information and deliver the types of stories he believed our read- ers should get. From features on star players to making sure that we included the walk-ons on our depth chart "so they got some recognition for all the hard work they put in," he cared deeply about everything we did. As good as he was at his job, though, he was an even better person. I consider myself better for having known him. He was as kind, caring and as genuine as they come. Philippians 2:3 says: Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. That is who Lou was. He was self-deprecating to a fault sometimes, and was al- ways quick to deflect any praise he received back to you and/or to others. I also never heard him say a bad word about anybody, even on the occa- sions where he would've been justified to do so. One of the things that has helped me through this difficult time is hearing the stories of how Lou served so many of the people he crossed paths with. Of course, you wouldn't hear about these things from him. It was in his nature to selflessly help others, and to do so quietly and without seeking any attention for it. I never imagined a world where I'd be doing this job without Lou by my side. His vast knowledge and unique perspective will be deeply missed, and quite frankly is irreplaceable. But I will miss the man himself even more. Lou was taken from us way too soon, but he leaves behind a legacy and a standard — both professionally and as a human being — that we would all do well to emulate. JEANETTE BLANKENSHIP BGI Production and Digital Media Manager I had been working with Lou about six years before I finally got to meet him in person. He graciously offered to take me and a co-worker on a tour through the beautiful University of Notre Dame campus, patiently answering questions while sharing the history as we passed through the athletic grounds, the grotto, the Basilica and the bookstore. I remember being impressed with his knowl- edge, of course, but also the interactions along the way where he was often stopped by people that recognized him. He seemed unaware of the effect he had on people, some who probably considered him a bit of a celebrity. But he was just Lou. Once back at my office, he would frequently call — which usually meant he had some problem with technology — that he needed help with. We'd work through it and he'd be back to what- ever task had prompted the call. As much as I will miss those campus tours and tech support calls, I will also miss his weekly input on our magazine. He was so creative with head- lines and could play with words like the master writer that he was. Those words will live on, and Lou will always be remembered as a true Notre Dame icon. RYAN TICE BGI Contributing Editor When Coman Publishing bought Blue & Gold Il- lustrated, I knew little about Notre Dame and had never heard of Lou Somogyi. I still don't know much about the personal life of my co-worker. Lou seemed a private guy, though I did meet his dog at the office once or twice. How- ever, he made sure that I learned plenty about the Fighting Irish. What they say is true — he was a walking en- cyclopedia of Notre Dame. That came across in his writing, but it was even more impressive in real time. I marveled at not only his accuracy and quick recall, but the breadth of knowledge. What he wrote in the pages of this magazine rep- resented only a small fraction of what he knew. A rite of passage in our company was the "Lou Tour" on a first visit to South Bend. Lou hit all the high points and crammed as much as he could, and opportunity would allow, into these walks around campus. I wish it was something every Notre Dame fan could experience. He could pro- vide endless detail about anything you came across, and did it with the smile of a man in his element. I traveled to South Bend many times. On my fourth or fifth tour, there was a particularly big group from Durham, with many first-timers. When we got to Notre Dame Stadium, we peered down the tunnel from outside the gates. Somebody noticed a lock was not latched. Lou The BGI Staff — from left, clockwise, Stu Coman, Jeanette Blankenship, Michelle DeLee-Hamilton, Lou and Amalia, and Bryan and Angela Driskell — celebrating the 10-year anniversary with Coman Publishing in 2019. PHOTO COURTESY STU COMAN