May 20, 2015

Mike Leonard ’70 returns to film television episode about ‘providence’

 

Mike Leonard '70 and Dr. Richard Grace '62
Mike Leonard ’70 and Dr. Richard Grace ’62

Providence College played a big part in the life of filmmaker and retired television correspondent Mike Leonard ’70 & ’00Hon. — a story he tells in his new public television series, inCommon with Mike Leonard.

Leonard returned to campus to film last fall with his son, Brendan Leonard ’07, and his co-executive producer, Mary Kay Wall ’13P, ’15P, & ’18P. The new series began airing on WTTW in Chicago in January and expanded to PBS stations nationally in May.

Each of the half-hour episodes is built around a theme, such as creativity, time, acceptance, and hope. One show is about providence — both the concept of divine guidance and the College where Leonard played hockey and earned a bachelor’s degree during the difficult years of the Vietnam War.

“It’s a bit about the random nature of the situation between 1966 and 1970, when everything was upended,” said Leonard. “Our immediate fates were determined by things like the draft lottery, balls bouncing in a rotating basket. If you failed a class or withdrew from it, you could be drafted because you weren’t considered a full-time student. Exam pressure was a different kind of pressure then.”

Medically ineligible for the draft

After the Ohio National Guard shot and killed four student protesters at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, and 4 million college students throughout the country went on strike, PC canceled classes for the rest of the semester.

“School was over,” Leonard said.

Leonard, who had a low draft number, had already enlisted in the Air Force. By chance he met an ROTC commander on campus who questioned him about his chronic back problems and referred him to a doctor. Soon Leonard received a letter from the Defense Department declaring him “4F,” medically ineligible for military service.

He contrasts his story with that of a fellow hockey player, Tom Coakley from Brown University, who was drafted and lost a leg in Vietnam.

Coakley teaches economics at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., having retired after 17 years as vice president for administrative operations. His wife, Nellie, was the Army nurse who cared for him after his injury. Leonard interviewed Coakley in January when they reunited in Providence to see PC and Brown play hockey.

Reconnecting with classmates, alumni

While in Providence, Leonard interviewed James M. Murphy ’73, his line mate on the hockey team in 1966. Murphy left PC after his freshman year and saw heavy combat duty as a Marine in Vietnam.

“He spent 12 months in the jungle. He was hunting people, and people were hunting him,” said Leonard. “How different than the life I was living on campus! When I’m walking to Raymond Hall, he’s dodging bullets in southeast Asia.”

When Murphy returned home from military service, men’s hockey coach Lou Lamoriello ’63 & ’01Hon. arranged for him to come back to PC to complete his bachelor’s degree and to play hockey. He became co-captain. Murphy recently retired as assistant principal of Burrillville Middle School in Burillville, R.I.

“He believes he was destined to live and to become a teacher and an assistant principal and affect thousands of kids’ lives,” said Leonard.

For the show, Leonard also interviewed classmate Giacomo Mordente ’70, who works with veterans. College President Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ’80 and College Chaplain Rev. James Cuddy, O.P. ’98 provided the theological understanding of providence. Dr. Richard J. Grace ’62, professor emeritus of history, gave the historical perspective.

Current men’s hockey coach Nate Leaman told Leonard that he teaches his players that hard work, preparation, and attitude will help determine the future of the team and their lives. Also interviewed were four hockey players: Ross Mauermann ’15 (Janesville, Wis.), Trevor Mingoia ’15 (Fairport, N.Y.), Kevin Rooney ’16 (Canton, Mass.), and Nick Saracino ’16 (St. Louis, Mo.).

Leaman “is a terrific coach and leader and an asset to the school,” said Leonard.

Working on films in retirement

Leonard, who lives in Winnetka, Ill., retired two years ago after a 32-year career as a features correspondent for NBC’s Today show. He continues to work in his sons’ company, Picture Show Films, based in Chicago. All four of his children are PC alums. In addition to Brendan, they are Matthew Leonard ’93, Megan Leonard Fleischer ’95, and Kerry Leonard Trotter ’00.

In 2011, Leonard and son Matt traveled around the world with Rev. Robert Barron ’13Hon. to produce the TV series Catholicism. In 2012, Leonard was the keynote speaker at PC’s Alumni and Family Weekend.

Wall, executive producer of Leonard Films, has PC connections, too. She is the mother of Leo Latz ’15, Janeen Latz ’18, and Catherine Latz ’13, who is assistant director of corporations and foundations relations in PC’s Office of Institutional Advancement.

Earlier this year, Leonard and Wall collaborated on a 60-minute documentary for Chicago’s WTTW, Old St. Patrick’s Church: A Chicago Renaissance Story.

— Vicki-Ann Downing