Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FAN FORUM Want to stay up-to-date with all the Irish news? Like Us On Facebook: www.facebook.com/blueandgoldillustrated Follow Us On Twitter: www.twitter.com/BGInews my eyes don't allow me to read anymore, so you will need to read the entire mass to me," and he handed me a small book with all the lectures and the guideline. So I ended up giving the mass, still half drunk, and when we finished, Father Ted just laughed and said "Thank you for your help, but in reality you should be the one thanking me. Mass is the best cure for hangovers." UncleMikey: I'm in the Main Building (The Dome) with some friends. As many people are aware, the acoustics inside The Dome are stunning. I was never much of a singer, but I've always been able to belt out one very loud and resonant operatic note with awesome vibrato. It came to be called "The Note." I've done "The Note" in a zillion places (including Grand Central Station), usually on a dare and often there was alcohol involved. No alcohol this day — middle of the afternoon on the first floor, directly under the Dome. And of course there was a dare, and some gig- gling. I took a deep breath, and let out a "Note" that would've made Pavarotti proud. And then as I turned to haul tail out the door, there was Father Ted. "Very impressive Mr. Kelly," he said, recalling my name from a meeting years ago. "I'm sure the Lord himself heard you up in Heaven." Before I could say anything, he asked me to join him in his office. I thought, "Oh my God, I'm about to get kicked out of school by Father Ted." My friends just watched, slack-jawed as he led me away to his office. And then he spent 20 minutes asking how I was doing, and how my family was … told me how happy he was that things were going well, and sent me on my way with instructions to "not be a stranger and drop in again soon." Not another word about "The Note." I never did drop back in, though I saw him a few more times here and there. He always stopped and greeted me by name. I've never felt "bigger" in my life than I did when Father Ted was paying attention to me. LeahyF: I was in the bookstore about five years ago and I met Digger Phelps. He said I should go over and visit Fr. Ted, that he always had time for anyone. So I went over and Fr. Ted and he told me some wonderful stories about Dad and Moose Krause (some good laughs). However … he spent a long time speaking about how wonderful a woman my mom was. I was blown away by his kindness and ability to make me and all the Leahys feel 10 feet tall. It was one of the best half hours of my life. He belonged to the world, and the world will miss him dearly. Irish fans shared dozens of stories about the late Father Theodore Hesburgh after his passing Feb. 26. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS