Steve Mueller
2007 Recipient of the Lackner Award
Acceptance Speech
Thank you all so very much. What a wonderful night, it’s a thrill. Hope you are having a good time, I sure am!!!! It doesn’t get any better than this, most of your best friends, family and colleagues all gathered in one place for a celebration, and Fr. Paul is paying! But this night can’t happen without Sue Zielinski and Kate Henry from the Rector’s Office, their organization has made this work; and great food from Chef Herbert and his crew.
First, congratulations to Amy, what a wonderful person; her dedication to students and to women’s issues on campus has made such a big difference. Thanks.
On a related note, congratulations to Craig . . . Craig you are one lucky man marrying Amy, so you better appreciate her. She is an award winner in many ways, including not only the Lackner but the Myriam award as well. May you two have a loving and fun-filled life together!!
Of course, a heartfelt thanks to the Rector’s Council. Having been on the Council and through the process of selecting Lackner award winners, I know it is a difficult process. Also, I am humbled by the fact you have recommended me for the award. There are many dedicated folks on campus living the Marianist values. So thanks. Yet, the final decision belonged to Fr. Paul and Dr. Dan, so putting your blessing on the recommendation of the Council is much appreciated. Please know I am deeply honored to join such a fantastic group, and will continue to work to represent this award.
When Fr. Paul told me of the decision, I was flabbergasted. I got a bit chocked up and said something brilliant like “Are you sure?” . . . as if he would make this up. After we finished chatting for a few minutes, I left the room and went to sit in the chapel. I sat there for 45 minutes in the quiet. It was one of those overwhelming times. My 40 years being associated with the Marianists just came drifting back through my mind. I kept thinking how blessed my life has been, it was emotional for me. What a day that was!!!
Cindy wasn’t home; she was in Chicago visiting her Mom who had just gone through knee surgery. I called her that night, and her first comments were those of congratulations and brief conversation, but within the first minute or so, it hit her, THE DINNER. . . “What are we going to wear, we’ll have to go shopping??!!??” Just so you all know, that is a new dress!
During our initial conversation about the award, Fr. Paul told me I would have 10 -15 minutes to talk tonight. Seemed ok at the moment, but during that time in the chapel it hit me, how will I do that?; I have so many folks to thank. I really thought about wandering the audience with a mic, and just chatting . . . as a way of sharing this with all of you. The 40 year journey that brought me to this podium tonight could not have happened without the support and love present in this room!!
Marianists & Mary . . . those two words kept flashing into my brain as I reflected on what I would say. So I gave into those two words. First I would like to provide a little tribute to the Marianists and the Daughters of Mary and others, who have taught and supported me, and that will include a bit of walk through history; and second Mary, the mother of God and her impact on me and UD.
It really is about the people, the Marianist have taught me that for sure!!! Since I don’t have time to mention all of you, I’ll focus my comments. However, I have to name some names, possibly breaking a public speaking axiom by doing that, since I run the risk of forgetting someone important, but what the heck, please forgive me if I do.
It was 1966; a skinny, little, frightened 14 year old was off to Moeller High School in Cincinnati, thanks to the support of Mom & Dad. My association with the Marianists began. What a journey it has been, my life was changed. My first prop . . . we had to wear these at selected times during the first year at Moeller back then. Don’t think they have them now!!!!! Charlie, when you left recently they weren’t still using them were they?
The priests and brothers at Moeller impacted me, and many other young men, in a life changing fashion. Some of them are here tonight and for that I am very grateful. John Habjan instilled academic excellence and integrity; Charley Wanda’s creative wisdom shaped my life. Jim Heft wasn’t at Moeller but was running retreats at Bergamo. A group of us went there two years in a row 1968 & 1969; those retreats taught us to look at life from an entirely new perspective, one filled with hope and love. Jim Bartlett brought a spiritual side to life that had many of us seeing God and the spirit in nearly everything we did at Moeller. Tom Pieper showed me the Marianist hospitality virtue during our visits to the “Clifton Manor House” in Cincy, what a place that was; Joe Kozar the gift of adaptability and obedience, as many of you know he is now a renowned scripture scholar, but in 1968 he had to quickly convert to teaching us Chemistry at Moeller, later admitting to be only about one chapter ahead of us in the book; Victor Forloni a gifted leader and a fun loving, warm style; and there was Gerry Faust, not a vowed Marianist, but he introduced me to the power of prayer, the Hail Mary, well sort of. We must have said 50 Hail Mary’s before and after every dang football game. Then of course during the game, “We need a first down, say a Hail Mary, say a Hail Mary” he would scream at those not on the field. Maybe not the exact use of the Hail Mary the Marianists would have intended, but huh, who knows!!
In 1970, I came to UD on a Marianist scholarship and to play football. Well the football only lasted one year, but the Marianists connection has filled my life in countless ways ever since. Fr. Gene has guided me and taught me the importance of being welcoming and caring. Bro. Ray, when you look in the dictionary for servant leader, you see his picture. May we all read that page of the dictionary. Fr. Jerry Chinchar, his tireless pastoral presence for students at the wee hours of the morning is very inspiring and I know there have been some cold winter nights when he has brought himself to the hospital at 3:00 a.m. The gentleness and compassion of Fr. Tom Schroer, a fellow therapist, influences me in my profession each day. I knew Bro. Elmer Lackner, but not as well as Fergie or some of the rest of you. What I did know was that he was the man of action both in the community and on campus. It was at UD that I first met the Marianist sisters, the Daughters of Mary . . . Sr. Mary Louise, Sr. Laura and Sr. Leanne, bring a spirit, patience, strength, and energy to their ministry that is very motivating, and Sr. Kathleen, though not a Marianist, fits right in there too.
These vowed Marianists I have mentioned, and the many more time will not allow me to mention, have dedicated their lives to educate, nurture, and lead. They manifest the spirit of equality, a community of equals, something that impressed me in 1966 and continues to impact me today. Chaminade and Mother Adele founded these two Orders with an emphasis on community and treating people as equals, and that we all have something to contribute, men and women. This has been, and continues to be very appealing to me, motivating me and I suspect some of you as well. I would like to ask all the vowed Marianists to please stand so we can salute you.
My journey has not been only on the shoulders of the Marianists, but my colleagues and family have carried me far. The CC and the HC are full of caring professionals that understand it is about the people. Each day they directly touch the lives of students in an attempt to make them better or assist them in their journey through UD. They are truly an inspiration to me. Many of them were able to be here tonight, even some folks from days gone by, (Bruce & Sue) so thanks. Also, my two bosses, Jack Riley who had the confidence in me to place me as director in 1985, and the support of Bill Schuerman over the next 22 years; Jack appointed me, but Bill had to put up with me!! Recently, the opportunity to participate in the Marianist Educational Associates is so exciting, and I certainly look forward to continuing to share with those colleagues, too.
I won’t make you stand up but I am so very pleased that Mom is here and the rest of the family (and Dad in spirit, huh!). My brother Scott and his wife Barb, Scott is a UD school of Engineering grad from 1978; my sister Tina and her husband Tim, they have a daughter who is a sophomore here; my brother Tim, with two degrees from UC my other alma mater, and my little brother Glenn and his wife Jennie, with little ones who may be Flyers someday.
My pride and joy, my boys, and the ladies in their lives. Dan and Nicole just got married this past summer. It’s a mixed marriage, she a Browns fan and Dan a Bengal’s fan. They live in Cleveland so Dan is learning to adjust. Brad and Becky, they will be married this summer, another mixed marriage, she a Wright State grad and Brad from UD. Brad did get her a Wright St. flag to hang in their new home in the summer, so he is adjusting too. Greg and his girlfriend Shannon, together since Carroll HS and their time at UD, no adjusting there. (They’re not exactly family, but good friends, John & Kathy Beran, came in from Detroit just for tonight; John represents the guys from 324 Kiefaber, those were some years!)
Then there is the woman in the new dress up here, Cindy. I can’t look at her or I get all choked up, but she is the very strong wind beneath my sometimes fragile wings. She keeps me afloat and I am very little without her. Thanks.
My second and shorter point is the aspect of the Marianist charism we call Mary, in my observation, not as often mentioned as the other four. My second prop, the 2007 Marianist Heritage t-shirt. The Daughters of Mary Immaculate and the Society of Mary were founded, at least in part, on what we in psychology might call some characteristics from our feminine side. Chaminade was significantly influenced by Mother Adele and Marie Therese. One way of thinking about this is that they emphasized the feminine side of life in the Church. As many of you know, it was actually the women who got organized first, beginning in 1816, a year before the men. No surprise I guess!! There are a variety of factors contributing to why UD and the Marianists have thrived over the years and will continue to thrive. I believe one of the significant reasons is our adherence to this so called feminine side of life. I didn’t realize it until much later in life, but it was the sense of humility, gentleness, compassion, emotion, nurturing, care-giving, relational emphasis, sense of equality, and patience that helped me to say yes to this Marianist life, and I suspect it has drawn in some of you too.
Now there is a masculine presence too, structure, assertiveness, bold, risk taking, etc. which are important and certainly create balance. However, much of what we feel and what the prospective students feel when they walk on this campus for the first visit, is the presence of Mary, a sense of caring and love. And what we come to discover over time is that Mary is not just about the touchy, feely side of life, but that there is a strong, mature, steadfast presence that brings us along as well, something depicted so well in the Mary Seat of Wisdom statue overlooking the campus cemetery. As Peter Daino spoke in 1992 while presenting at the Symposium on Marianist Spirituality in Dayton, “like the mother hen who gathers her young under protective wings, displaying a startling ferocity when her young are threatened, this feminine strength, this parental perseverance, I call Mother Courage.” This is powerful to me and it is this spirit of Mary that will keep us moving forward.
I was touched during the December 2006 Food for the Soul luncheon. Fr. Teddy addressed the group in a continuation and elaboration of his sermons during the Masses at Christmas on Campus these past two years. Teddy got choked up a bit, as he reflected on Mary as the emotional part of God; as the presence that takes our hand to assist us, but also takes our hand to help us lead - a compassionate leader. Teddy felt the presence of Mary that day, and he helped us feel it too. He showed me, it’s about the people.
Before I sit down, I want to mention the $5,000 I get to spread around campus. The first $1,000 I’d like to be a bit selfish about, in that there is a psychology theme to the gift. It will go to REACH, the student service club dedicated to the promotion of positive mental health on campus and to the reduction of the stigma of seeking counseling. They are doing great work and Katie Kurtz, and two officers are here tonight representing REACH, it’s about the students.
Another $1,000 will go to the initiatives that build relationships between Student Development and the academic side of UD. The learning-living experience has been under way for a while and is vital to the future of UD. There are some partnerships begun more recently between some of us in SD, the LTC and other Academic folks that will and have brought us together in a more formal manner. We have much to learn from each other and this $1,000 may serve as just a little incentive for us to keep being creative about the process. This may sound a bit corny, but I was truly inspired this past term while a member of the VP of Student Development search committee. 15 folks from all over campus (F, S, S) working together in an attempt to find new leadership for SD. Figuratively, we held hands, as Mary might have asked of us if she were there, sometimes assisting each other and sometimes leading each other. It was invigorating. These 15 folks didn’t always agree but we stayed at the table and kept the goal in mind (Chris Duncan wouldn’t let us forget it), and met it. May there be more spirited collaboration like this in the future. It’s about the people.
The final $3,000 will go to the effort to continue to develop the Marianist student houses in the student neighborhood. The ladies from 57 Woodland are here tonight representing one of the Marianist student houses. These students are a very basic building block of the future of UD and the Marianist Charism. Joan McGuiness Wagner with the help of others, has started something wonderful with these houses. Joan and AJ are a model of Marianist hospitality and spirituality, probably having about a million UD students to their home over the years. The Marianists student houses are a welcoming, spiritual presence in the student neighborhood and the students living in those houses are making a difference for all students.
It is an honor to work at the University of Dayton, we are lucky to have a place like this to experience each day, we have an opportunity to teach the students and they teach us so much too. It is not a perfect place, but like we counselor-types like to talk about in therapy, it isn’t about being perfect. It’s about doing your best, moving forward, having an impact, and not being afraid of change. In my 40 years of association with UD and the Marianist, I have changed and so have UD and the Marianists, but this is who we are, we educate for adaptation and change. As Mary was a fountain of hope, I too have hope, and look forward to the future working with all of you to help, in some little way, to ensure UD and the Marianist presence on campus continues to be alive and grow. It “is” about the people!
Thank you.