MR_29--Jun 2023--Culver

Honoring Alan Loehr

A “Semi-Secret” Mini Reunion

June 5, 2023 at Culver

Caveat

Attendance at this class gathering was limited to those who financially contributed to it. Plus it was “semi-secret” in that it was planned as a total surprise to Alan Loehr. Hence, it may violate the spirit of class gatherings to call it a Mini Reunion (i.e., to be a true Mini, there should be no restrictions as to who can attend). Nevertheless, it was a gathering of a significant number of classmates for a significant event honoring someone who has done so much for our class and is being categorized as a Mini.

Background

After over 31 years as Director of Alumni Relations, in late 2022, Alan Loehr moved to the new position of Director of Stewardship at Culver. Over the years, Alan’s support of our class for all of its alumni activities has been magnificent.

This past January, Rene Mural suggested that our class recognize his contributions to our class (as well as the Academy as a whole) with a gift. While Rene was the 1 % inspiration for this recognition, it was Craig Duchossois, Doug Neumann, Dan Baker, and John Davis who provided the 99 % perspiration to make it happen. In any case, everyone agreed that a major objective was to make the recognition event a complete surprise to Alan.

First, Davis made a one-time solicitation of the class for donations to buy a personalized Culver ring for Alan. With donations in hand, we worked through Alan’s wife Wendy to get his ring size (without letting him know what was being planned). As plans evolved, Neumann added the idea of getting a glass-fronted wooden display case with an engraved plaque in which to put the ring for presentation and as a keepsake.

Next, the four “perspires” created a letter of thanks to Alan highlighting the support he has given to ‘62 which was subsequently signed by the four. (Amy Davis Johnson, Alan’s former Office Manager, now Executive Assistant to the Head of Schools) had the letter formatted, printed, and professionally framed. Here is the text of the letter:

Class of 1962

June 5, 2023

Dear Alan,

The Class of 1962 wishes to express our appreciation for your creativity and wisdom shown to us, as well as to the entire Academy, for more than 31 years as Director of Alumni Relations.

Following the excellent example of Bob Hartman, you continued developing the department into the efficient and thoughtful organization it is today. The respect, kindness, and friendship you showed him in his declining years was especially admirable and appreciated …part of a Culver tradition.

Our class will be forever grateful to you for your:

Ability to make each of us think we were the only alumnus or class with which you had to work … when in fact, you were managing the desires of all classes, while adhering to and respecting the needs and wishes of the school.
Uncanny ability to remember names and faces … including those of our spouses. That talent never ceased to amaze and astound us and nurtured our strong personal connection to the school.
Calmness under fire. You were always composed and helpful. If you did not have an immediate answer, you would find it.
Help in securing our first choices of coveted venues during our major reunions.
Wisdom and leadership in planning specific events.
Guidance in creating and publishing our class newsletter.
Keeping CulverGrads.com available to our class beyond its usefulness to the Academies.

We will always remember you and Wendy as important reasons for the success of our class, and wish you both continued successes.

THANK YOU.

John M. Davis
Class President

Douglas E. Neumann
55th & 60th Reunion Chair

M. Daniel Baker
Editor-in-Chief Newsletter

Craig J. Duchossois
Culver Board of Trustees

Here a link to a photo of the framed/signed letter.

Next on the to-do list was scheduling the event and developing a plan for presenting the letter and ring to Alan. That’s when Duchossois came to the forefront, offering a date and a venue (June 5th and his family’s cottages at Culver) with a catered dinner.

All (and only) those who had donated to the ring were then invited to attend the recognition event. Eight classmates (6 with spouses) were able to be there. That included

Dan Baker
Skip & Patti Culver
John & Betsy Davis
Lou & Cathy Desenberg
Craig Duchossois
Rene & Cusi Murai
Doug & Edie Neumann
Tom & Kathy Westbrook

Those contributors who were unable to attend included Frank Corum, Mike Hood, Frank Johns, Brad Laycock, Jay Owen, Jim Runnion, Mike Ryan, Joe Schluchter, Bob Sindelar, Penn Williamson, Rocky Wayburn, and Phil Wright.

The Event

The evening of June 5th began with the classmates and spouses assembling under a tent next to the carriage house of Craig’s daughter Ashley (same location as the Saturday dinner during our 60th Reunion). Very classy table settings!

When Alan and Wendy arrived, Davis was first to greet them asking Alan …

“Do you have ANY idea why you are here???”

His negative reply confirmed that we had successfully surprised him!

Davis then told Allan to head over to the tent where he would find a number familiar faces … and that after those brief greetings only then would he be told what was going on. Once the greetings were completed, everyone sat down, and Davis proceeded to announce to Alan that we were all here to honor his service to the Academy in general … and our class in particular. Davis then outlined the three key elements of the evening:

Presentation of a Letter of Appreciation
Presentation of his personalized Culver ring in a display case
A great evening of food, drink, and camaraderie

The festivities proceeded with Davis presenting the letter …

… followed by Neumann presenting the ring in its display case…

…followed by comments from Baker …

…followed by congratulations from Duchossois.

For posterity, we of course had to have a group photo of all attendees …

L to R: Dan Baker, John & Betsy Davis, Doug & Edie Neumann, Alan & Wendy Loehr,Craig Duchossois, Lou & Cathy Desenberg, Cusi & Rene Murai, Patti & Skip Culver
Missing (due to traffic out of Chicago!): Tom & Kathy Westbrook

… and supplement it with one of just the guys.