Flowergeddon

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Photo by Mary Berube ’80

A contingent of BC Alumni San Diego ventured out to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Saturday, joining many thousands of visitors seeking to view perhaps the richest display of desert wildflowers there this century.

The Park is about 90 miles northeast of downtown San Diego. It is California’s largest state park, covering more than 600,000 acres. Rainfall in California this winter season has been the most voluminous in several years, leading to the extensive flowering in areas that have seen little in recent years.

Photo by Jania Andreotti ’85

The BCSD group split up into two groups, based on time of arrival. Both groups sought to visit Henderson Canyon, with wide fields of flowers, as seen above, and Mine Wash, in the southern section of the Park. One group made it to both. The other couldn’t find Mine Wash and, instead, visited Cactus Loop Trail. Both groups made the original lunchtime rendezvous at Carlee’s in Borrego Springs.

Seated, l-r: Bill McDonald ’68, Mike Scott, Mary Ann Scott ’75, Lissa Tsu ’00, Brian Tsu ’00; standing, l-r: Mary Berube ’80, Ray Berube ’78, Jania Andreotti ’85, Pat Ahern ’11, Meryl Evangelista.

The video below has scenes mostly from Henderson Canyon and Cactus Loop Trail, including photos by Lissa Tsu ’80. There are also photos of Henderson Canyon and Mine Wash from Mary Berube ’80 and Jania Andreotti ’85.

Last year, another contingent saw desert wildflowers and then went to Eagle Rock in nearby Warner Springs. Automobile access, which was available then, is no longer possible. Eagle Rock is, however, accessible on the Pacific Crest Trail. BCSD is considering a hike to Eagle Rock from Warner Springs, a round trip of 6.4 miles. Look for details in coming weeks.

R.I.P. – J. Donald Monan, SJ

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Fr Monan, Commencement 1996, his final year as President.

J. Donald Monan, SJ, 24th president of Boston College, died Saturday at the age of 92. He served longer than any other BC president, from 1972 until 1996. Following his presidency, he served in the new office of University Chancellor until his death.

The University has an extensive memorial section online. BC Alumni San Diego welcomes comments about and recollections of Fr. Monan.

Hockey teams end seasons

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Men bow out in conference final
With less than a minute remaining and the Eagles down 4-3 to UMass Lowell in Saturday’s Hockey East Tournament final, Ryan Fitzgerald’s shot clanged off the crossbar behind the UMass Lowell goalie. The comeback from a 4-2 deficit ended, as did the Eagles’ season.

Finishing 21-15-4 (13-6-3), the Eagles missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 8 years, falling just outside qualification. It was, however, the 8th consecutive season BC has won 20 games or more, 3rd longest such streak in the nation behind Denver and North Dakota. The Eagles were among 3 teams tying for the this season’s Hockey East regular season title.

BC had beaten BU, for the 1st time this season, 3-2 the previous evening. In the title game, the Eagles outshot UMass Lowell, 41-25.

San Clemente’s Scott Savage and Austin Cangelosi were named to the All-Hockey East 3rd team, while freshman goalie Joe Woll made honorable mention.

Women lose heartbreaker in Frozen Four
With 16.2 seconds remaining in a scoreless tie, #1 Wisconsin scored to defeat the Eagles in Friday’s semifinal of the NCAA Tournament.

Junior goaltender Katie Burt had made 35 saves, one shy of her career best, to that point, but it was the Badgers who advanced to the NCAA championship final. BC had 22 shots on goal, compared to Wisconsin’s 36.

BC entered the game ranked #4 and finished with a 28-6-5 record. Junior defenseman Megan Keller was named 1st team all-America for the second straight year. Keller was the only Hockey East representative on the 12-women all-America team. Earlier she had been named the first defenseman to win the Hockey East Player of the Year award.