Join us for our weekly “Rock Reflections,” a series celebrating Trinity alumni. From all 50 states to countries worldwide, our graduates are making an impact, and we'll share their stories on Trinity's website and social media.
This week’s profile is about Bob Oser '60.
“Trinity is making the world a better place one student at a time.” – Bob Oser ’60
Bob Oser is a Trinity alumnus who was at Trinity before it was Trinity. He attended Holy Trinity Catholic School for first and second grade. Holy Trinity was located on the current site of Trinity High School before relocating to its current St. Matthews location on Cherrywood Road in 1953. He transferred to the newly completed Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School for his third-grade year.
Upon completing eighth grade, Bob enrolled at St. Thomas Seminary in Louisville in hopes of becoming a priest. He was at St. Thomas for his freshman and sophomore years and half his junior year.
“Many are called, but few are chosen,” Bob wrote to his parents during his junior year at St. Thomas. “I realized religious life was not for me.”
Bob transferred to Trinity and quickly got involved at his new school. He was a member of the National Honor Society and Speech Club. He also was a starting fullback, defensive back, punter and kickoff returner for the Football Rocks his senior year.
Additionally, Bob was Trinity’s first track and field state champion. He won the 120-yard high hurdles at the state championship meet in a time of 15.2 seconds and didn’t lose a race during his senior year.
“Sports was a big part of the development of my self-confidence,” Bob said. “I learned I can do whatever I try to do.”
One of Bob’s favorite teachers and coaches was John Moll, who coached Bob in football and track.
“He was a great motivator,” Bob said. “He was a force in my young life.”
One of Bob’s favorite Trinity memories is a weeklong football camp he attended in August 1959. It was a grueling week. The boys didn’t go home. After grueling two-a-day practices, they slept on cots in the gymnasium.
“What I remember most about that football camp, though, was everyone being in the gym together and the music of the day,” Bob said. “Here we are in the gym, particularly at night, and the radio is playing. One of my favorite songs was ‘Poison Ivy’ by The Coasters. Other songs were ‘There Goes my Baby’ by The Drifters and ‘A Teenager in Love’ by Dion DiMucci.”
“The result of that football camp and those nights in the gym was a brotherhood and camaraderie among the football team,” Bob continued. “When you’re with someone for twenty-four hours, you get to know them. It was a bonding experience. I absolutely enjoyed it.”
Upon graduation, Bob attended Bellarmine University on a track scholarship. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a minor in physics in 1964.
Meanwhile, back at Trinity, Assistant Principal Rev. Clarence Schwartz was tasked with starting the new Bishop David High School (merged with Angela Merici High School in 1984) in Louisville’s South End. While attending one of Bob’s Bellarmine track meets, Father Schwartz offered Bob the head track and cross country job when he graduated.
Bob accepted the offer. He did his student teaching at Trinity.
“Here I was back at Trinity,” Bob said. “I went to grade school here then went away. I went to high school here then went away. Now I’m doing my practice teaching at Trinity. Something kept pulling me back.”
Bob went on to teach calculus and physics at Bishop David for two years. By then he had a son and decided he needed a more financially lucrative career and went to work for Seagram Company Limited, a spirits manufacturer.
“I worked for Seagram’s for 35 years, six months and eleven days, but who’s counting?” Bob said.
He started as a laboratory technician, performing chemical analysis on the company’s products. Bob worked in all areas of the company but spent most of his years there in human resources and labor relations for the manufacturing division covering the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He also spent 11 years each in Baltimore and New York City with Seagram’s.
Bob transferred his HR skills to Class of 1960 reunions. He began volunteering to help plan the celebrations, which got him involved with the Alumni Association.
“I frequently planned things in HR,” Bob said. “Christmas parties, fun things to do outside of the office, like going to Churchill Downs as a group. I wanted to help do that for my class. Plus, some of my classmates aren’t exactly planners.”
Class reunion planning led Bob to be an alumni Class Agent. Class Agents serve as a liaison between alumni and the Alumni Office, volunteer at alumni and school events, and participate in the annual Alumni Phonathon.
“It was a no-brainer to get involved as a Class Agent,” Bob said. “I had such a great experience at Trinity, why wouldn’t I help out? I want today’s students to have the same great experience I had. It’s important to do that because it’s Catholic education.”
The Alumni Phonathon is held each fall. Volunteer alumni callers call and text classmates to seek their support of the Trinity Annual Fund for financial aid. Bob goes far above and beyond in this effort to reach classmates, devoting hours on the phone. He also recruits classmates to make phone calls. His efforts have resulted in the Class of 1960 having one of the top class giving percentages for the Trinity Annual Fund.
“I set my own personal goals. No one told me to call someone ten times,” Bob said, laughing. “Sometimes it’s difficult to reach people. But when you do, you have a one hundred percent better chance of receiving a gift than if you didn’t talk with them. Unfortunately, there are people who won’t call classmates to ask for a contribution. The worst they can say is ‘No.’”
Bob says he has not yet reached his potential. He wants 50 percent of his class to give to the Trinity Annual Fund.
“I give to give back,” Bob said. “I’m not the richest guy in the world, but I give to financial aid. Trinity is making the world a better place one student at a time.”
Bob and his wife, Deb, have been married for 39 years. He has two sons who are Trinity alumni – Kevin ’83 and Steven ’87 – and a daughter, Dr. Carrie Oser. He also has six grandchildren. Bob and Deb are members of the Church of the Epiphany.
Share an alumni story!
Do you know a Trinity alumnus with a compelling story? Please reach out to Travis Wagoner '90, Alumni Relations & Communications Director, at 502-736-2122 or wagoner@trinityrocks.com.
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