Submitted by: Nadine A. Hardin

Name:  Hertel, Paul George

Names mentioned:  Danch, Hertel, Faust, Irish, Rockne, Winslow

South Bend Tribune, Obituaries; September 10, 1981.

“Perfect Record Irish Fan Dies at 78”

Paul George Hertel, 78, of 423 W. Howard, who for 51 years has attended every Notre Dame home football game and most of the away games, died of cancer at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

He also followed the Fighting Irish to bowl games, including the 12, 000 mile trip to Tokyo for a clash with Miami.

Last year he traveled more than 7,000 miles by car to see the Irish play on the road, but missed the Southern Cal clash in Los Angeles. He was stricken with illness while en route and returned home for hospitalization.

It was diagnosed as terminal cancer. His doctors said his determined spirit to see the Irish play Louisiana State University in Saturday’s home opener was all that kept him alive in recent days.

Notre Dame football coach, Gerry Faust, took time out from his busy schedule seven days ago to visit Hertel in St. Joseph’s Medical Center to add to his encouragement.

Wednesday afternoon while he was being given a blood transfusion and chemotherapy, his words to the nurses and attendants was simple and direct: “Do whatever you have to do so I can get to that game Saturday, even if it’s only for five minutes.”

His friends and family had already made arrangements a week ago to have a mobile medical unit transport him to Notre Dame Stadium where a wheelchair would be at his disposal. Even oxygen equipment was in readiness.

Hertel was a charter member of the Notre Dame ushers when the stadium was opened in 1930 and served until his retirement in 1968, when he was given a gold pass to all Notre Dame football games.

As recently as Tuesday night, he continued to reminisce about the scores of Irish football battles he saw at home and away.

“The best game I believe Notre Dame ever played was in the ‘20s against Northwestern at old Carter field. Notre Dame was behind 10-0 and the late Knute Rockne apparently left the dressing room disgusted with the performance of his players. Then Notre Dame went out to score two touchdowns and won the fiercely contested battle 13-10.”

He ranked the four Irish victories over famed Alabama as the most memorable.

He was born on March 13, 1903 in Fremont Center, Ill., and lived in Goshen as a child before moving to South Bend. He retired from the Bendix Corporation in 1968 after 42 years. He is survived by his wife, the former Marion Winslow, a son, Paul E. Hertel, of Shreveport, La.; a daughter, Phyllis Hertel, of Mishawaka; 14 grandchildren; 12 greatgrandchildren; six sisters, Sister M. Ivan Hertel, C.S.C., Sister M. John Michael Hertel, C.S.C., Sister M. Clare Marie Hertel, C.S.C., Mrs. Paul Irish, of Portland, Ore., Hildegarde Hertel, R.N., and Mrs. Elmer J. Danch, both of South Bend, and a brother, Norbert, of Portland.