Special Edition: A Lasting Dedication
We are pleased to bring you this special edition of the Spectacle of Saints blog.
On Sunday, November 4, Marianist PULSE will formally dedicate the Michael Means Marianist PULSE Community, our volunteer housing on Dayton's northwest side.
When we are asked, "Who is Michael Means?" we cannot answer that question simply, but the answer to this question is a story very worthy of telling.
While Marianist PULSE coordinator Maureen O'Rourke volunteered at her local community free meal alongside Joan (pronounced JoAnn) Means, it was not unusual for these two fellow Five Oaks neighbors to share stories centered around education, justice issues, housing, food insecurity and more. On one occasion, Maureen mentioned the challenges she had encountered trying to find housing for the PULSE volunteers.
One evening while serving spaghetti and providing respite along with a warm meal, Joan said she would like to help purchase a house for the PULSE program. The rest, as they say, is history. Marianist PULSE, through the Society of Mary and Joan's gift, now owns a house in the heart of Five Oaks.
Joan's wish is that her gift honor her late husband, Michael. When you learn more about him, you'll understand why:
Dr. Michael Means was born in Wisconsin, received degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Ohio State University and the University of Florida. He and Joan moved their family to the Five Oaks neighborhood of Dayton when Michael accepted a professorship at the University of Dayton. He continued as a faculty member there for 38 years, always passionate about medieval literature and, uniquely, the circus.
Joan shares stories of Masses held in her family home, celebrated by Marianist colleagues in the Department of English. The department served as a family for the Means and the several Marianist Brothers serving on that faculty were integral in that sense of family spirit.
Michael and Joan have both served on countless city and neighborhood committees and boards. Michael was a great cheerleader for the City of Dayton, serving twice as chair of the Fair River Oaks Council Priority Board.
In Joan's own words, she gave this gift to PULSE "in my husband, Michael’s, memory. I also did it in thankfulness for our 59 years of a much-blessed marriage and I did it in thankfulness for the blessings of six prosperous children. I gave to commemorate our spiritual connections to the Marianists and the University of Dayton where Michael taught for thirty-eight years. I gave to commemorate Michael’s political activism in the culturally rich Five Oaks neighborhood where the Marianist PULSE house is located. I am thankful for all the gifts that have been given Michael and me. I want to share those gifts with others. To me giving is thankfulness and thankfulness is giving."
In these last few years, Joan has served an unofficial neighborhood liaison and mentor to our two PULSE communities. She has graciously welcomed the volunteers into her home, walked them through the neighborhood, invited them to Mass at Corpus Christi Church, and modeled servant leadership in the urban core. Joan's impact on PULSE goes well beyond brick and mortar and will leave a legacy none of us anticipated.
Marianist PULSE could not be more thankful to Joan and to Michael, in whose name we will dedicate the Michael Means Marianist PULSE Community on Sunday, November 4. Please come and celebrate, honor, and share in the joy of giving!
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| Mo and Joan |
When we are asked, "Who is Michael Means?" we cannot answer that question simply, but the answer to this question is a story very worthy of telling.
While Marianist PULSE coordinator Maureen O'Rourke volunteered at her local community free meal alongside Joan (pronounced JoAnn) Means, it was not unusual for these two fellow Five Oaks neighbors to share stories centered around education, justice issues, housing, food insecurity and more. On one occasion, Maureen mentioned the challenges she had encountered trying to find housing for the PULSE volunteers.
One evening while serving spaghetti and providing respite along with a warm meal, Joan said she would like to help purchase a house for the PULSE program. The rest, as they say, is history. Marianist PULSE, through the Society of Mary and Joan's gift, now owns a house in the heart of Five Oaks.
 |
| Joan at the soon-to-be dedicated house |
Dr. Michael Means was born in Wisconsin, received degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Ohio State University and the University of Florida. He and Joan moved their family to the Five Oaks neighborhood of Dayton when Michael accepted a professorship at the University of Dayton. He continued as a faculty member there for 38 years, always passionate about medieval literature and, uniquely, the circus.
Joan shares stories of Masses held in her family home, celebrated by Marianist colleagues in the Department of English. The department served as a family for the Means and the several Marianist Brothers serving on that faculty were integral in that sense of family spirit.
Michael and Joan have both served on countless city and neighborhood committees and boards. Michael was a great cheerleader for the City of Dayton, serving twice as chair of the Fair River Oaks Council Priority Board.
In Joan's own words, she gave this gift to PULSE "in my husband, Michael’s, memory. I also did it in thankfulness for our 59 years of a much-blessed marriage and I did it in thankfulness for the blessings of six prosperous children. I gave to commemorate our spiritual connections to the Marianists and the University of Dayton where Michael taught for thirty-eight years. I gave to commemorate Michael’s political activism in the culturally rich Five Oaks neighborhood where the Marianist PULSE house is located. I am thankful for all the gifts that have been given Michael and me. I want to share those gifts with others. To me giving is thankfulness and thankfulness is giving." In these last few years, Joan has served an unofficial neighborhood liaison and mentor to our two PULSE communities. She has graciously welcomed the volunteers into her home, walked them through the neighborhood, invited them to Mass at Corpus Christi Church, and modeled servant leadership in the urban core. Joan's impact on PULSE goes well beyond brick and mortar and will leave a legacy none of us anticipated.
Marianist PULSE could not be more thankful to Joan and to Michael, in whose name we will dedicate the Michael Means Marianist PULSE Community on Sunday, November 4. Please come and celebrate, honor, and share in the joy of giving!
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