GLENDALE — As the Msgr. Sherman Council 5103 Knights of Columbus prepared for their 65th Anniversary Dinner on May 15, special attention was given to two of its founding members.
Don Gander, 90, helped form the council’s charter in April of 1961, and John Hickey, 85, was among the first to join. They are the last two original members, said Sal Laurenzano, a past grand knight for Council 5103.
This council is named for the first pastor of nearby Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, where Gander and Hickey are lifelong members. Msgr. George Sherman founded the parish in 1929 and served as its pastor until 1957.
“I did belong to the Holy Name Society,” Gander recalled. “And (then the parish) started the Knights of Columbus. So, I said, ‘I might as well join.’ ”
Gander owned a local gas station and, later, an auto repair shop. He didn’t know anything about the Knights of Columbus when he joined, but said he “did learn a lot throughout the years.”
As a former grand knight for the council, Gander is still active at its meeting house on Myrtle Avenue in Glendale. He opens the mail, pays bills, and whenever the council members meet, he’s the designated bartender.
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But sharing a drink or two is the last item on the agenda for the members.
They have much to do for the community, and it all costs money — about $20,000 to $30,000 a year, said James Funaro, another former grand knight.
Projects include annual food drives, Christmas parties for people with disabilities, and visits to children in hospitals. This council’s knights also support pro-life organizations like Bridge to Life. In everything they do, the knights seek to be Catholic gentlemen who prioritize charity and faith.
“All the money that we accumulate, we give it all out to charity,” Gander said. “We don’t keep any money for ourselves.”
The Knights of Columbus have been doing this work since 1882, when Blessed Father Michael McGivney founded the fraternal service order in New Haven, Connecticut. Now, it’s a global organization with 18,700 councils worldwide.
Hickey said the council’s fraternal camaraderie separates it from other organizations.
The former auto salesman schedules his involvement in behind-the-scenes help at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, especially for athletic events in the gym. Through the years, Hickey has helped organize the Catholic Youth Organization teams, including basketball, softball, and bowling.
Hickey also counseled the youth “Squires” program, and he’s enthralled by the accomplishments its former members achieved as adults.
Hickey said he sometimes worries about the council’s future and whether there will be enough knights to continue their work. But that angst is short-lived, thanks to the recruiting skills of younger members like Laurenzano.
“He’s like a pied piper,” Hickey said. “I’m not being facetious. All of a sudden, we get new members.”