Ann Arbor, MI — November 16, 2011 — “It was an emotional moment for all of us,” said Dr. Marvin Sonne (DDS 1973) as he talked about the reunion at his home last Friday with a Bay City, Michigan man whose life he helped save during the U-M Notre Dame football game at the Big House in September.  Sonne gave Leo Staudacher rescue breaths and chest compressions until a medical crew that was summoned to the stands used a portable defibrillator to restore Staudacher’s heart to its normal rhythm. 

“All of us had moist eyes when Leo and his wife, Marge, walked into our house where my wife, Fran, and I greeted them,” Sonne said.  “It was a moment I’ll never forget.  We did talk some football, but we spent most of the afternoon talking about things that were really important to all of us, especially family and friends.”

During their reunion, Sonne presented a pennant to Staudacher.  “We’ll get together sometime next year, probably to attend a baseball game,” Sonne said.  “We will forever be connected.”

As Staudacher and his wife were leaving Sonne’s home, Sonne said that Staudacher thanked him again, looked at him, smiled, and said, “Go Blue.”