Written by Eileen C. Herbert
“Doogs is one of a kind,” says Daniel P. Starr ’58, PhD, professor emeritus of history at Canisius and long-time friend. “Anyone who knows Doogs has stories to tell about their adventures with him.”
Starr, who as former athletics director traveled extensively with Doogs, says that it was the athletes in the ’70s who coined the famous name. “It was a term of affection. They considered Doogs to be one of the guys but they also treated him with the utmost respect.”
Now 83 years old, Doogs may indeed be the person who has attended more Golden Griffin games than any other Griff fan. He has also logged countless hours and frequent flyer miles on the road with student-athletes as well as on the annual Italian Alps ski adventures he organized for students and alumni.
In his fourth decade on the job, Doogs admits his pace has slowed a bit. But he is no less devoted to the students today than when he first came to Canisius in 1970.
“Doogs introduced himself to the new athletes during the first week that we were on campus,” says Frank R. Turner ’10, a communication studies major and guard on the men’s basketball team. He adds that Doogs has been a part of the team ever since. “We pray together on the bus when he travels with us and he blesses the team.”
Father Dugan’s pre-game blessings end with a long-standing Canisius tradition: “St. Peter Canisius, pray for us.” Starr says it energizes the student-athletes. “Doogs starts with ?St. Peter Canisius’ and all the team members and everyone else in the locker room chants, ?Pray for us!’”
When he’s not in the bleachers or on a team bus, Father Dugan makes a point to be where students gather. In fact, his copious coffee consumption in the cafeteria once earned him the nickname ?Father Cafeteria.’ “I’m not in the classroom, so this was a way to meet and connect with more students,” says Father Dugan.
His connection with students is a 24/7 job. While most Canisius Jesuits live in Loyola Hall, the Jesuit residence, Father Dugan calls Frisch Residence Hall home. He lives there so he can be available to the first-year students, whom he affectionately calls his flock. “It is part of my apostolate,” he says.
“It’s a sign of his devotion,” notes Canisius President Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J. “When students have problems and don’t know where to turn, they can talk to Father Dugan. That gives him an opportunity to give students advice and to counsel them.”
Clearly, the spiritual growth of students is Father Dugan’s primary concern. “He has a deep spirituality and he communicates to the students the importance of a spiritual life,” adds Father Cooke.
Father Dugan further enhanced the spiritual life of students through retreats he lead as head chaplain. At the request of the students back in the ’70s, he instituted the Last Chance Mass on Sunday nights. Still in existence and still celebrated by Father Dugan, it is a popular alternative to services held before noon. Father Dugan is also responsible for opening the Mass of St. Ignatius Loyola to the entire campus community nearly 15 years ago. The well-attended Mass, which is now followed by an ice cream social, was formerly held for the Jesuits in Loyola Hall. And still an innovator, last year Father Dugan celebrated Mass for all the coaches and athletes at the beginning of the school year. “It was well-received and I hope to make it an annual tradition.”
Father Dugan’s focus on student spirituality is a reflection of his own experiences. As a Canisius student in the 1940s, he says the Jesuits had a great influence on him. Specifically, Father Dugan credits the late Rev. J. Clayton Murray, S.J., Rev. John A. Frisch, S.J., Rev. Raymond G. Bosch and Rev. Andrew L. Bouwhuis, S.J., for his decision to become a Jesuit. “I admired their education, their enthusiasm, their faith and their friendship,” recalls Father Dugan. So much so that he left Canisius to attend Woodstock College, a Jesuit Seminary, where he earned his BA, MA and PhL.
Like his mentors, Father Dugan has touched the lives of countless students at Canisius. “I think it is so important to have God in my life and I feel blessed to have Doogs,” says Turner. “He is always available to us and you can talk to him about anything.”
Mary H. Eberl ’88 agrees. “Doogs has a way of leaning gently on the kids to show them the way without being judgmental,” says Eberl, executive director of the Western New York Grantmakers Association. Mary and her husband, Frank L. Eberl ’67, MS ’75, MBA ’78, first met Doogs nearly 36 years ago at a Canisius basketball game. However, it was their daughters, Nora E. (Plizga) ’92 and Margaret M. ’95, who brought them all together.
“When Nora graduated from Canisius, she invited Doogs to the party,” says Eberl. “Now, he is a part of our family. If we have a party or get together, Doogs is there.”
That’s because Father Dugan loves people, food and a good party. “His signature saying is ?I’m spreading the joy,’” says Eberl.
But for anyone who knows him, Doogs is the joy.
“Business people, students, everyone enjoys being with Doogs,” adds Father Cooke. “I think it is because he is such an authentic person. There is no pretense about him and for that people respect him.”
In years past, the students even included Doogs at their Friday night parties. “The students invited him to bless the kegs but I knew he was there to watch over them,” recalls Eberl. “I would always ask him to look out for my girls.”
Father Dugan was also a fixture at spring break in the ’70s and ’80s and perhaps the only Jesuit in Canisius history to head south with the students on ?Mission Daytona’ and ?Mission Lauderdale.’ He served lunch on the beach for 60 or 70 students and celebrated Holy Week and Easter Masses for the spring breakers. And, of course, he blessed the caravan of cars before they left Buffalo.
“One year my cousin, Andrew M. Montante ’75, was the first car in line to be blessed,” recalls Carl J. Montante ’64, president and managing director of Uniland Development Company. “After the blessing, the parade of cars pulled out onto Hughes Avenue and before they even got to the intersection of Jefferson and Hughes, the right tire fell off of Andy’s car!” laughs Montante.
Father Dugan recalls the same story with a hearty laugh. “You know that sort of thing could ruin my business!”
But Father Dugan’s well-known sense of humor is just a small part of his persona. “Doogs is a person of great depth, sincerity, knowledge and ability,” says Montante. “He has devoted his life to the students and his sincerity pervades his being. It has earned him a level of credibility that few have with young people and that is why they welcome his involvement.”
It’s Father Dugan’s devotion to Canisius students that prompted the Montante family to request that Eastwood Hall be dedicated as Dugan Residence Hall, on September 28, 2007. The naming opportunity is a result of the Montante family’s historic $5.1 million gift to the college.
“We love Doogs as family,” says Montante. “When we spoke about Eastwood Hall, it was absolutely unanimous from the whole family ? Carol; our children, Michael J. ’91; Carl Jr.; Laura A. (Zaepfel) ’86; Tim; and myself ? that it would be great to have Dugan Residence Hall on campus.”
“I am very touched the Montantes thought of me,” says Father Dugan, who has known four generations of the family beginning with Carl’s mother, Georgia. Father Dugan is also thankful for the honor that will now place him in the same company as his own role models, Fathers Bosch and Frisch, for whom the college’s two freshman residences are named, and Father Bouwhuis, for whom the library is named.
Montante says that when the shock of the announcement wore off, in true Doogs fashion, Father Dugan exclaimed, “Oh, great, another reason to have a party!”