Dave Nitz to the rescue

        Almost everyone who knew him fairly well has a Dave Nitz story. Here is mine.

      He rescued me once from having to do play-by-play of a basketball game.

      Those of us with Louisiana ties -- especially North Louisiana -- know that Dave is one of the most accomplished sports radio broadcasters of our time. 

      His affiliation with Louisiana Tech University athletics spanned almost 50 years, and he was the Shreveport baseball -- most the Captains -- play-by-play radio man for 20 years.

      He was dedicated and knowledgeable, personable (always with some stories), fun ... and talented. We all loved "Freeway Dave." He did love to travel, mostly by car.

      Give us Jim Hawthorne, Tim Brando and Nitz, and you've got "The Big Three" of northwest Louisiana broadcasting fame. 

       They were the modern-day successor to IZ, Irv Zeidman, the Shreveport Sports baseball/Centenary College basketball "voice" of the 1950s/early 1960s.

        We all listened to Nitz for hundreds -- maybe a couple of thousands -- of games (football, basketball, baseball) over the years. You had to love it!

         Dave passed away Tuesday at age 82, and we are sad. He was a character to remember.

         It was a pleasure to occasionally sit in with Nitz in the broadcast booth or on the basketball media table. And one memorable weekend is my "Nitz story."

---

       The week before Christmas, 1979, Dave was broadcasting Louisiana Tech women's basketball but also had agreed to do three Centenary College men's basketball games in New York (City and state).

        Jim Hawthorne had been Centenary's play-by-play guy for much of the 1970s -- before, during and after the Robert Parish era. But starting with the 1979-80 season, he had been hired to be LSU men's basketball announcer.

         Tracy Jackson -- who operated the Manpower temporary employment agency in Shreveport -- had play-by-play experience and did some Centenary games early that season. But he and wife Jo had a large family and he wanted that Christmas time with them, so he wasn't available for the New York trip.

          Centenary was scheduled to play Long Island University on Thursday night, then Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y. -- near Albany, three hours from New York City -- on Saturday night, and finally national power St. John's University in Queens on Sunday night.         

         It just so happened that the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters were going to play in a big holiday tournament at Madison Square Garden that weekend.

         So Nitz was going to be in NYC, and we needed a play-by-play announcer for the Centenary games. Ah, yes, Nitz would do it.

         And as the Centenary sports information director for four years I was the "color" analyst for the road games, butting in to Hawthorne's play-by-play for much of that time.

There was a catch to Nitz's availability. The Lady Techsters, who the previous season had emerged as a national power (a status they would maintain for two decades), were playing in a tournament in Las Vegas early that week. They won that title and the team -- and Nitz -- flew to New York City on Thursday.

        Fine, except the time frame was short. Centenary's game with Long Island actually was in Brooklyn. So the question was, when and how would Nitz find the game's location?

         (It was a weird setting. The Schwartz Athletic Center was a gymnasium converted from an auditorium -- it once had been a theater -- and it was on the third floor of a building attached to  LIU's main building. Go figure -- Long Island U. in Brooklyn?)

          Game time, thankfully, was 8 p.m. (Eastern time). I had brought the radio equipment and set it up, and actually started the pregame broadcast.

         Quick note: I had never done play-by-play on radio, in public. Had been the "sidekick" -- analyst -- for high school football games and Centenary basketball. But the only play-by-play I'd done, many times, was in the bedroom of our home in Sunset Acres. 

         Never desired to do play-by-play on radio. Not my thing. (Would have been worse on television.)

         But game time was close, Nitz wasn't there. Oh, my .. where is he? I am not relishing this.

         And then ... two minutes to tipoff: Here's Dave!

         Freeway Dave to the rescue. Actually, Subway Dave ... because -- experienced and savvy traveler he was -- he had found his way to Brooklyn by subway and then a cab to LIU.

          Very times in my life was I happier to see someone than Dave that night.

           And it was a wild game to broadcast -- a 114-101 game, Centenary on the short end. But what a pleasure to do the game with Dave.

--- 

          Even better was the Saturday experience. First, Dave broadcast the Lady Techsters' game with Rutgers at "The Garden," which -- again, thankfully -- had a 1 p.m. start. High-profile matchup, which the Techsters won 89-83 in overtime. Got to sit with Dave at press row on the Garden floor.

           Then, we were off to Centenary's 8 p.m. game at Siena. Rode the train to Albany -- a neat trip near the Hudson River, and a passenger's view of the U.S. Military Academy. Caught a cab from the train station, and broadcast a good effort by Centenary but an 86-82 loss. Still fun.

           The next day, Sunday, back to Madison Square Garden and the Techsters' thrilling victory against powerful Old Dominion, 59-57. Tech's record after that: 16-1.

           That night, we made our way to Queens for Centenary's test against a talented St. John's team, one of the many powers for legendary coach Lou Carnesseca. I did a pregame interview with him, and he was very nice (to a radio novice). Centenary was no match for Lou's team; the final was 92-72.,

           What a weekend with Nitz.

---

           A follow-up: The Centenary team that had a 1-8 record (the victory had been in the season opener) after the New York trip improved slowly, then blossomed in March and wound up with a winning record and as the Trans America Athletic Conference postseason tournament champions.

         The Lady Techsters made the national semifinals (it was the AIAW then) for a rematch with Old Dominion (which starred Nancy Lieberman, Anne Donovan and Rhonda Rampolo). ODU won that one easily, but Tech's final 40-5 record was a sign of great things to come in the future.

          One other Nitz connection with me: The first Louisiana Tech events he broadcast were the games in the 1974 NCAA baseball regional at old Arlington Stadium. I covered that for The Shreveport Times, an early career highlight. 

         The University of Texas had one of the nation's best college baseball progams, but Tech darned near earned a College World Series trip, beating the Longhorns to reach the winners' bracket. Texas came back to top Tech twice. 

           It was a heckuva start for Nitz's career at Tech. He was a "new" guy for all of us then and became a legend over time. 

           We remember him fondly, and we are thankful for the memories. 

          

A heartfelt message

     Like to wear the shirt with this message  because every time I do, people comment on it.

     Special reason for posting it with this blog because ... today marks an anniversary.

     Five years ago today doctors saved my life. It was the day of the triple bypass for my heart.

     Hello, glad to be here.

     I feel fine, although, well, five years older. Still exercising, but not quite as much as before the 2019-20 discomfort down my left arm told me that -- maybe -- something wasn't right.

     But no issues now, other than sore knees and sore feet from my walks and exercise classes. Yes, still walking 2-3 times a week (and for those of you who know, still picking up loose coins and sometimes even paper money).

     I weigh more than I need to because the ice cream, cookies and cake I so like much take up residence around my (expanded) waist.

     Don't like thinking about it, or looking at it. But it doesn't keep me from activities ... or eating. 

      Life's good, although it has its issues. Staying busy here at Trinity Terrace, our seniors residency in Fort Worth, but did give up "recruiting" for The Country Store volunteers and stocking between store shifts. Six years was enough of that.

     Still organizing our weekly Thursday afternoon Social Hour, lining up program guests -- speakers or music or special events -- and, without panicking, trying to find replacements for the occasional late postponements.

      That's fun.

      Trying to spend more time with my best friend and roommate of 48 years, the beautiful and intelligent Beatrice. She is facing some challenges. Please excuse that I don't want to go into much detail.

      So appreciative and proud of our family -- the kids (Jason and Rachel, and son-in-law Russell) and our  spectacular and interesting grandkids -- Josie, 17; Jacob, 16; Kaden, 14; Eli, 10. My gosh, they are growing up.

     Plus, the extended Van Thyn/Wellen and Shaw-related families. 

      And we've gotten so much love and support from the friends from far back -- Shreveport-Bossier/North Louisiana/Louisiana, in general, all the way to Israel, Belgium and, of course, the Netherlands, where it all began for me.

     Also, the friends we've made over the years in athletics and newspapers, and since our move to Fort Worth in late 2001 and especially Trinity Terrace in June 2018.

      Maybe it's corny to say, but my heart is full. And it works.

       It is difficult to learn of the deaths of so many friends these days, especially those from way back in Shreveport-Bossier and the more recent ones here at Trinity Terrace.  

       Back to May 2020, when the pandemic kept me from having any visitors during the eight-day hospital stay. Let's say that the first month after the surgery -- before starting rehab -- was as painful and difficult as I have ever faced physically.

      After a couple of weeks, when every move hurt, Bea and I went for a walk in a nearby parking lot. It was slanted, and going downhill was slow but no problem. A couple of steps uphill, and nope, time to go home.

      Soon, I was stronger and the six weeks of rehab actually was kind of good. Still, I would prefer not to have to do it again.

      Kept my little blue pillow, which pressed against my heart area, eased the pain for the first month after surgery. It's right here next to my desk. Just a reminder.

      An older man here, learning of my triple bypass, told me then that he had his triple 15 years earlier. So it's now 20 years for him ... and he just turned 100. So there.

      No guarantees, of course, but 100 looks a long way off. I'll take 78 in a less than a month.

      And if I'm lucky, I will write about the 10-year anniversary five years from now. Stay tuned.  

---

     From five years ago -- the triple bypass adventure:

https://nvanthyn.blogspot.com/2020/05/its-heart-that-counts-most.html

     

Mom, Dad making an appearance in Iowa

      Mom's influence, her dedication to educating the world about the Holocaust, is still being felt ... in Iowa.
      Yes, Iowa. You read that correctly. Danville, Iowa, to be exact, a small farming community in the southeast part of the state.

Our young Rose

      Good timing, too. The day after this year's International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we received a note -- through a longtime friend -- from a man in Iowa asking for permission to use photos of Mom (and Dad) and one of her poems in a Holocaust-related museum.
      The Danville Station, a library-museum featuring the "Anne Frank Pen Pal Letters." It is a non-for-profit cultural institution.
      Intriguing? Indeed.
      Mom, who for 25 years talked and wrote so often about the Holocaust, has been gone 14 1/2 years (Dad for 16 1/2). But they would be so proud of an exhibit being put together in that museum to  honor them.
      We -- their family -- are pleased, and happy to help.
      In a world where Holocaust education seems to be dwindling as much as the actual survivors of that horror, this is a small bit of encouragement. 
      So were the responses we received this week about our (annual) post/e-mail on Holocaust Remembrance Day. We will never forget, or -- as one friend pointed out -- forgive.
    (And we don't approve of  Elon Musk's clownish "salute," or whatever he did, and certainly not of his coddling of Germany's far-right -- yeah, Nazi-leaning -- political party. He's not stupid, but that was. C'mon, he knows what a Nazi salute looks like. So why even go there?) 
---

    Back to the story, the Anne Frank-Rose Van Thyn connection of sorts.
     The origin of this tale is a note from Dr.  Stephen J. Gaies, who was director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education and a professor emeritus in the department of languages and literatures at the University of Northern Iowa. He is now a consultant to the Danville museum, which opened in 2018.  

    He was writing our old friend Thomas Aswell (from Ruston, Louisiana Tech and now living in the Baton Rouge area where he is a longtime political journalist, and a good one.)
    Dr. Gaies: "I am writing about gaining permission to use a photograph that appeared in an article you published in Louisiana Voice on November 1, 2016 ..." (about the book Survivors: 62511, 70726, our family's story and that of my parents' Holocaust concentration camp experiences.)   
    He explained that he was helping design the museum's permanent exhibit and "featuring one of Rose Van Thyn's poems ('Where To') in a new part of the museum." They also want to include some images as part of the description of her life.

    While Dr. Gaies was our contact, he stresses that Janet Hesler is "the founder, director and 'soul' of the museum and this exhibit."
    Certainly, we granted permission. And we did send a good number of photos and blog pieces to hopefully enhance the exhibit.
---
     Now, to tell how Anne Frank (and her sister) figure into this story. 
     "It's an honor to tell your mother's (and father's) story to visitors [at the museum]," Dr. Gaies wrote. "Let me tell you ... how we plan to incorporate a sample of your mother's poetry and information about her life and accomplishments into the new exhibit area.
   Mrs. Hesler: "The Anne Frank letters began in 1939 when our teacher at Danville, Miss Birdie Mathews, started an international correspondence exchange program for her students.

        "The students drew names and Juanita Wagner drew the name of Anne Frank. The Wagner sisters (Betty and Juanita) wrote a letter to Anne and on April 29, 1940, two letters and a postcard arrived in the mail from Anne and her sister Margot.

    "Eleven days later the Nazis invaded Holland, so this is the only correspondence that we have."

      "The original letters are in the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles and we have the only copies of them in the world."

      Dr. Gaies: "It wasn't until a few decades after the war, when Anne Frank started to become a central figure in America's representation of the Holocaust, that the significance of this letter was recognized. A small local museum was created in Danville to preserve this small bit of history." 

---

     Also at the museum is an  authenic pre-WW II cattle-car train, the kind  used to transport so many people -- mostly Jews -- to the concentration camps (Mom included, her ride to Auschwitz.)

     Dr. Gaies: "Years of efforts to obtain a WW II-era railcar similar to those used for deportations from Westerbork (the transit camp in eastern Netherlands) finally bore fruit, and a railcar was located and restored in Germany and shipped to Danville, arriving in 2023. 
     "An enclosure has been built to protect the railcar from Iowa's harsh weather. One wall of the enclosure is clear; the other three inside walls of the enclosure are new exhibit space. A museum design firm has been contracted to transform our ideas for the exhibit."

     Key to the purchase of the rail car, Mrs. Hesler pointed out, was the Iowa Economic  Development Authority. 

     "Through the grant 'Destination Iowa,' she wrote, "we have received $745,000 to obtain, refurbish, and ship the railcar" and also "construct the building with three wall exhibits that tell the story of the Westerbork camp and well as the rescuers that risked so much for others."

--- 

     Dr. Gaies: "Your mother's poem and a photo of her will appear together with an excerpt from a letter by and an image of Etty Hillesum, in a section entitled, 'Writing About Deportation.' ...

     "We are including a QR code that will link visitors to a webpage containing supplementary information about your mother's life. The information will include a prose summary, a timeline and a list of selected references, together with additional images, we hope. 

     "Etty Hillesum will have a different QR code and supplementary information webpage, as will two Dutch rescuers we are featuring in another section of the exhibit.
     "Even though the museum is off the beaten track, it already gets thousands of visitors each year, and there is every expectation that with the new exhibit and increasing publicity abut the railcar, attendance (including school visits) will continue to increase.
     "So I feel that this is a wonderful new opportunity to share your mother's -- indeed, your family's -- story with a world that can only benefit from learning about your parents' courage and resilience."
     We agree, and we are grateful. We will not forget.