Erie’s Joan Chittister a huge hit Down Under

It’s impossible to keep Erie’s Sister Joan Chittister OSB down for long. Even after Australia’s Catholic hierarchy withdrew an invitation for her to give the keynote address at the 2020 National Catholic Education Conference in Melbourne, Chittister simply waited. She knows you need patience to make a point with many of the leaders of the Catholic Church.

Chittister returned to Australia several weeks ago and toured the nation, giving inspiring talks to large, enthusiastic crowds, according to various press reports. Writers for Garratt Publishing wrote: “Chittister’s events in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane were truly inspiring and exhilarating.”

April: Joan Chittister speaks with former president of Ireland at Mercyhurst University

At 83, Chittister continues to attract crowds and admirers at her speeches across the globe. For years she was one of the most popular speakers during Chautauqua Institution’s summer season.

● Ed Kissell always takes his role as a leader of S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie organization seriously, and he personally plants flowers, cut the grass and grooms the grounds at the east side and west side entrances to the Bayfront Parkway.

Last week, as Kissell worked at the corner of West Eighth Street and the entrance to the parkway, a friend called to him from the top of Frontier Park, just across the street. When Ed went over to say hello, a thief stole his power mower and weed wacker. To some people, all those donated hours to a civic project don’t seem to count for much.

● When the Buster Keaton silent film, “The General,” from 1926, aired recently on Turner Classic Movies, I was surprised to see the name Mike Donlin in the credits. That would be Erie’s "Turkey" Mike Donlin, who grew up in a local orphanage in the late 19th century.

Donlin, who was called Turkey for the way he strutted, played baseball for seven National League teams from 1899-1914, batting well over .300. After heavy drinking and carousing ended his baseball career, Donlin moved to Hollywood and appeared in more than 40 movies. He played a Union general in “The General,” and it was a pretty big role. Donlin died in 1933 at the age of 55.

● Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing champion who is now mayor of Kyiv in Ukraine, recently received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2022 ESPYS. Klitschko and his brother, Vladimir Klitschko, who was an Olympic boxing champion, were clients of Erie’s Ron DiNicola.

In 2003, DiNicola, who also famously represented Muhammad Ali, filed a lawsuit in Nevada to secure Vitali Klitschko’s right to face then champion Lenox Lewis. Klitschko lost a close decision to Lewis, but after Lewis retired he went on to win the vacant title against Corey Sanders of South Africa.

DiNicola became close to the Klitschko brothers and celebrated with them when both went on to earn their PhD’s.

“They are men of high principle and great courage, as the world has seen these past few months,” DiNicola said.

● Tim Bodamer, who moved back to Erie after spending several years in Florida, said his heart sank when he recently drove across West 23rd Street and saw that the Boys & Girls Baseball Headquarters building had been demolished. Nearby, Frank Anasti Field had also been dismantled.

Bodamer said he spent so much time there as a boy when his parents, Hank and Doris Bodamer, volunteered to help run the program. It is a shame the program died after so many people worked so hard to keep it going. The late Erie Police Chief Steve Franklin almost single-handedly kept the program afloat before finally giving up. So many leaders in Erie grew up playing baseball in the program.

2021: Steve Franklin, former Erie police chief, dies at 69 following brief illness

● Congratulations to Hans G. Myers on his excellent new book, “The Lion of Round Top,” which documents the heroism of Erie’s Gen. Strong Vincent at Gettysburg. Vincent died of wounds suffered in battle there, and in recent years Joshua Chamberlain has been portrayed at length in print and on films as the hero of Little Round Top.

When our family last visited Gettysburg, a longtime ranger at Little Round Top told the group that Vincent was the true hero of the decisive battle, not Chamberlain.

Myers, who is the son of longtime Erie Times-News reporter and old friend Val Myers, has been visiting Gettysburg since he was a boy.

Review: Erie native Hans G. Myers' book aims to give Civil War hero Strong Vincent his due

● The recent death of Rose Rotunda Omniewski at age 94 marked the end of an era for the Rotunda family. She was the youngest and last survivor of the late Joseph and Jenny Rotunda’s 10 children, who included my father-in-law Vic Rotunda. Rose was a wonderful wife and mother who would do anything for her two sons and their families. She will be missed.

Obituary:Rose A. Omniewski

● The Marvintown neighborhood surrounding Mighty Fine Doughnuts feels complete again now that the popular doughnut shop has reopened. As a kid growing up in Marvintown, I can remember falling asleep to the delightful scent of baking doughnuts that wafted over the neighborhood.

Glazed, filled or iced: Here are places in the Erie area to find your favorite doughnuts

● Books about murders that took place in Erie are flying off the shelves. First came Judge Dan Brabender’s “Erie’s Sensational Murder Trials,” and now Justin Dombrowski has released “Murder & Mayhem in Erie, Pa.” They detail quite a few gruesome tales from the Gem City.

Kevin Cuneo can be reach at kevin.cuneo1844@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie’s Joan Chittister OSB a huge hit in Australia