Announcing the Cretin Class of 1963 Bonfe-Ryan Scholarship

Two 1963 Cretin High School graduates, George Bonfe and Mike Ryan, both experienced life-altering injuries in their early twenties. Despite the debilitating setback, Mike and George lived very productive lives. They have inspired those of us blessed enough to have known them. 

As a tribute to Mike and George, we have established a 60th Anniversary legacy gift to Cretin-Derham Hall.  We have designated it as The Cretin Class of 1963 Bonfe/Ryan Memorial Scholarship Fund and we  encourage not only  our classmates but others to contribute to this fund as a tribute to the inspiring resiliency of Mike and George.

What made these two individuals exceptional was their common traits of courage, compassion, generosity, patience and perseverance. Their stories are the impetus behind establishing that scholarship  in their honor and to help a physically challenged student attend Cretin-Derham Hall.

George Bonfe

George, in 1965 while coming home on leave from Army training, was a passenger in an automobile accident where the driver died, and George severely injured his spinal column. This resulted in George being in a wheelchair until he died on Veterans Day 2021. George adopted three children and started and ran two successful businesses. He also built and flew an airplane for his own use. Throughout the rest of George’s life, he supported veterans in many ways, from attending their funerals, to sending weekly packages to troops stationed overseas, and visiting with his US congressman on veteran’s issues. Two of George’s children are also veterans.

Mike Ryan

While serving in Vietnam in 1968, Mike was severely injured when he was shot while trying to pull one of his injured Marines from a ravine in the jungle. The bullet injured Mike’s spinal column and he spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair until his death in 2012. Mike earned a law degree and married Karen, whom he met while in physical rehab. They adopted and raised three children. In addition, Mike and Karen served as foster parents to 80 high risk infants. Mike practiced law initially as a prosecutor and then as a judge, serving in the Maricopa County Superior Court and the Arizona Appellate Court. He was appointed a Supreme Court Justice for the State of Arizona in 2002 and retired from the Court in 2010.

There is more background on them that you can view at this link.

The scholarship will be awarded to a recipient with a physical disability who wishes to attend Cretin-Derham Hall. CDH supports the establishment of this scholarship. For anyone wishing to contribute to scholarship fund you can do so through one of the following gifting options:

1. MAIL:  Send your check to:

Cretin-Derham Hall

550 S Albert Street

Saint Paul, MN    55116

Attn: Bonfe/Ryan Memorial Scholarship Fund

• ONLINE:  Go to c-dh.org/givenow to make a credit card gift online.  Please indicate:  Bonfe/Ryan Memorial Scholarship

• PHONE:  Call Peggy Gartland Schafer ’79 at 651-696-3318