May 19, 2017
Patrick J. Healey ’17: Fourth-generation Friar chose PC for its ‘happiness’
By Debbie Hazian
When students in the Class of 2017 receive their diplomas on Sunday, May 21, the loudest cheers may come from the McCormick-Healey family. As Patrick J. Healey ’17 of Cumberland, R.I., crosses the stage, he will join a rare family legacy. On his mother’s side, he is a fourth-generation graduate of PC.
As the College celebrates its centennial this year, the McCormick family’s connection extends almost as far back as PC’s founding. Matthew M. McCormick ’25 was a member of the College’s third graduating class of four-year students. His son and Patrick’s grandfather, Edward J. McCormick ’57, followed his father to PC. The next generation includes Edward’s four children: Patrick’s mother, Kathleen McCormick Healey ’84, and her three brothers, Edward Jr. ’82, Stephen ’86, and Robert ’90. Edward’ Jr.’s wife, Karen ’81, and Stephen’s wife, Susan ’87, are also PC alumni.
Joining Patrick in the fourth generation of family Friars are two cousins, Paige McCormick ’16 and Stephen McCormick ’18.
Many family members plan to attend Patrick’s graduation and enjoy a family reunion.
At Reunion Weekend 2017 on June 2-4, Patrick’s grandfather, Edward J. MCormick ’57, will celebrate his 60th reunion, while his uncle, Edward J. McCormick, Jr. ’82, will mark his 35th reunion and his aunt, Susan G. McCormick ’87, will mark her 30th.
“These are big events for us all, and we look forward to meeting old friends and visiting the PC campus,” said Edward J. McCormick ’57, who lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C. “We know that Patrick will be a proud fourth-generation member of the PC alumni family.” Coincidentally, Ed celebrated his 60th reunion at La Salle Academy in Providence in 2013, the same year Patrick graduated from the Catholic high school.
While they walked the same college campus, the experiences of grandfather and grandson 60 years apart were understandably different. Patrick lived on campus, and Ed walked 20 minutes from his Cathedral Avenue home off Smith Street.
Ed was just 16 years old as a freshman “day hop.” There weren’t many social activities on campus in those days. Students took six courses each semester and had classes on Saturdays. Most of Ed friends were from his “poli sci” family.
He majored in political science, hoping to follow his father to law school. In the 1920s, Matthew McCormick attended Northeastern University Law School at night at the Providence YMCA.
While Patrick saw the Friars win a BIG EAST Championship and make four straight NCAA Tournament appearances in men’s basketball, PC had yet to emerge as a basketball powerhouse in the 1950s. “I remember being at a basketball game in my junior or senior year in the old gym when Gordie Holmes made a two-handed set shot to beat Notre Dame, launching the Friars toward becoming an outstanding basketball tradition,” said Ed.
Ed joined ROTC and graduated as a second lieutenant. Two years after graduation, married with a son and another child on the way, Ed chose a sales career, where he remained until retiring.
“It was always assumed that I would go to PC,” said Ed. “My parents felt that PC was my destination. I knew that (my father) was very proud of my academic achievements.”
Surprisingly, family influence was not the reason Patrick decided to attend PC.
“The biggest reason for choosing PC was the way I felt when I toured the campus,” he said. “Everyone seemed very nice and very happy. I chose PC because I thought it would bring me the most happiness of the schools I looked at.
“While the buildings and campus are beautiful and keep getting better and better, the people — from those who work at Raymond Cafeteria, to my professors, to my friends — are the real reason for my love of PC,” said Patrick.
An English major with a business studies certificate, Patrick was a member of the club golf team and a news writer for The Cowl. He is pondering his post-graduation plans; he would love a career as a writer, or he may study for a master’s degree in English or education.
Both Ed and Patrick cherished their time at PC as well as their professors.
“My favorite professor was Dr. Paul van K Thompson, who taught English,” said Ed. “We always looked forward to his ‘presentations’ of English poets, his dramatic way he described, and sometimes played the part, of Henry VIII. He later initiated the Honors Program at PC, and I was very proud when my son, Bob, was invited to take part in it.”
“I loved my time at PC and am sad to see it coming to a close, but will forever cherish the time I had here, and specifically all the wonderful people who have made this place home,” said Patrick. “I am most thankful to my parents for helping to make my college dreams come true, as well as my professors for their passion about the various English classes I took.”
Providence College’s legacy tradition remains strong. Of the approximately 1,150 members of the Class of 2017, 75 students have one parent who graduated from PC, while 17 are “double legacies,” with both parents being PC alumni
The McCormick family plans to gather again for Stephen’s graduation next May. As Patrick moves to the family cheering section, his cousin will become the 11th member of his family to graduate from Providence College.
