Before he was Fr. Raymond C. Baumhart S.J., Ray was know around the neighborhood as Skippy. In the 1930's Skippy was just like every other boy in the neighborhood spending his time at NBC. He joined the Boys Club in 1935 as a member of the Bulldogs who took co-champion honors in football, he was a top player in chess and played George in the NBC Christmas Play, Magi's Gift. In 1936, at the age of 13 he became an entrepreneur and started selling ice cream in Revere Park with Bill Nickels, Bud Couch and Chuck Harris. Skippy added a ping pong championship to his achievements while continuing to dominate in Chess and played Timothy in the Christmas Play, Ye' Old English Christmas. The Bulldogs took the 16" softball championship and for the second year in a row, Skip was on the All-Star team who won the Jr. American Legion Cook County Baseball Championship.  Skip's team in 1937 took the indoor gameroom championship for his division, and field hockey. Skip was honored as the best team secretary, ping pong and chess champion.

 

In 1938, Skip joined the Leader Program and for the next two years he officiated sports for the younger members, including his two younger brothers, Jerry and Jim. He was also loaned out to officiate football games for New Trier and Oak Park High Schools. His team continued to dominate the gameroom and baseball while Skip took home individual honors in track, chess, checkers and for taking neat and accurate minutes as a team secretary. Skip once again was in the Christmas play, A Christmas Carol, playing Peter and Memory. Skip earned a prestigious "For Better Men" Award every year from 1935 - 1939. 

      

In the 1940's, Skip took on a new role serving as NBC Assistant Program Director from 1940-1943. His new role allowed the NBC Director more time to focus on the many young NBC boys serving in the war and comforting their friends and families as many of the boys were reported missing or killed in action. The NBC Service Papers were also created during these years as Dick and Ray reported what was happening back home as well as where everyone could meet up overseas. The Service Papers were being sent to more that 600 NBC boys serving our country. At the age of 20, Skip  joined the U.S. Navy where he held the rank of Lieutenant (j.g) in the Supply Corps.

In 1945, as the boys returned from the War, Skip penned a letter to all NBC Alum to create an Alumni Association so the NBC organization can continue to serve the community for years to come. Because of these efforts 1500 people attended the first Anniversary Alumni Dance held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel.

Service before self was a way of life for Skip Baumhart and in 1946 he entered the Jesuit Seminary. Taking all the leadership skills he learned at the NBC and continued to practice in the Navy with him.

An NBGC Scholarship honoring Fr. Ray and his brothers, Jerry and Jim has been awarded each year since 2002 and has allowed many NBGC leaders the opportunity to pursue their education with little to no college debit. The fund is supported by the Baumhart Family and friends. Fr. Raymond Baumhart was one of the first eight honorees who were inducted into the NBGC Hall of Fame in 2011.

 

Early 1946.... A letter from Ray "Skip" Baumhart

Open Letter to Former Members of the NBC:

I'm 100% in favor of an NBC Alumni. I've been wondering how I'd be able to pick up the threads of friendship that were broken by the war, and also retain the new acquaintances made since 1941. An alumni organization is the perfect answer. Not only will an Alumni benefit us. I'm convinced that the NBC and its future members will benefit. 

Keeping 600 boys busy playing the year around requires a great deal of planning---in some respects more than keeping 600 men busy working, because sports are seasonal, and boys are unpredictable. At the present time, all the work is being done by a very few men. And while they're doing a top-notch job, they'd be the first to admit that with some assistance the job could be done better.

It would be of great value to the kids, and would give a lift to the program if the chess meets were in the hands of outstanding players of the past, if the Memorial Day Track Meet were planned and conducted by men well-known for their skill in track, and so on through the entire of NBC activities. If each alumnus would contribute his talent, the NBC would have a group of sports specialists that wouldn't be equaled in any boys' club anywhere.  

I think that carrying out such a plan is right in line with an oft-expressed aim of NBC---that the club should be a community enterprise. 

It's certainly true that the community bounded by Kedzie, Montrose, Damen and Addison Streets would suffer a great loss if the NBC were to go out of existence. And it's equally true that the life of the NBC would be ended if Mr. Buehler were to cease supporting it. I believe that the Alumni might be the means of assuring that the NBC would go on indefinitely, and would outlive our generation. 

Right here I'd like to mention another idea. Many times, I've heard and read the statement, "We could never repay Mr. Buehler for all the swell times we had in the NBC." We all know how true those words are. Good times and life-long friendships can't be measured in terms of money. But even if we could repay him, he wouldn't accept.  I've heard him say that he felt amply rewarded just by realizing the enjoyment that we had, and by the "better men" the NBC has produced, as is evidenced by its wartime record. 

It seems to me that our relationship to him is similar to that of children toward their parents, in a sense. Neither can the children repay, nor do the parents expect it. So what do the children do? When they become parents, they try to do as much, or more, for their children as was done for them. 

Why shouldn't the NBC Alumni adopt the same practice? Why not repay the "debt" each and every one of us feels he owes Mr. Buehler by giving the same opportunities we had, to succeeding generations of boys who will live in the community where we spent our boyhood. 

If each of the more than 1,500 men who have "graduated" from the Boys' Club would offer his talents, and in addition would tax himself a small sum once a year, we would be prepared to take up the responsibility and the financial reins whenever Mr. Buehler might desire or be forced to drop them. 

T he most important element of such a plan would be its start. As time went on, and each year brought a new group of alumni, there would be more and more men to carry the load. But it's at the very beginning where whole-hearted cooperation will be vital. Right now, as the national emergency draws to a close, we will have the opportunity to get together and make such a plan work. It will be the only time opportunity will knock. If we don't form an Alumni now, we'll lose a wonderful chance to better ourselves and the club. 

The thoughts I have mentioned need not be put into action immediately, but once the alumni is organized, we can, and should, act on them. Therefore I say, "Let's start an Alumni right now!"

Ray "Skip" Baumhart

Ens. Ray Baumhart

U.S.S. President Polk (AP 103)

c/o FPO

San Francisco, California

The Plan was a success!

The NBC / NBGC Alumni continues to be the strongest support base for the organization. They also fulfilled the vision of taking care of the Club after Mr. Buehler stopped fully supporting the organization in the late 1970's. The talented Alumni make NBGC stronger as we enter into our 89th year this Saturday, October 19th. 

Fr. Raymond C.  Baumhart, S.J.

December 22, 1923  -  October 10, 2019

Born in Chicago, Illinois

Resided in Colombiere Center

 

Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of, Fr. Raymond Charles Baumhart, S.J., who died on October 10, 2019, at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. He was 95 years old. May he rest in peace.

Ray was born on December 22, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois. He entered the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus on September 1, 1946 at Milford, Ohio. Ray was ordained on June 19, 1957 at West Baden College and pronounced final vows on August 15, 1969 at Loyola University Chicago.

Before entering the Society, Ray graduated from DePaul Academy in Chicago and attended DePaul University while working as the Associate Director of the Neighborhood Boys Club in Chicago (now Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club), an organization which provides after-school programs and mentoring for young people. In 1943 he transferred to Northwestern University (from which in 1945 he earned a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration) and enlisted in the Navy. Ray began his navy career by studying at Northwestern and, in 1944, studying Business Administration at the Harvard Business School. He went to sea on the President Polk, a troop transport ship, as a junior officer in 1945. Ray was honorably discharged from the Navy and entered the Society in 1946.

While in the Society, Ray earned a Bachelor's Degree in Latin from Loyola University (1950), a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Harvard University (1953), and Licentiate Degrees in Philosophy (1952) and Sacred Theology (1958) from West Baden College. In 1963, Ray was the first clergyman to earn a Doctorate in Business Administration from Harvard University. His dissertation was on business ethics.

During Regency, Ray taught algebra, economics, and business law at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati (1953-1954). After ordination and the completion of coursework for his doctorate, Fr. Ray spent over three decades at Loyola University Chicago. He taught personnel management, business ethics, and statistics (1962-1966), was assistant dean (1963-1964) and dean of the School of Business Administration (1964-1966). He then spent two years (1966-1968) researching and writing at the Cambridge Center for Social Studies (a Jesuit think tank aimed at work on business ethics and social justice). Fr. Ray returned to Loyola as the executive vice president (1968-1969) before becoming the acting vice president of Loyola's Medical Center (1969-1970). He had a major hand in the 1969 opening of the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

In 1970, Fr. Ray became the twenty-first (and longest serving) president of Loyola University Chicago (1970-1993). His tenure saw the university grow in both enrollment and physical space. When Ray was elected president, Loyola University owned 31 buildings and when he left office, the university owned 83 buildings. Flanner Hall, Maguire Hall, Halas Sports Center, and the Crown Center are four examples of campus buildings constructed during his presidency. Additionally, Ray oversaw the merging of Mundelein College with Loyola in 1991.

After a well-deserved sabbatical, Fr. Ray served on Cardinal Bernardin's and [then] Cardinal George's advisory cabinet, became the Director of Evangelization and Christian Life for the Archdiocese of Chicago (1994-2000), and served as a personal consultant to Cardinal George (2000-2011). He also served the Loyola University Jesuit Community as superior of the Jesuit residence (2006-2007) and treasurer of the community (2007-2011). In 2011, Fr. Ray was missioned to Colombiere Center to pray for the Society of Jesus, pray for the Church, and care for his health.

Ray was always a gentleman. He graciously greeted and conversed with those he encountered. He had a big smile and an infectious laugh. In all of his jobs and ministries, Ray humbly practiced servant leadership and encouraged (and empowered) others to do the same. He was greatly admired and respected by colleagues and counterparts alike for his insights, strategic planning, and gentle but direct capacity for making decisions, large and small. He was a very effective mentor to many younger Jesuits as they prepared for or began their administrative service to the Society or in one of our apostolic works.

Ray was a talented writer. He wrote regular newsletters for the Boys Club (before he entered the Society) and for the faculty at Loyola University of Chicago. Some of his articles appeared in the Harvard Business Review. He also authored several books: An Honest Profit: What Businessmen Say About Ethics in Business; How Ethical are Businessmen?; and Ethics in Business.

When asked about his time in the Navy, he often joked about the similarities and differences between the Navy and the novitiate. They were similar in that young men were living, working, and studying together towards a common goal. Another similarity was a strict daily "ordo." But Ray liked to tell a story about a big difference between his time in the Navy and his time in the Milford Novitiate: In the navy he was in charge of over $4 million in cash. As a disbursing officer Ray would take a satchel of cash, a gun, and a small boat over to visit the smaller ships that didn't have a supply officer and pay them. Once during the novitiate Ray had to visit the dentist. He asked Fr. Minister for money to get to the dentist. Fr. Minister replied: "Now you've got to go into town. Here's a dollar. It's 40 cents each way and I'll expect 20 cents tonight when you get back." Ray would laugh at the fact that the Navy trusted him with $4 million and some months later Fr. Minister would not trust him with 20 cents.

Before entrance, Ray's great desire was to be an educator as well as a priest and, throughout his life as a Jesuit, he excelled at both!

Wake:
Thursday, October 17, 2019
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Prayer Service 7:00 p.m.
Colombiere Center
9075 Big Lake Road
Clarkston, MI 48346-1015

Mass of Christian Burial:
Friday, October 18, 2019
10:45 a.m.
Colombiere Center
9075 Big Lake Road
Clarkston, MI 48346-1015

Burial Service:
Immediately following the funeral


Condolences:
Colombiere Jesuit Community
9075 Big Lake Road
Clarkston, MI 48346-1015

Ray is survived by two sisters (Dorothy Unger and Florence Biewald), fifteen nieces and nephews (and many great nieces and nephews), and countless cousins (including Patricia O'Donoghue who regularly visited Ray at Colombiere). His brothers Jerome J. Baumhart (Judy's husband) and James E. Baumhart (Barbara's husband) have gone onto their reward in Heaven.

Memorial gifts to support the Jesuits may be made to the USA Midwest Jesuits, 1010 N. Hooker St., Chicago, IL 60642. Visit www.jesuitsmidwest.org