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The Last Journey: Bittersweet memories of ‘Mac’
by Greg Eufinger
Editor’s note: Tower Topics will occasionally publish writing from
alumni and oblates. Greg Eufinger, a 1972 graduate of Conception
Seminary College and a member of the Alumni Board of Directors, wrote
the following reflection after attending the Alumni Reunion in
September.
 imes were a lot different when I attended Conception Seminary College
in the late 1960s and early ‘70s.
For instance, most of the seminarians did not have a car on campus
because they could not afford one. During my last three years in
college, I was one of the lucky ones who had a car because both of my
older sisters had graduated from college, and my parents had celebrated
by buying a new car, leaving me their old one, a 1962 Ford Galaxy 500.
Three years ago, the author (left) and his
friend Mac reminisced over a photo album at a seminary classmate's
birthday party. (Photo by Fr. Peter Ullrich)
As a result of my good fortune, I was often asked to give classmates and
friends rides to and from Kansas City on weekends. One who rode with me
many times during those years was my good friend Mike McNamara, or “Mac”
as he was affectionately known. I had known Mac since our high school
days at the old St. John’s minor seminary in Kansas City.
I first met him in September 1964 at the start of our freshman year, and
learned early on that we both were passionate sports fans, especially
baseball, which in those days meant the Kansas City Athletics. We
suffered together because our team was one of the worst baseball teams
of all time. We were upset when they left town in 1968, but rejoiced
when we got a new team, the locally owned Royals, in 1969.
That April, spring break of our freshmen year at Conception, Mac and I,
along with Steve Smith, another classmate, went to the first Royals game
of all time (a victory for the Royals in 12 innings), one of many we
attended together over the years. We were also big fans of the Kansas
City Chiefs, who won the Super Bowl during our sophomore year. I
remember many times listening to the Chiefs games on the car radio as we
returned to Conception.
On our many journeys together, Mac and I talked about a variety of
 topics, but almost always returned to sports. During our senior year at
Conception, after Mac had met his future wife, Cathy, I often took Mac
to KC to meet her on free weekends and felt that I had a part, however small,
in cementing their lifelong relationship.
After college, we would occasionally return to Conception at the same
time, but we never traveled together. Two years ago, we were planning a
class reunion on the 30th anniversary of our graduation, and Mac and I
talked about it frequently. Like me, he was looking forward to visiting
with old friends and former classmates. Then, on June 10, we heard the
news of the tragic shootings of Father Philip and Brother Damian, and we
both knew we had to go to the funeral.
As we did so many times in college, I drove and Mac was my passenger.
Despite the tragedy that prompted the trip, it was a time I will always
remember, not only because we visited with many former teachers and old
friends, some of whom we had not seen in many years, but because the two
of us had a chance to visit and reminisce.
While the Basilica and the abbey’s grounds were especially beautiful on
that cool, early-summer day, we recognized that the true beauty of
Conception lies in the many wonderful people we had met there and known
over the years. Needless to say, we enjoyed our journey to and from
Conception; as in the old days, our conversation often returned to
sports and we laughed most of the way.
It was the last time I saw Mac alive.
After returning from the funeral, Mac and I talked often throughout the
summer, mostly about the upcoming reunion and the fate of our local
sports teams. Then, on the morning of Aug. 16, five weeks before the
reunion, I received a call at work from Mac’s daughter telling me that
he had died the previous night, on the feast of the Assumption, from a
heart attack. He was 52.
Many of our classmates and friends gathered for his wake and funeral,
and shared many wonderful memories. He was certainly with us in
spirit during our class reunion last fall, as everyone told their
favorite Mac stories.
In the year and a half since Mac’s death, I have thought often of him.
I knew his health had not been good, but I never heard him complain.
I have frequently recalled our friendship and those journeys to and from
Conception. But it is the last one that I will treasure most.
For a while, I could not attend Royals’ games because the memories,
mingled with the pain of his sudden death, were too strong. But I
eventually returned to the stands to cheer our favorite team. I know Mac
would be mad at me if I stayed away any longer. I often think of him
when the Royals rally for a late-inning victory, and know that his
spirit is there with me, cheering them on.
The Second Vatican Council taught us that we are a pilgrim people, on a
journey toward salvation, and regardless of where we are on life's
journey, the Spirit of the Lord is with us. As we travel, we need to
treasure each and every moment we spend with the people who mean the
most to us, because it is through those people that we truly come to see
and know the Lord is with us. I continue that journey, and although my
passenger has left me I will always be grateful for our times together.
Mac helped me know the Lord will always be with me.
We welcome your comments:
communications@conception.edu
www.conceptionabbey.org
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