Donald Broderick ‘43
-rip 2008-
Donald Broderick came from St. Leo Parish attended St. Leo Grammar School and came to leo High School in the Fall of 1939 as a member of the Class of 1943.
On March 22, 1941 in the Daily News relays at the International Amphitheatre Leo High School relay team of Broderick, Kunka, Kollman, and Van Arkle broke event records and won the meet.
Don Broderick ran track in the 400, 800, and mile relay teams and was poised to be the new Stan Patrick who went on to the University of Santa Clara, CA. However, war changed the plans of too many Leo men. leo won the 1942 Catholic League Championships.
Don Broderick played offensive and defensive end on the 1941 and 1942 City Championship teams. Shortly after those memorable Championships – remembered by many as the greatest Leo Football teams in history – Don Broderick joined the Army Air Corps. Don Broderick served as an aerial gunner on Bombers in the Italian Theater.
Don Broderick said his prayers each night on his knees and was often kidded about this devout practice. Shortly after taking a ribbing from his sqauadron mates, Don’s airfield was bombed by the Nazis. Every tent on either side of Don Broderick was hit – after that; prayers were said on bended knee in that squadron.
After the war, Don worked as a City of Chicago electrician and later as a stationary engineer at O’Hare Airport. In 1962, Don Broderick received his high school credits lost when he went to war by taking classes at Kelly night school and receiving high school credit attested by Brother Daly in 1962.
Don Broderick, the Leo track star raised five girls and three boys in Queen of Martyrs parish and continued to say his evening prayers on bended knee until called to Christ this past summer.
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