It was the famous summer of ’69, and my junior year at Rhody was history. Now it was time to get my summer job lined up.
I had worked as a construction laborer for the previous two summers in the Providence area, but in May, my fraternity brother, Dave Destefano, told me they needed help building some new dorms on campus that summer. Four friends were going to be living down the line and they had room for one more. How could I pass on this adventure?
I was used to hard work, but I was assigned to assist the brick layers, lugging their bricks and stirring their mortar. Not easy duty but I got a terrific tan, became very strong, and was making more money than my father. The rooms of that dorm became like my day home. When I punched out at 5, the “down-the-line” party atmosphere of Narragansett kicked in. The summer of ’69 was a wonderful time for me. I don’t recall if I even knew what that dorm would be named, and I really wasn’t concerned.
Thirty years later my daughter Katie was accepted at Rhody and was assigned a dorm room. I drove down and brought her some of her clothes. As I looked around the building, it started to look familiar. Turns out I had lugged nearly every brick that was used to construct that section of Heathman Hall!
Some students leave a legacy of sports accomplishments or financial donations after college. My legacy was sweat, bricks, and mortar. That will have to do!
Go Rhody!
Norm Schoeler ’70
What a great story and so nicely written too! And a terrific picture of you and Katie. Little did you know as you lugged those bricks to construct Heathman Hall that your daughter would be snugly nestled in a dorm room that you helped to build! Thank you so much for sharing.
Great Norm. If I can’t hike with you I can still at least get to read some of your great stories. So nice seeing you with your daughter in that picture. She takes after her father—good looking.
Norm,
You are never one to shy away from putting in the work, on the trail or on campus! If those bricks could talk…
Great photo of you and your daughter Norm. URI sure does turn out some fine men. What a legacy!
I love your story Norm. What a wonderful legacy your hard work left for your daughter and how lucky she is to have such a great role model. She must be so very proud of you. Great picture of the two of you.
Thanks Norm for sharing with us. There are no coincidences!
Loved your story, Norm. You are one of the tough guys for sure. 😉
What a great story Norm…Maybe lugging all those bricks gave you the foundation for the energetic weekly elevation hikes you do! Must be a special thrill for Katie to know her Dad helped build her dorm. That’s so cool and such a coincidence…funny how things come full circle.
What a sweet story Norm. I’ll bet a story about the summer of ’69 would be quite a story too.
What a great story, Norm. I’ll bet Katie was proud of telling the other students that her dad had built their dorm. Maybe someday Riley can tell that story, too, when she’s at URI.
Thank you Norm!!!
God is Good!!!!
A Wonderful Memory and to be able to put your thoughts on paper is God Given
Thank you!!!
Truly
Love,
Debby Mastrianni