ND priest, friend to Rudy passes away
By Kylie Carter
News Writer
A Notre Dame graduate, former student manager and an inspiration to Rudy, Father Leonard Kuberski, recently passed away, but will not be forgotten. Kuberski attended Notre Dame from 1960 to 1964, and later returned in 1976 to attain his master's degree in scripture.
It was during this time that he came in contact with Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, a graduate assistant to the football players. They met through a mutual friend, and Ruettiger told him his story. Kuberski was very interested and wrote a manuscript about his life.
"As we talked about the obstacles and the struggles," Ruettiger said, "Lenny [as he referred to him] would get excited and write things down, and that inspired me."
Although the manuscript Kuberski wrote did not end up being the actual script for the movie written by Angelo Pizzo, Kuberski played an instrumental role in the whole process.
"If Lenny hadn't done the book, I wouldn't have moved forward to do the movie," Ruettiger said. "He helped start something. The manuscript started the ball rolling. It was very positive, I thought, that he put it in that direction."
As an acknowledgement of his contribution, Kuberski had a few lines in a classroom scene in the movie.
In addition to his influential role in Ruettiger's life, he helped many others in his work with the football student manager program at Notre Dame. Having been a student manager during his undergraduate studies, he knew that it was a lot of work and little glory.
Wanting to give back to the program, he started the "Father Mad Dog Award." This scholarship award is given at the end of sophomore year to the student manager with the most heart and best mental attitude. Kuberski was known to some as Father Mad Dog because of his fun personality.
Dan Cooley, who graduated last spring from Notre Dame and received the award a few years ago, described Kuberski as "very fun, generous and loyal."
"He had a special place in his heart for the managers," he said.
Each year, he would take the recipient out to dinner, along with the three head football managers. Cooley said, "He was the life of the dinner. He kept everyone laughing, or their mouths hanging open."
"He was a great believer in Notre Dame — in the family," Ruettiger said. Kuberski passed away in mid-August from cancer, kidney failure and other ailments.
The Father Mad Dog award will still be awarded, although not as a scholarship.
All News Stories for Friday, September 15, 2000
