Newsletter Vol 2 ... #1
HAROLD G. REUSCHELEIN, ESQ.
1905 - 1988
It is with a deep sense of loss that we mourn the death of Harold G. Reuschelein who passed away August 18, 1998 after a long illness. Dean Reuschelein was the founding Dean of the Villanova University School of Law and the founder and first Director of the Villanova Singers. Dean Reuschelein was graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in history and earned his law degree from Yale University. After graduation from Yale in 1933, he earned an advanced doctorate in law from Cornell University later accepting a faculty position at Georgetown University. He served as a colonel in the Army Judge Advocate General's Department during World War II\. After the war, Dr. Reuschelein taught law at Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh prior to his appointment at Villanova.
In 1953, after a nationwide search, Villanova selected Dr. Reuschelein to head its new law school as founding Dean in which capacity he served until 1972. From 1972 to 1984, he taught at St. Mary\rquote s Law School in San Antonio, Texas, returned to Villanova in 1984 as Dean Emeritus and until shortly before his death was in his office a couple of days per week.
At Villanova Dr. Reuschelein founded the Villanova Singers in 1953 (wasting no time) and later established the Villanova Court Jesters who performed productions of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Dr. Reuschelein was a member of the American Bar Association, the Wisconsin Bar and the Pennsylvania Bar and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1992, he received the Robert J. Kutak Award from the American Bar Association for his achievements. Last year, and endowed chair (Villanova Law School\rquote s first) was named in his honor. This year, Dr. Reuschelein received an Award of Merit from the Villanova Singers Alumni Society in appreciation for his vision in forever bonding so many of us together in song and spirit.
On September 16, 1998, a memorial service was held at the Villanova Chapel. Numerous testimonials to the Dean were presented at the service and performances by the Singers (Brothers Sing On) and the Villanova Pastoral Choir (Cantate Domino) were also featured. As a memorial tribute, the family has suggested contributions to the Harold Gill Reuschelein Scholarship Fund at the Villanova University School of Law.
Anniversary Notes
In June , we held our 45 th Anniversary Dinner honoring Dean Reuschelein and Mr. Herbert Fiss presenting both with engraved vases in appreciation of their contributions. The text of both Marcella Reuschelein's acceptance speech on her husband' s behalf and a letter of appreciation from Herbert and Evelyn Fiss is set forth below.
At the June 6 Dinner:As you know, my husband is the " Speaker of the House." I'm not. But I want to thank everyone for everything that you' ve done for us. We' ve loved the Singers from the very beginning and we always will ... and I' m sorry that the Dean can' t be here tonight. But I' m representing the Dean and we thank you, both of us, for everything that you've ever done with the Singers. Thank you. God Bless you all.
Marcella Reuschelein
Dear Singers Alumni Society:
We received the beautiful vase yesterday and we are thrilled with it -- it is so classical and the color is gorgeous. Please extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of" Herb' s boys" . We were so sorry to have missed the event and greeting all of the "old timers" . As it turned out, it was lucky we canceled out - my (\Evelyn Fiss ) health has taken such a turn (heart) that it would have been a catastrophe.
Once more, thank you for all of your kind endeavors. Oh yes, we are looking forward to the Newsletter! If you so desire, we can send you a photo for one of the editions - or do you have one? In the mean time, all the best to you and the Singers. Evelyn Fiss / Herb Fiss
SINGER PROFILES
TOM PICARDO '63 Tom Picardo (a.k.a. Tommy West) has been a successful creative force in the music industry for over 30 years. His career began when his high school doo-wop group, The Criterions, made it onto the pop charts. He later matriculated at Villanova with Tim (Manhattan Transfer) Hauser joining the Singers in his sophomore year. Tom wasted no time in leaving his mark as he was the founder and first Director of the Spires and served as student conductor his junior and senior years. In his junior year he met Jim Croce '65 whose first successful album he later produced.Tom' s career spans a broad range of musical accomplishments after graduation in 1963 starting with singing back-up vocals for Frank Sinatra, Perry Como (son David ' 68) and Sammy Davis, Jr., later writing or performing numerous jingles, and still later starting two record labels (Lifesong and MTM). In the meantime, he produced a host of successful artists including Jim Croce, Henry " Shannon" Gross and Dean "Ariel" Friedman still finding time to perform in the singer/songwriter duo Cashman and West who recorded the renowned "American City Suite . For Croce, Tom produced three platinum albums and the #1 chart hit" Bad Leroy Brown". In the 90' s, he launched High Harmony records and Brave New Records, and produced Ann Murray' s "Croonin" (1993). Currently, he is working on new releases under the Brave New Records label recorded at his home studio Somewhere in New Jersey. Due to space limitation we will feature his discography in the next edition.
SINGER NOTES
Tim Hauser ' 63 was also one of the Criterions with Tom Picardo '63.
Bob Chaves 68 named President of Dominion Stage one of the largest Community Theatre groups in Northern Virginia.
Paul McIlvaine '71 is performing with an opera company in the Caribbean.
Bob Anderson '75 ran the Dublin Marathon for benefit of the Leukemia Society of America.