How can a guy from a place called Zelienople have so many friends in a place called Bluffton?

That guy, let’s call him “The Donald”  - he would have thought it funny -   showed up here about the time Nixon was in the White House. He never left.

Imagine - he was hired to serve as the disciplinarian to rowdy Bluffton College students. A thankless job. But, somebody had to do it.

Enrollment exploded once the institution implemented his many plans. And the Schweingruber era exceeded the tenure of maybe four Bluffton College/University presidents and even more Bluffton school superintendents, police chiefs and mayors.

In between handling student bad guys, he taught a Sunday school class in the English Lutheran Church to folks his parents’ age. He also parented three of the wildest kids ever to graduate from Bluffton High School.

Point in fact: One spray-painted a cutout image of a runner on the southwest corner of the Jackson-College intersection.

Meanwhile, his wife, “Nanc,” ran for school board and by our count was only the second woman to win such a seat. He never allowed us to refer to Mrs. S as “Nanc,” insisting we call her by her Christian name: Nancy. And we did.

Don was all business.

He never took his staff to Arby’s on a weekly basis.
Never posted photos of hundreds of students in his office.
Never allowed students to pull fire alarms in dorms after midnight and get away with it.
Never allowed his staff to have dress down Fridays.

Some whispered he loved the Pittsburgh Pirates more than our own beloved Bluffton Pirates.

Was it his harsh western Pennsylvania drawl?
His charming, sarcastic, intellectual wit?
His spartan Lutheran upbringing?
His 6-4 stature?

How did he become everybody’s friend?

It was simply this: Don built relationships with the people in his life. He was a good listener and offered thoughtful encouragement and advice. He was respected for his faith, integrity, kindness, intelligence and sense of humor.

He shaped the lives of countless Bluffton students, co-workers, family members, friends, and other people in his life.

Earlier this year, Bluffton University installed a bench in Don’s honor inscribed with his motto: “It’s all about relationships.”

Don, you weren’t 6-4, but we stood in your tall shadow marveling at the things you accomplished. Thanks for “friending” us.

We will have a conversation or two, or three on your campus bench.

After all, that’s the way you wanted it.

COMMENTS:

"So well said. Don was all that, and even more. He would be a little embarrassed to read your words, I think, and would smile that Don smile, while he quietly and carefully turned the conversation from himself. The world could use more Dons."

- Nancy Yeager