For those whom I have not seen at the three reunions I attended: I am married
and have three children, daughters Mary Jo (14), Lea (10), and Alexandra (8).
My wide Mary, a nurse and hospital administrator, was in my elementary
school class at St. Giles in Oak Park, Illinois. I met her at a grade school
reunion in 1984 and we married a year later. Our meeting is a fun story
which would take too long to tell here but 15 years later we are still going
strong.
After the craziness of the late 60's and 70's, degrees at Georgetown and
Harvard, and a short time back home in Chicago, I moved to Los Angeles in
1977 seeking "the good life". The good life turned out to be a little
complicated. I have lived through earthquakes, fires, mudslides, riots,
recessions, personal challenges, and a host of other experiences. Mary, of
course, joined me out here in 1985. Her love has been a stable rock in
turbulent times.
A licensed architect for over 25 years, I have worked in several firms on a
broad variety of design and construction projects. I have been a sole
practitioner as well as the chief architect for a major corporation. For our
midwest classmates, I was the architect of record on the new air traffic
control tower at O'hare Airport which was built a few years ago. I have done
a lot of writing and public speaking (which I attribute to the skills I
learned at Campion) and am active in professional and civic organizations.
In our time, my family in Chicago were quite a Campion family. My brother
Michael Madda was in the Campion class of 1962, and I also had a cousin James
(Jim) Madda who attended earlier. I do not know Jim's exact years there. My
father was President of the Campion Fathers' Club in the 60's. He passed
away in 1989. My mother, who was President of the Campion Mothers' Club
about the same time, is still vigorous at 88 and still living in my family
home in Chicago which my parents bought in 1950! Incidentally, she has a
complete collection of Campionettes for 1964-1968 (in good shape I might add)
on a shelf in my old bedroom. They have been there for over 30 years.
A digression: I remember Father Carey staying at our house many times on his
trips for Campion. I distinctly remember his version of the Vulcan neck
pinch, which he readily and painfully administered to unsuspecting children
for no apparent reason. Mary and I last visited him in Kansas City during
our honeymoon trip across the US shortly before he died. He was a sweet
person.
I have many feelings about my Campion days, some good and some bad. I guess
I could be called one of the eggheads of the class; and in that role, I was a
little disconnected from some of the experiences the school offered. As I
look back I enjoyed the learning but regret not reaching out more to my
classmates. Maybe now, through this medium, I can make up for
opportunities
lost then.
Well, that's enough for now. I live in the Sherman Oaks section of Los
Angeles. Here is my address.
Joseph M. Madda
15960 Meadowcrest Road
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-4714
Home Tel: 818-986-0370
E-mail: jmadda@aol.com
I hope you receive this message and will pass on my contact info to all my
classmates, who are welcome at my home anytime.