Frank Baysore ’72
Frank Baysore ‘72 washed a lot of glasses to pay for his education while working as a dishwasher in South Dining Hall. There, he learned a lesson from a colleague that shifted his own perspective from glass half empty to glass half full.“
Working there opened my eyes to the resiliency of the human spirit and how gratitude is a choice — not an emotional response to a lucky set of circumstances.“
Maybe that is why, in Advent, we don’t reflect on the birth of a savior who had everything perfectly arranged for his arrival. Like Jim, the Holy Family had to adapt to many challenges, and they did so with openness and trust in God’s plan. Wherever we might find ourselves today, how can we be more aware of our blessings and the “great life” we have because of God’s love for us?
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Enjoyed Franks comments. My husband Thomas was from the class of 72. Deceased now but i listen to the sacred stories every day and know he ate that dining room.
That is a very touching story that covers a lot of ground. I thought I knew a lot of Notre Dame lore but I never knew of the ladies from cconcentration camps. It makes me shutter. As for your buddy Jim, sometimes the happiest people on earth are people who at first glance have no right to be so happy and yet they are. As Jesus said, Blessed are the Poor for they shall inherit the earth. Merry Christmas!!
That’s a wonderful story to share during Advent. Thank you, Frank!
Yes, we do encounter adversity, and sometimes we don’t recognize how wonderful our lives really are. Your coworker was a simple man who passed on a simple message that sometimes makes us stop so we may appreciate the goodness we have that we shouldn’t take for granted. Merry Christmas,Frank!
Frank Baysore’s Sacred Story touched my heart because I had a similar experience working in the North Dining Hall from‘74-‘78. The “Lunch ladies” as we called them were wonderful polish ladies who were so thankful for every day at the seemingly mundane kitchen jobs. I loved to listen to stories from their homeland. Through tearful eyes, they relayed horrific memories of bombs whistling overhead and explosions nearby. And every one of them was thankful to be here with jobs, food and safety. I will never forget the lessons I learned from the lunch ladies on being thankful for the small but important things in life.
Merry Christmas all.
Powerful – thank you
Great reflection Frank. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, THANK YOU, Frank! Powerful message indeed. Merry Christmas 🎄
Sarkis – This is Pat Lally, brother of Mike Lally ’73, and friend of Michael, your brother. Hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas. As I grow older, I feel lucky I followed my brother to ND. Best thing I could have done, and the best group of men and women I’ve ever met. Please extend my best wishes to Mike and his family.
A beautiful, wise message shared with such humility. A gift I will carry with me through advent season and beyond.
I worked in the south dining hall from 1961 til 1963. It was difficult and messy at times but it was also a lifeline for those of us struggling financially. We did meet folks in the regular work force and learn their life stories much different than ours. I wish I had been more appreciative of the whole ND experience at the time and I thank Frank for reminding me of it.
Thank you for reminding me that gratitude a choice.Some days in this hectic season it is very important to remember to take time away from the “to do” list to be thankful we can do.
I needed this reminder. Thank you Frank.
Such a woNDerful story Frank. Thank you for sharing it. I especially appreciated your comment on that being grateful doesn’t reflect an emotional response to what we have. As one of my favorite recent songs dictates, “You Get What You Give” by the New Radicals. Here’s a link in case you aren’t familiar. https://open.spotify.com/wrapped/share/share-4ca84f5bd0b74e6186c57bb41f3cc4be?si=YKEECcntRaykJxzcHfccuw&track-id=1Cwsd5xI8CajJz795oy4XF
Merry Christmas, God bless, and GO Irish! ☘️
Thank you for sharing the beautiful song this morning. Thank you Frank for reminding us that in the mundane parts of life is where we find Jesus.
Thank you Frank, God Bless you and your family….Happy Holidays….Go IRISH!!!!
A great reminder. Thank you for taking the effort to share it with all of us
Great reflection! I too worked at South Dining Hall all four years at ND and I appreciated getting to know and learn from the full time staff.
Your story speaks to me of the deepest satisfaction in the blessings of Christ. Thank you for bringing it home to me for Christmas.
I’m also a ’72 grad and worked in the South Dining Hall all four years. Started clearing trays and racking the glasses you washed. Got to know some of the local workers and even their families in a few instances. Also noticed the tattooed numbers on some of the ladies arms. The connections to those people made me more aware of the South Bend community and appreciative of the opportunities I had as a Notre Dame student. As Domers, I’m sure we all include Our Lady’s University when it comes to gratitude.
Thanks Frank, for a wonderful message and the spark to rekindle so many memories.
What a touching story. Thank you Frank!
Frank,
Thanks for sharing your message. I worked at the South Dining Hall as well at that time and still remember most of the people there.
Your thoughts should make us all appreciate what we have, what we have experienced and how we can share all that – as wonderfully as you.
Thanks and Merry Christmas
Wow thanks Frank, fellow classmate. A wonderful story & reflection. I also worked for awhile in the South Dining Hall. “It’s a great Life”.
ND’72☘️
A beautiful reflection. Thank you, Frank, for sharing this with all of ND.
Thank you Frank. Your story brought back similar memories for me. I too graduated in 1972, but from a Catholic Women’s Collage. During that time, I worked in the kitchen of a Catholic hospital. While washing dishes alongside an older Black woman, I mentioned that on payday, I was going to buy an expensive pair of shoes that I “NEEDED.” My perspective changed when she pointed out the difference between WANT and
NEED. She was a very wise lady. I thank her for teaching me an important lesson.
Merry Christmas to you and your lovely wife. God Bless !
Pam Hoffman, mother of ND graduate 2015 (P.S. My husband and I have been married for 53 yrs. also)
Thank you Frank your words are a great support to me missing my wife this first Christmas without her. I can choose gratitude Your pictures remind me of my first year at ND
I had the honor to work next to Frank Bayshore on the glass machine in the South Dining Hall for three years along with our good friend John Deasy. I’m sure we washed over a million glasses as we spent two hours together every day of the week.
I am often saddened about by not having been able to keep the close friendships we had for four years that we spent at ND.
But then I think of how grateful I am for God having given me the chance to be a part of my friends lives for that time. I know that we were bound to leave ND and cast our lives to distant parts but I have carried their memories with me all my life. And this has been a great gift for which I am eternally grateful
Well done Dennis! Did you know Frank was going to be a part of Sacred Stories? I hope you guys at least have remained friends. If not, it’s never too late to reconnect. Cheers!
Frank, thank you! You mentioned that some of your coworkers were Ladies with Nazi concentration camp tattoos. I was watching your encouraging message returning to the hotel after visiting Dachau with my family today. How appropriate to receive your reminder. Merry Christmas
I too am a ‘72 grad. I don’t have a dining hall story. But I do remember vividly the lady who faithfully cleaned my room in Holy Cross Hall. Her name was Mary. Of similar vintage and background as those described here. She always had a smile on her face, but you could tell that she was not as fortunate financially as many. When I asked if she could perform a cleaning chore, she always replied “You betcha!”
I praise God for the experience of a Mary in my life. And thank you Frank for reminding me of her. God bless you and Notre Dame. And go Irish!
I am a ‘73 graduate who ate my meals in the South Dining Hall during my time at ND. Your story reminded me of some of the workers I had met during my time there and their cheerful friendly attitude. It reminds one to be thankful for all we have and treasure life and those we meet along the way. Thanks Frank for your wonderful memory
I worked in the South Dining Hall for three years, ’69-’72. I keep in touch with one of them, Bill Streeter. Walt was a middle-aged Polish man who was a full-time employee. During Holy Week one year I wasn’t going home. I asked him if he had a job I could do. He gave me one painting the loading dock, probably about 10 hours’ work. I was grateful. Yes, he was always friendly.
Second thought: An RA in Zahm my freshman year was Tom Buonaiuto, a grad student in philosophy. We remained in touch after graduation. He changed his name to Carmine. After working in the North Dining Hall as a baker for several years, he spent a year or two with Covenant House in New York. Then he returned to the North Dining Hall.
Going a bit astray here: I was very happy working in the dining hall. I read an article in ND Magazine some years back that was dismissive of a dining hall job. It was for freshmen only. Hey, we didn’t have to dress up for this job; it was an easy commute to a campus job; it was convenient because we had to go there to eat anyway; we worked with, and talked to, friends; and we could work more than 12 hours/wk. (We were supposed to be limited to 12 hours, but nothing was said for three years when I worked 22 hours.) The pay started at about $1.70 and was about $2/hour in our senior year. Also, to help put these numbers in perspective: When we graduated, a lot of jobs paid about $7500/year, but some paid $10,000/year.
Great story, Frank. Thanks very much for sharing your memories and insights. A good Advent to all.
Mary…Elenor…Stephanie.Thank you for reminding me of these great women,among many others,who worked with us in the South Dining Hall.My friendships and interactions with them and the students you worked there proved to be a very valuable part of my ND experience.
And going through the many comments it was nice to see many familiar names!
Frank, thank you for your thoughtful reflection…and thanks for the memories!
Jim Brady ‘72
Wow! What wisdom and genuine gratitude in a powerful vignette.
Thank you, Frank
Andy Reardon ND’67
Thank you for reminding us to be grateful and thankful for all those God puts in our path.
So nice to hear from many who spent time working in the dining hall. I worked at North Dining Hall from 1985-1989. I met many wonderful friends there. I also got to know some of the ladies that worked there regularly. One in particular did something I didn’t expect. Sometimes the ladies would speak to me in Spanish, and I would respond, feeling an immediate connection to them and my Hispanic family in deep South Texas. When this one lady invited me to her home for a classic Puerto Rican dinner, I accepted. We shared a meal lovingly prepared, and had formed a connection based on sharing a language far from home. That show of kindness and care sticks with me and reinforces what a wonderful place Notre Dame is.
Thanks for sharing that timely, inspiring story! God bless you and Dennis and Jim!
Great job, Dad! Very inspirational!
Frank, I worked in the South Dining Hall for 4 years from 74-78. I was a “loader” as you were and worked with a number of locals who took the job very seriously, I thought the world of those guys. Looking back, I wish I connected as you did to make my relationship with them as vivid as yours. God bless and Merry Christmas!!
“Gratitude is a choice”…indeed, Frank. I have to say, that’s the most truthful yet powerful comment I’ve heard in a looooong time. I’ll never forget this comment. thanks from the bottom of my heart, and continued blessings in Christ to you and yours…
Thank you Frank for the positive message!
Sacred Story really resonated with me today. Frank’s perspective on gratitude hit home. It’s not a feeling we get from happy events happening in our lives. It’s the times we realize gratitude in spite of hard times. Pondering what the Holy Family might have felt as they looked for any shred of kindness to help them the night Jesus was born….Mary and Joseph put themselves out there to allow shepherds and strangers to invade their privacy in those first moments of trusting in God’s plan.
Thanks, Frank, for sharing your gratitude story. I’ll never know your fellow employee, Jim, but through you, he will be a reminder of true gratitude. My life is better because you shared your sacred story.