The name Jerry McKenna may not be on the tip of the tongue of most Fighting Irish fans.  But if you’ve been on campus at all, you’ve seen (and most likely appreciated) his work.

A 1962 Notre Dame graduate, Jerry has created over 200 sculptures worldwide since he retired from the Air Force.  25 of those works can be found at Notre Dame, including the famous depictions found around the Stadium of Moose Krause , Frank Leahy, Lou Holtz, Knute Rockne and Ara Parseghian.  His efforts have been displayed all over the country and in places as far away as Ireland, Japan and Germany, and he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

“A Third Life” is McKenna’s depiction of how he successfully turned an avocation into an artistic legacy.  The book’s title is derived from his belief that life comes in three stages.  The first is where one is educated and prepares for a career.  In the second, you carve your place in society via your employment, raising a family, etc.  But in the third, you have to decide what you’re going to do when your nest has emptied and your career is winding down.

Jerry chose to spend his Third Life spreading his sculpting wings, and the reader is allowed to fly along on that journey from his first “break” creating the bronze bust of Tony Dorsett for the Pro Football Hall of Fame — the first of 17 he would create for the Hall — to Jack Connor’s request that he immortalize Frank Leahy, and from his opportunity to make his reverence for Knute Rockne take physical form to making Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas come alive in Alton, IL.  With subjects like Bob Hope to Moose and Lou Holtz and on down the line, we follow McKenna’s triumphs and regrets as we watch his evolution as a working artist.

I found “A Third Life” to be a riveting read, and knowing the stories behind the works of art with which I was so familiar made them come alive for me once again.  Walking by the Joyce Center and seeing Moose sitting on his bench, I looked for the initials McKenna had carved into the tip of the cigar to honor a friend of his.  Lou Holtz’s sculpture was done without the coach being involved at all, which makes the accuracy of the work all the more amazing.  Knute Rockne’s statue is duplicated in his hometown of Voss, Norway, thanks to McKenna’s generous donation.  The White Sox fan in me appreciated his work on the Charles Comiskey statue while wondering why he had to dilute it by doing one of Jack Brickhouse.  But no one’s perfect, I guess.

If you’re looking for something for the ND fan or aspiring artist on your Christmas list, “A Third Life” and its portrayal of an alum’s effect on the world of art and ND sports would be a perfect choice.  The book is available at Jerry’s website.