Celebrating the Times of Our Lives
Joe and John Maggio are my brothers. I love them immeasurably, and our times together are always special and irreplaceable.
These guys are also my brothers. The same applies.
I invite you all to read, watch, and listen. ✌️
By Jim Maggio (“Mags,” ND ‘90)
Eleven graduates of the University of Notre Dame recently celebrated 40 years of friendship with a relaxing, fun-filled weekend in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, The Golf Capital of the World®. Arriving from cities spanning the country they joined me in settling in at Dozen Cousin Cove, a recent addition to the oceanfront lodging stable at Elliott Realty and recommended to “Brother Bonnie’s Shining Stars” by Brian Noblin at Myrtle Beach Golf Authority.
This year the group cemented its shared legacy with a new nickname, “The Keenan Crew.” It’s a tip of the cap to our campus home (Keenan Hall) best known for its annual talent show, The Keenan Review. Several crew members performed in the late 1980s before enthusiastic audiences numbering in the thousands.
Ironically, for all of Notre Dame’s renown for maximizing architectural brilliance, Keenan Hall’s physical structure and base interior had an ambience closer to minimum security. Nothing fancy about it, either then (built in 1957) or now.
But it was home. OUR home.
Fast forward four decades, and Dozen Cousin Cove was our home base for a weekend filled with golf at The Dye Course at Barefoot Resort and unforgettable times accented by killer cuisine (looking at you, Master Chef Edwin “Winnie” Quinn, ND ‘89!), polar plunges, belly laughs, timeless stories, and catching up on the latest in our ever-changing lives.
It included reminiscing, prayer and raising a glass to two close friends we’ve lost in the past two years, John “Beef” Meagher, ND ’90 and Jeff “Swoop” Tilton, ND ’90. Each was short in stature but long on competitive drive – Beef as a baseball player who pitched into his 50s in Florida leagues; and Swoop as a relentless fullback for Keenan’s interhall football team, punishing any defender who dared to tackle him while saddled with a Sunday morning hangover. Beef was the ultimate storyteller, and I’m sure this past weekend’s antics will give him plenty of fodder for a good ribbing when we join him on the other side. Swoop had a heart of gold at all times and became fast friends with, well, most everyone he met. We miss them terribly.
Ironically, Keenan Hall is rumored to meet the wrecking ball soon to pave the way for new beginnings at our alma mater. But “The Keenan Crew” marches on, firmly committed to making these February festivities in Myrtle Beach an annual rite of passage.
Cherishing memories.
And unequivocally celebrating the times of our lives.
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