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As Thomas Merton said in Seven Storey
Mountain, Father Thomas Plassmann was "The Picture of Benevolence." Father Tom,
as he was known, was a giant in more ways than one. His frame was large. He
stood at a listed 6 foot 3 inches, weighing in at 230 pounds. His physical size was
only paralleled by his heart and soul. Fr. Tom saw much change throughout his
forty-nine year career at St. Bonaventure. Buildings shot up all over campus,
and many new activities began, including R.O.T.C., the Bona Venture newspaper, and the
campus radio station. The College was on its way to becoming a University and
enrollment increased by almost 10 times. He was a man of such greatness that he
even had his own chant and clap. The Bona clap, that so many students, faculty,
and alumni are familiar with, honored Fr. Tom whenever he would enter a room. The
clap began and the chant followed... More
information about Thomas Plassmann, O.F.M. may be found on the Thomas Merton
web site. Created by Sean Dwyer, Fall
2003, for History 419, Computer and Archival Skills for Historians. For information about the Archives' collections
contact Or go to our web pages at:
Papers page added, D. Frank, 1/13/04
Site brought up 01/12/2004 Last updated: 01/30/07 All information is intended for academic use and is property of St. Bonaventure University, and the SBU Archives. |