BERLIN — Fifty years ago this week, on Feb. 26, 1969, the Notre Dame Arena collapsed, killing one and sending others to the hospital.
For the family of Norman Boucher, the 15-year-old Notre Dame High School junior varsity goalie who was killed in the collapse, life would change forever.
kAm“%9@D6 H9@ <?6H 2?5 =@G65 }@C>2? 2C6 DE:== 92F?E65 3J E96 56G2DE2E:?8 2?5 EC28:4 6G6?ED @7 E92E ?:89E[” D2:5 z2C6? q@F496C (966=6C[ 2 ?:646 @7 q@F496C’D H9@ H2D @?=J 2 J62C @=5 2E E96 E:>6]k^Am
kAm%96 4@==2AD6 @44FCC65 ;FDE 367@C6 2 ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ 82>6 36EH66? q6C=:? w:89 $49@@= 2?5 }@EC6 s2>6 w:89 $49@@= H2D 23@FE E@ 368:?[ 2?5 A=2J6CD H6C6 @? E96 :46 H2C>:?8 FA]k^Am
kAm%96 4@==2AD6 42>6 5FC:?8 H92E 92D 364@>6 <?@H? 2D E96 `__\9@FC D?@HDE@C>] %96 H66< 7C@> u63] aa\ag[ `heh[ >2C<65 @?6 @7 E96 =@?86C D?@HDE@C>D :? C64@C565 9:DE@CJ 24C@DD }6H t?8=2?5] %96 q6C=:? #6A@CE6C ?6HDA2A6C C6A@CE65 d 766E @7 D?@H 76== @? q6C=:? :? E92E DE@C>]k^Am
kAmq6C=:? 4@F?ED “w@4<6J %@H? &$p” 2>@?8 :ED ?:4<?2>6D[ 2?5 7@C 564256D 3@2DE65 E@A 9:89 D49@@= E62>D]k^Am
kAmx? `heh[ E96 4:EJ @7 E96? a_[___ A6@A=6 925 EH@ 3:8 9:89 D49@@=D[ 6249 H:E9 A=2J6CD 2?5 :?E6C6DE 6?@F89 E@ 7:6=5 8@@5 G2CD:EJ 2?5 ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ 9@4<6J E62>D]k^Am
kAm%96 aa\J62C\@=5 }@EC6 s2>6 pC6?2[ H2D E96 @?=J 6?4=@D65 C:?< :? E96 4:EJ] pD :E H2D @?=J 2 ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ D4C:>>286[ E96 92== H2D ?@E 7:==65 E92E 52J]k^Am
kAm#:492C5 {2?8=@:D[ ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ 4@249 2?5 2E9=6E:4 5:C64E@C 2E }@EC6 s2>6 w:89 $49@@=[ C6>6>36C65i “(96? E96 2C6?2 4@==2AD65[ >@DE @7 >J A=2J6CD H6C6 :? E96 3=F6 =:?6 2C62[ E2<:?8 D9@ED @? E96 8@2=:6D[ !6E6 }@6= 2?5 }@C>2? q@F496C]k^Am
kAm“pD x C642==[ }@C> H2D H:E9 >6 :? E96 36?49 2C62 3FE H2?E65 E@ 8@ 324< @FE E@ E2<6 2 76H >@C6 D9@ED 7C@> 9:D E62>>2E6D[ H9:49 96 5:5]”k^Am
kAmp= r2J@F6EE6[ 2 }@EC6 s2>6 w:89 $49@@= DEF56?E 2?5 G2CD:EJ 9@4<6J A=2J6C H2D D6EE:?8 FA E96 !p DJDE6>]k^Am
kAm“pE diad[ 2D x AFD965 E96 3FEE@? @? E96 !p >:4C@A9@?6[ x 962C5 2? 66C:6 D@F?5[ =:<6 E96 4CF?49 @7 2 49:A[ E96 4C24<:?8 @7 H@@5 2?5 E96? 2 =@F5 ‘H9@@D9’ @7 2:C 2D E96 C@@7 DF556?=J 2?5 BF:4<=J 4@==2AD65 @? E96 :46] x 4@F=5 ?@E D66 E96 }@EC6 s2>6 A=2J6CD 2?5 72?D @? E96 D@FE9 6?5 @7 E96 2C6?2 5F6 E@ E96 563C:D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96 C@@7 42>6 5@H? D@CE @7 =:<6 2 DH:?8:?8 5@@C 2?5 H6?E C:89E 3J E96 8FJD H9@ H6C6 @? E96 3=F6 =:?6[” D2:5 r=2F56 $E] ~?86[ 2 9:89 D49@@= DEF56?E E96C6 E@ D66 E96 82>6]k^Am
kAm!6E6C }@6=[ 2 8@2=:6 DF:E65 FA E92E ?:89E[ C6>6>36C65 2 9F86 4C24<]k^Am
kAm“x =@@<65 FA 2?5 D2H DA2C<D[ H:E9 7=J:?8 =:89ED 2?5 423=6D D?2AA:?8 2?5 E96 C@@7 3682? E@ DH:?8 5@H? :? >J 5:C64E:@?[” 96 D2:5] “x?DE:?4E 2?5^@C 25C6?2=:? D@>69@H >256 >6 D<2E6 7C@> :? 7C@?E @7 E96 ?6E E@ 369:?5 :E[ H:E9 2 E9@F89E E@ 86E 5@H? E@ E96 :46 2?5 9F8 E96 3@2C5D] x 5:5 2?5 H:E9 >J 6J6D 4=@D65 7@C H92E >FDE 92G6 366? `_\a_ D64@?5D[ 2== H2D D:=6?E]k^Am
kAm“x @A6?65 >J 6J6D E@ D66 E92E E96 C@@7 925 72==6? :? 2C@F?5 >6[ 2?5 E@ >J =67E x D2H q@3 q6CE:? DECF88=:?8 E@ >@G6] x 4@F=5?’E D66 2?JE9:?8 :? E96 2C62 H96C6 }@C> 925 366?[ @?=J 563C:D] $@>6@?6 W>2J36 #2=A9 {2A@:?E6X @A6?65 E96 5@@C 7@C >6 2?5 x H2=<65 @FE WH:E9 >J D<2E6D 2?5 7F== 8@2=:6 A25D @?X E9C@F89 E96 4@?46DD:@? 2C62 2?5 :?E@ E96 A2C<:?8 =@E]”k^Am
kAmq6CE:?[ @?6 @7 E96 A=2J6CD 325=J :?;FC65 :? E96 244:56?E[ D2:5 “q67@C6 x <?6H :E x H2D @? E96 :46 H:E9 D?@H[ 362>D[ 6E4][ 2== 2C@F?5 >6]”k^Am
kAmq6CE:? H2D E2<6? E@ E96 9@DA:E2= :? 2 A@=:46 DE2E:@? H28@? 2?5 H2D EC62E65 7@C 2 D6C:@FD =68 :?;FCJ 2?5 D6G6C6=J D4C2E4965 324<]k^Am
kAm}@EC6 s2>6 y' 9@4<6J A=2J6C s2? q=2:D 2=D@ H2D D6G6C6=J 9FCE] “x H2D 2AAC@249:?8 E96 $@FE9\(6DE A@CE:@? @7 E96 C:?<[ ?62C H96C6 q@3 q6CE:? H2D[ H96? @FE @7 ?@H96C6[ 563C:D DE2CE65 72==:?8 @? >6[” 96 C642==65] ”%96C6 H2D 23D@=FE6=J ?@ E:>6 E@ C624E] x >FDE 92G6 366? <?@4<65 @FE 3642FD6 E96 ?6IE E9:?8 x <?@H x 2> 2H2<6[ =2J:?8 2>@?8DE E96 362>D 2?5 D?@H 2?5 F?23=6 E@ >@G6 2?JE9:?8 3FE >J =68D] x AC2J65 3642FD6 E96C6 H2D ?@E9:?8 6=D6 x 4@F=5 5@ — x 4@F=5?’E 6G6? E2=<] xE H2D =:<6 x H2D :? 2 3F33=6[ 2?5 :7 x 925 366? ` @C a 766E E@ E96 =67E @C C:89E H96? E96 C@@7 76== :?[ x H@F=5 ?@E 36 2=:G6 E@ E6== E9:D DE@CJ]”k^Am
kAmq=2:D H2D 5:D4@G6C65 :? E96 563C:D[ AF==65 @FE 2?5 E2<6? E@ E96 9@DA:E2= H:E9 2 3C@<6? 4=2G:4=6[ 4CFD965 3C62DE3@?6[ 2?5 G6CE63C26 2?5 2 AF?4EFC65 =F?8]k^Am
kAm“%@ E9:D 52J[ x DE:== 92G6 BF6DE:@?D 2D E@ H9J :E H2D?’E >6 H9@ H2D <:==65[ C2E96C E92? }@C>[ 2?5 H9J x 2> DE:== 96C6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|2?J 6D42A65 F?:?;FC65]k^Am
kAm#@86C r92C6DE H2D 2?@E96C }@EC6 s2>6 w:89 $49@@= ;F?:@C G2CD:EJ A=2J6C[ D2:5 96 925 ;FDE E2<6? 2 AC24E:46 D9@E H96?[ “%96 ?6IE E9:?8 x <?@H[ E96 H:?5 7C@> E96 4@==2AD6 <?@4<65 >6 5@H? @? >J 324< @? E96 :46] pD x =2J E96C6 =@@<:?8 FA[ x H2D H2:E:?8 7@C E96 C6DE @7 E96 3F:=5:?8 E@ 72== :? @? >6[ 2?5 E96C6 H2D 2 E9@F89E 23@FE 9@H H6 H@F=5 DE:== A=2J E96 82>6]” qFE 96 8@E FA[ D<2E65 E@H2C5 E96 3@2C5D[ 2?5 6G6?EF2==J[ H6?E E@ H96C6 E96 C@@7 925 42G65 :? 2?5 H2D 4=:>365 @G6C :E E@ 86E @FE]k^Am
kAm!2F= q=2:D @7 q6C=:? w:89 $49@@= H2D 2=D@ 42F89E :? E96 4@==2AD6 2?5 925 E@ 4=:>3 @FE 2C@F?5 9F86 362>D[ 3@2C5D 2?5 492:? =:?< 76?46]k^Am
kAm“p7E6C H6 8@E @FE x C6>6>36C =@@<:?8 :?E@ E96 2C6?2 2?5 D66:?8 A6@A=6 ;FDE DE2?5:?8 E96C6 2D :7 :? D9@4<[” 96 D2:5] “{@ED @7 A6@A=6 D9@H65 FA :>>65:2E6=J H:E9 D9@G6=D[ EC24E@CD 2?5 A=@HD[ :?4=F5:?8 >J s25[ E@ 2DD:DE E96 C6D4F6 H@C<6CD :? 86EE:?8 :?E@ E96 3F:=5:?8]”k^Am
kAmp 42== H2D AFE @FE @G6C E96 C25:@ 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 4@>6 H:E9 D9@G6=D 2?5 96=A[ 2?5 A6C92AD 2D >2?J 2D c__ \d__ A6@A=6 D9@H65 FA H:E9:? `d >:?FE6D 367@C6 E96 C25:@ DE2E:@? 925 E@ C6D4:?5 E92E A=62 3642FD6 D@ >2?J A6@A=6 C6DA@?565 E92E E96J H6C6 9:?56C:?8 C6D4F6]k^Am
kAm!6@A=6 C6>6>36C65 36:?8 H@CC:65 23@FE E92E 2C6?2 4@==2AD:?8 5F6 E@ E96 EC6>6?5@FD 2>@F?E @7 D?@H @? E96 C@@7 2?5 962C:?8 4C24<:?8 D@F?5D E96J E9C@F89@FE 82>6D 2?5 AC24E:46D]k^Am
kAm“x[ 2=@?8 H:E9 @E96CD[ 925 ?@E:465 E96 4C24<D :? E96 362>D 2?5 E96 D@F?5D 4@>:?8 7C@> E96>[ D@ H6 H6C6 2 3:E 4@?46C?65[” v6@C86 {23@?E6[ 2 q6C=:? w:89 $49@@= G2CD:EJ 8@2=:6 2?5 4@\42AE2:?]k^Am
kAm~FED:56[ #@>6@ %C6>3=2J[ E96 }@EC6 s2>6 G2CD:EJ 9@4<6J 4@249 H2D ;FDE 2CC:G:?8 H96? 96 D2H “2 9F86 AF77 @7 5FDE[ D?@H[ 563C:D 2?5 D@@? C62=:K65 D@>6E9:?8 H2D E6CC:3=J HC@?8[ 2?5 :E 9:E >6 E92E E96 2C6?2 925 4@==2AD65]”k^Am
kAm%96 H66<6?5 367@C6[ %C6>3=2J E96 9@4<6J E62>D 925 DA6?E EH@ 52JD 4=62?:?8 E96 c\A=FD 766E @7 D?@H @77 E96 C@@7]k^Am
kAm“r@>6 $F?52J ?:89E H6 925 2 8@@5 A@CE:@? @7 :E 4=62C65 3FE H2D?’E 23=6 E@ 7:?:D9 :E] (6 DE2CE65 :? E96 >:55=6 2?5 H@C<65 @FC H2J E@ E96 6?5D] %96C6 2C6 52JD H96? x H@?56C :7 H6 5:5?’E 4C62E6 2 =@25 :>32=2?46 @7 E96 H6:89E\362C:?8 42A24:EJ @7 E96 C@@7 3642FD6 E96 >:55=6 H2D C6=2E:G6=J 4=62C H9:=6 E96 6?5D H6C6 DE:== =@2565 H:E9 D?@H[” %C6>3=2J D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE {2?8=@:D D2:5[ “x C6>6>36C E9:?<:?8 E92E 3J D9@G6=:?8 @77 E96 C@@7 E92E 52J[ H6 >:89E 92G6 D2G65 =@ED @7 =:G6D[ 3642FD6 E96 H9@=6 3F:=5:?8 4@F=5 92G6 4@>6 5@H? H:E9 E92E 2>@F?E @7 D?@H @? E96 6?E:C6 C@@7]”k^Am
kAmr@2496D 82E96C65 E96 }@EC6 s2>6 A=2J6CD 2E 2 9@FD6 ?6IE 5@@C E@ E96 2C6?2[ E@@< 2EE6?52?46[ 2?5 4964<65 @? 6G6CJ@?6]k^Am
kAm“%96 4@?46C? H6 925 H2D E92E E96 @?=J A6CD@? ?@E 244@F?E65 7@C H2D }@C> q@F496C[ @?6 @7 @FC 8@2=:6D[” %C6>3=2J D2:5] “(96? H6 7@F?5 @FE 96 925 366? <:==65 :? E96 4@==2AD6[ :E 56G2DE2E65 2== @7 FD]”k^Am
kAmu:7E66?\J62C\@=5 }@C>2? q@F496C H2D ?@E E96 @?=J G:4E:> @7 E96 962GJ D?@H72==]k^Am
kAm~? u63] af[ 2 C6E:C65 q6C=:? A@=:46 D6C86?E[ y@D6A9 pCD6?2F=E[ H2D <:==65 2E 9:D `_` sFE:= $E] 9@>6[ H96? 9:D 82C286 C@@7 4@==2AD65 2?5 96 H2D DECF4< :? E96 9625 H:E9 2 E:>36C]k^Am
kAm%96C6 H6C6 @E96C C@@7 4@==2AD6D 7C@> E96 D?@H[ :?4=F5:?8 2 H@@56? DECF4EFC6 2E |6>@C:2= u:6=5[ 2 >6E2= H2C69@FD6 2E E96 qC@H? r@>A2?J[ 2 D64E:@? @7 2 3@EE=:?8 A=2?E[ 2?5 2 eg\J62C\@=5 4:EJ\@H?65 3C:4< 3F:=5:?8 @? y6C:49@ #@25 E92E @C:8:?2==J 9@FD65 4:EJ 9@CD6D]k^Am
kAmu@C (966=6C[ 96C 4=@D6DE 4@??64E:@? E@ E96 F?4=6 D96 ?6G6C <?6H C6>2:?D 9:D A9@E@8C2A9[ E92E 9F?8 :? 96C A2C6?ED’ 2?5 8C2?5A2C6?ED’ 9@FD6D 2?5 E96 A=2BF6 E92E 92?8D @? E96 H2== 2E E96 6?EC2?46 @7 E96 C63F:=E 2C6?2 =@33J :? 9:D >6>@CJ]k^Am
kAm“$@ >2?J A6@A=6 @G6C E96 J62CD H@F=5 2D< >6 :7 96 H2D >J F?4=6[ 2?5 H96? x C6DA@?565 J6D[ E96J H@F=5 D92C6 2 D>2== >6>@CJ @7 9:> @C @?6 @7 E92E 9@CC:3=6 H:?E6C E92E H@F=5 D@>69@H <66A >6 4@??64E65 E@ 9:>] x 92G6 E@ 36=:6G6 E92E >J D:3=:?8D 8C6H FA H:E9 D:>:=2C 6IA6C:6?46Dj :E H2D ECF=J ?@E D@>6E9:?8 H6 DA@<6 @7 @7E6?[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmk6>mq6C=:? $F? |2?28:?8 t5:E@C q2C32C2 %6EC62F=E 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E9:D 2CE:4=6]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.