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Acknowledgments

It is impossible to simply acknowledge the friendship and love of the thousands of people who have supported me over my ninety-seven years. As such, I will try to say a few words about the folks who have helped me with this book. To any whom I may have omitted, I offer my deepest apologies and my heartfelt thanks to you also.

I want to first extend a thank you to Nancy Collins and Peter Finney, Jr., who have helped me every step of the way; this book is as much theirs as mine. I thank them for their incredible help and assistance.

My secretary, Alma Cartagena, has helped me with the typing, transcription, and collection of materials and photographs through the years related to this book. I credit her custodial skills in keeping together a 1,200-page manuscript that could have become scattered!

My publisher, Our Sunday Visitor, and their team were enthusiastic supporters of this project from the time when we approached them; my thanks to them, and especially to Jacquelyn Lindsey.

My close friends, the Garvey Brothers and Dorinda Bordlee, have been tireless supporters of the Pro-Life cause and helped on those portions of the book.

My friends here in New Orleans provided encouragement and support (and in some cases food!) at every opportunity; Anne and King Milling, Garic and Susie Schoen, Mr. and Mrs. Drago and Clara Cvitanovich, Phillip Brooks, the late Deacon Paul Nalty, V.M. Wheeler, Joe and Sue Ellen Canizaro, Tom and Gayle Benson, the late Pat Taylor, Phyllis Taylor, my best friend Alden “Doc” Laborde, and Donna and Ben Rosen, the couple through whom I found Peter.

My medical and personal support staff: Dr. Charles Mary, Dr. Angela Buonagura, Dr. Eric Ehrensing and, most importantly, Dr. Bill and Anita Barfield for their almost daily attention and care in recent years. A very heartfelt and personal thanks to my sitter Millie Boihem and especially to my caregiver and friend Kent Bossier, who has gone far beyond the call of duty with my daily care. Thank you for everything; I could not have done it without you.

My brother priests have provided me with wonderful spiritual and intellectual support in this endeavor and in many others, especially Rev. Msgr. Clinton Doskey, Rev. Msgr. Charles Duke, Rev. Msgr. Crosby Kern, Rev. Adrian Hall, and Deacons Butch Shartle, Nelvin Luke, Jack Finn, Ricky Suprean, and Acolytes Jay Frantz and Jay Weil. These men have also helped me with the daily celebration of Mass in recent years, and I thank them.

Archbishop Francis Schulte, Archbishop Alfred Hughes, and Archbishop Gregory Aymond have been confidants and great friends. May the Lord continue to bless them and the people of Louisiana.

And finally my wonderful family — my nieces and nephews, especially those who have spent time with me in New Orleans over the last several years, including Peggy Hannan Laramie, Michael and Kathy Hannan, Tom Hannan, Paul Hannan, J.T. Hannan, Kara Hannan McGinn, and Kate Hannan.

My brothers and sister provided much of the material for this book, and I love them for it — Thomas Hannan, Dr. Francis Hannan, Mary Hannan Mahoney, William T. Hannan, Denis Hannan, and John Hannan.

My brother Patrick “Jerry” Hannan has helped me in more ways than I can count; profuse thanks to him.

And, finally, this book is dedicated to my parents, Patrick F. Hannan and Lilian Hannan. I still think about them every day.