Rod
Lindsay Alumni Fund
The following article
appeared in the Fall 2008 edition of the Crusader Magazine
By Roz
Rodiguez ’73, Director of Alumni Relations
It was written in
four foot letters on the blackboard one day. Rod Lindsay was so excited about
it. “Now you can write the equation for almost any line. You need to know this
like your name.”
Whoo Hoo! Who really cared?
I mean, I got the idea, but I didn’t want to have to get it. That was the 70’s
super cool mentality we all had back then. Well, all except
the Math Club people. They were already ahead of the times and those in my
class are the engineers of the world now.
Mr. Lindsay was
crazed about math. He wrote on the blackboard at breakneck speed -. chalk clicking, the teaching just as fast, and with such
passion and enthusiasm. Joyous chaos! But, the bottom line was... he engaged
everyone.
Mary Donovan, had this to say about him at his funeral, “…Mr. Lindsay
stood for unity and pride. He was passionate about his teaching and led us down
the path of his enthusiasm. The love of his life was teaching and Tampa
Catholic. He showed us that caring for TC was not just a four-year plan, but a
lifetime plan.” He made a lifetime commitment to all his students. He made us
all feel brilliant. You could feel your mind racing to catch up with his. And this happened year, after year, for 33 years.
His brother
remarked that nearly everything in Rod’s life was connected to Tampa Catholic.
His desk, his many briefcases were always filled with hundreds and hundreds of
letters and notes from students. Always, they thanked him. And if they needed
his help with their college classes, he got them through it. This was true of
all of us. He wanted that continuous connection and cultivated it long after we
graduated. He went to all the reunions and knew
It wasn’t just the
students. He loved TC and every activity that went on here. Not just sports —he
went to plays, practices, dances and debates. You all know it. If he was your
teacher, you have been there, done that, with him. There are many teachers who
have given and continue to give most of their adult lives to this school. You
know who they are too….Mrs. Young, Miss Hailey, Coach DiMaggio, the Quans, Mrs. Lameroux, Sr. Julie,
Father B., Coach Mulry, Tom
Schulz. Younger alums have their own special teachers
as well.
The Tampa Catholic
Alumni Association is establishing the Rod Lindsay Alumni Fund. This year, 45
children of alumni are freshmen at TC — almost a quarter of the class of 2012.
It is becoming more and more difficult financially for parents to accomplish
this but we as parents, continue to do so. Your donation to the RL Alumni Fund
will help underwrite the Legacy Scholarship which will be administered by the
TCAA, the Alumni Office and school Administration. The Class of 1978 made the
first donation of $1,000 to seed the Fund while the Class of 1973 followed
suit.
Legacy students
will be eligible provided they meet the criteria for financial aid. No other
scholarship application will be necessary. While the fund holds the name of Mr.
Lindsay, the Legacy scholarship is for your legacy children and will also honor
his lifetime commitment to all his students. That is what this fund is all
about. If each of us commits to $50 annually, we can help an alumni child
attend TC, or buy their books, or pay for their uniforms.
Together we are a
loud voice. There are over 8,000 TC graduates. There is a new energy at the
school that you can
He knew us all
well. Teaching is not a job for everyone. It wasn’t a job for Rod Lindsay. It
was his life and his memory lives on forever in our hearts and through our
actions.
Please send us your
contribution. Don’t just talk about how admirable the intent is. Please follow
through and direct your donation to the Rod Lindsay Alumni Fund. Like any
cause, its success will depend on our execution and enthusiasm.