There are some ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things in our community. We call them everyday heroes.
Tu e s d a y, O c t o b e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 6
Everyday heroes | THE HERALD-TIMES | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | 3
Inside This Section... Sharon Aikman......................................................................21 John Connell .........................................................................13 George Connolly.....................................................................8 John Davenport.....................................................................14
EDITORS NOTE:
Judy Dillon................................................................................4
The dictionary says heroes are people admired for
Charles Egli.............................................................................23 Tiffany Girten.........................................................................22 Chris Harmon...........................................................................7
great or brave acts or fine qualities. They are people who are greatly admired. Our Everyday Heroes don’t necessarily make headlines with great or brave acts, but they all have fine qualities and are greatly admired for their often quiet, selfless work
Roger Hartwell......................................................................20
on behalf of others.
Bob LeBien................................................................................6
the community to nominate the Everyday Heroes in their
Janice Lilly...............................................................................10 Jason Millican........................................................................12 Lou Moir..................................................................................15 Tom Pfister.............................................................................18
This is the fourth year The Herald-Times has asked lives. During that time, 200 men and women and boys and girls, from age 3 to 90-plus, have received nominations. Each year a panel of judges picks a number of the nominees to be covered in feature stories in a special section such as the one you’re reading now. Full-length stories in this section focus on 18 special people in our community. The rest of the nominees also
Jared Ruff.................................................................................11
are listed.
Larry Sparks.............................................................................5
subjects and their nominators, and also in the hope that
Rebecca Stanze.....................................................................19 Lillian Swoape........................................................................16
We offer these stories as a small thank you to the they will inspire others to actions and deeds that will make lives better for their family, friends and community members. Bob Zaltsberg Editor
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Judy Dillon Bloomington a better place because they stayed Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times
By Rod Spaw 812-331-4338 | rspaw@heraldt.com Judy Dillon and her husband, Tom, had their pick of places to live once they retired. They could have returned to Cincinnati, where both were from originally. Or they could have moved to Michigan, where they had lived previously. Instead, they chose to stay in Bloomington, which became their home in 1994 when Tom went to work at General Motors in Bedford. “We love Bloomington,” Judy said recently. “Bloomington has so many great advantages, we decided to stay.” The decision has been good for Bloomington, too, as detailed in the letter nominating Judy Dillon to be one of this year’s HeraldTimes’ Everyday Heroes. “She is committed to making Bloomington a better place not only for those in need, but for all of us,” the letter reads. “The variety of her interests ranges from beautification of the city, to helping the hungry live better lives and sorting books for the Hoosier Hills book sale.” Since retiring in 2007 — she worked in both the Perry Township and Van Buren Township assessor’s offices — community food security has been a major beneficiary of her volunteerism. She works an evening shift once a week at the Community Kitchen, helping prepare the steam line and dispensing food to clients.
One Saturday a month, she can be found at First Presbyterian Church, serving breakfast to people experiencing homelessness. In months with five Saturdays, she’ll be there twice. She also volunteers at the Area 10 Agency on Aging, delivering groceries to elderly clients who need assistance. And usually one day a week, she’ll help sort and pack donations for the Community Book Fair, which for the past two years has benefitted the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Food security also has been an outgrowth of her longtime interest in gardening. As grants administrator of the Bloomington Garden Club, Dillon helps distribute money raised from the club’s annual Garden Walk to community nonprofit organizations. Some of the projects that the club has funded include a family garden program at Hilltop Garden and Nature Center, supplies for a community garden and orchard at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard and gardens at local elementary schools. Dillon also teaches gardening at Hilltop as one of the “Shady Ladies,” Garden Club members who tend the shade gardens at the Indiana University facility. Her husband also volunteers with the church meal program and as a member of the community band. The Dillons celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year, and Judy said that despite all the demands on her time, family still comes first. “I think any of my activities makes me feel good about myself,” she said when asked what reward she gets from her volunteerism. “I’ve been pretty lucky in my life, but I understand not everybody has been that lucky.”
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Larry Sparks There’s real family feel on Bus 59 Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times
By Brittani Howell 812-331-4243 | bhowell@heraldt.com When The Herald-Times first tried to contact Larry Sparks, the driver of MCCSC’s Bus No. 59, he had to reschedule his interview because he was on his way to watch his kids play at a soccer game. Not his biological children, though: While his son is the head soccer coach at Bloomington High School South, Sparks was going to watch “the North boys” who ride on his high school route. During the school year, that’s how Sparks spends most of his free afternoons: at the sports matches, recitals and other extracurricular activities of the students who ride Bus 59. He calls them “my kids on the bus” — and many of them call him “Dad” or “Grandpa.” Sparks, who has lived and worked in Bloomington for most of his life, spent much of his career designing elevators with Otis Elevator Co. He didn’t start driving buses for the school system until five years ago. As he often tells friends and family members, “I wish I had started this job much sooner in life, just because it’s been so much fun.” From the first greeting at pick-up to the last “see you tomorrow” at drop-off, Sparks makes sure every member of his “bus family” feels noticed and cared for. He takes time to learn every student’s name and to connect with their families, both on and off the bus route. When one of his kids (or a kid’s parent) has a birthday, he leads a buswide sing-a-long to celebrate. During the holidays, he and his wife, Patti, throw a pizza party for the kids at Baldy’s Pizzeria. With all four children grown and out of the house, the couple has the time
to invest in Sparks’ “extended family.” As Sparks said, the job is much more than just getting behind the wheel and turning the key. “You become really close to these kids. You watch them struggle with life; you watch them cry; you watch them hug each other and talk about the good, the bad, the indifferent,” he said. Many times, he added, they come and talk to him about their lives as well, sitting just behind the driver’s seat to tell him their stories throughout the ride. Safety is Sparks’ top priority when shuttling his precious cargo, but in addition to the fun he brings to Bus 59, Sparks is active about building community on his bus. When he trains new drivers, he emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space where children of different social and economic backgrounds feel comfortable mingling. As his sixth-grade students enter their final year on his route, he gives them responsibilities like helping to keep the bus clean or looking out for the younger children. And his care is returned in kind, both by his students, who bring him notes and birthday cards and keep in touch even after they have graduated, and their parents, who express their gratitude for the attention he pays to their children. Sparks and his wife are both set to retire from MCCSC this year: Patti from her administration job in December, Larry from bus driving at the end of the school year in May. Before he drives his final route, Sparks is determined to leave behind a legacy for other drivers, telling them, “You can make a difference on your bus. Not just for one, but for every student who gets on and off your bus.” “That’s what my bus is about,” he added. “It’s about the memories.”
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Bob LeBien Advocate for endangered children looking at bigger picture By Jenny Porter Tilley 812-331-4377 | jtilley@heraldt.com Bob LeBien has a great respect for Court Appointed Special Advocates for children, known as CASAs. CASAs serve as advocates for child victims in the courts, and, LeBien said, “It takes a special person to share that part of somebody else’s life and make it part of your own. … They’re incredible people.” And the need for those people has grown in recent months. When LeBien asked Kristin Bishay, executive director of Monroe County CASA, what the organization does to honor its volunteers, she described a small cocktail party with awards. “That’s not enough,” LeBien said. He wrote a check to fund a banquet, telling Bishay how crucial it is to make volunteers feel important and appreciated. “The most valuable asset you have is your volunteers,” he told her. Then, he helped plan the banquet. Initially, LeBien had planned to serve as a CASA himself. But the more Bishay talked with him, she realized there was much more he could offer. Because of his background as a corporate executive, he’s used to things happening at his own speed. Bishay saw an opportunity to get LeBien involved with the bigger picture. As a CASA, she said, “most of the time as a volunteer, you’re not fixing. You’re trying to make things better, but there’s a lot to be done, and you’re going to be frustrated because you’re not going to be able to fix it.” Instead of serving as a CASA, LeBien joined the board of directors. He started researching and learning as much as possible about child abuse in the county and beyond. His frustration grew the more he learned. Even finding a simple definition of child abuse
Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times
was frustrating — especially when he learned that Indiana’s CHINS (Child in Need of Services) law was one of the most permissive in the country. “Things have to be bad before a child can be a CHINS, according to the law,” LeBien said. “I just couldn’t believe it.” LeBien hopes to change that law by seeking statistics that more accurately represent the problem and reaching out to legislators. Education, he said, is also crucial, and he hopes to raise awareness of how many children are abused and neglected. “(The CHINS law) needs to be changed so the intervention level is lower and the services can start coming in, rather than having to wait until the child is seriously endangered and injured,” he said. LeBien and his wife, Sara, are known in Bloomington for their philanthropy; they’ve funded a Jacobs School of Music scholarship and led efforts to memorialize Herman B Wells with an iconic sculpture, among other contributions. They’ve also been active in the Immune Deficiency Foundation for many years, after their own son was diagnosed with a primary immune deficiency disorder. LeBien cofounded the International Patient Organization for Primary Immunodeficiencies, which works worldwide to raise awareness about the diseases. The LeBiens are very giving people, Bishay said, but they tend to do it privately and quietly — although it’s hard to keep a lid on so many selfless acts. “Both (LeBien) and Sara are very, very giving,” she said. “But they don’t really need or want accolades from that … they’re just amazing people.” LeBien, Bishay said, is her favorite person. His wife calls him her hero. “And she’s mine,” LeBien said.
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Chris Harmon Teacher feels honored to be in the classroom David Snodgress | Herald-Times
By Jonathan Streetman 812-331-4353 | jstreetman@heraldt.com For Chris Harmon, like many called to his profession, teaching isn’t just a job — it’s his passion, one that he wakes up excited every day to do. Harmon is an adult educator at Broadview Learning Center, a Monroe County Community School Corp. facility that provides free basic education classes for adults, as well as a Teen Learning Center, workforce development classes and volunteer training and opportunities. After teaching at Broadview in the mornings, Harmon heads to the Monroe County Jail each afternoon to teach inmates core subjects, such as math and literacy. Harmon graduated from Indiana University in 2001 with a degree in elementary education, but decided to teach at MCCSC’s Youth Outreach Program, helping troubled teens. When the program was shut down in 2009 due to state budget cuts, Harmon moved to Grandview Elementary School, where he taught sixth—then fifth-grade students for two years. “That was really tough for me,” Harmon said of the large class sizes and younger group. “I had figured out pretty quickly that I was drawn to the students that had trouble, and they were drawn to me. My first nine years teaching (at the Youth Outreach Program) were great.” So when he heard there was an opening in adult education, he jumped at the chance.
“I noticed very quickly that with the adults — they’ve been out in the world without a diploma; they’ve come back to school and really understand the importance of an education,” Harmon said. “I like that I can see an immediate impact in what I teach them. A student might be able to use those skills to get a job and be able to provide for their family that way.” One such student is Rainie Brooks, who nominated Harmon for the Everyday Hero award, and says she has him to thank for her current success. Brooks, now 30, obtained her GED last year. “I have (Harmon) and his patience to thank for that,” Brooks wrote in her nomination letter. “Many times I wanted to give up, like I had several times before. He was always there with positive encouragement pushing me forward.” Brooks is now on track to receive her degree in culinary arts from Ivy Tech Community College, is maintaining a 3.8 GPA, landed on the dean’s list and has found employment in her field. “I really feel that I have this man to thank for standing behind me, believing in me and, most of all, making me believe in myself,” she wrote. Upon learning that a student had nominated him, Harmon said he was shocked and extremely grateful. “I take pride in the fact that my top priority is always my students, not my evaluations or anything like that,” Harmon said. “In adult education, I feel lucky that I’m more free to do what I need to do to meet the individual needs of my students. “I feel very honored to be able to do that every day.”
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George Connolly Police officer a role model in uniform and out By Marci Creps 812-331-4375 | mcreps@heraldt.com George Connolly knows it’s a cliche, but the truth is, he became a police officer because he wanted to do some good in the world. He grew up watching the typical TV shows that can inspire a kid to want to be a cop, but his uncle, who was a Boston police officer in the ’60s and ’70s, also influenced him. Before the birth of his own son, Connolly worked with youth including being a foster parent. Once Thomas was born in 2005, his involvement in youth activities grew. When Thomas joined the Tiger level of Boy Scouts, Connolly stepped up to serve as co-leader when the man who was leading the group suddenly vanished. “There was some trepidation, but somebody had to step up and do it,” Connolly said. With a group of first graders, it wasn’t easy. “First grade was like herding cats,” he said. Connolly also had no basis of understanding of the troop since he had not participated in Boy Scouts as a youngster. “I had no idea how this was run,” he said. But over time, he learned his role, and as the children have matured, it has become easier to handle the group as they learn together. While activities such as camping can be fun, Connolly admits that what he really likes is connecting with all the boys. While some
Chris Howell | Herald-Times
members of the troop have gone onto other groups, Connolly still runs into some of the boys and enjoys talking to them to find out how things are going. Being an officer is not something Connolly uses when it comes to dealing with the boys. He doesn’t wear his badge when he is off duty. When he’s given tours of the police department, he notices how some kids will react to seeing him in uniform. He recognizes the opportunity he has to allow kids to see a police officer as another human being that can be trusted. Connolly is also a founding member of the current Monroe County Dive Team. The team reformed in 1992 by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Connolly said he received permission as a Bloomington police officer to join the team. Eventually, he became a dive team instructor to make it easier to certify other officers for the team. Connolly was surprised to learn that seven different people nominated him as an Everyday Hero. While he knew of at least one person who had nominated him, most likely the most poignant nomination letter was by Lisa Connolly, George’s wife. In her letter, she talks about how much her husband helps others with everything from replacing plumbing to offering rides. And it’s with pride that she offered examples of how he helps everyone in the community. “George Connolly has been my best friend for over 40 years, and his word is good, his heart is kind, his compassion is gracious and his love of helping his community is evident,” she wrote.
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Janice Lilly Volunteer makes sure cupboards stay full of healthful food By Jonathan Streetman 812-331-4353 | jstreetman@heraldt.com In the winter months, when the fields are typically barren and fresh goods are hard to come by, Janice Lilly makes sure the cupboards stay full. Through her work with the Bloomington Winter Farmers’ Market, serving in a variety of capacities over the years, including president, Lilly was able to establish the Healthful Food For All Fund in 2013. This project, supported by the Center For Sustainable Living, buys as much extra produce as it can from local farmers at the end of the weekend and then delivers and donates the food to local kitchens, including Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, Middle Way House, The Rise and the Community Kitchen. “I think it’s important for everyone to have access to good, healthy food,” Lilly said. “When I was young, junk food was the expensive food. Now it’s flipped, and I see the current American diet, especially for low-income people, is lacking fresh food. People shouldn’t be limited to just cheap food.” In its first year, Lilly and the Healthful Food For All Fund were able to raise enough funds to purchase $2,800 worth of food at halfprice from local farmers (only those who have chosen to participate are asked to sell at a discounted rate). In the 2015-16 Winter Farmers’ Market season, Lilly said the fund was able to purchase $15,000 worth
Chris Howell | Herald-Times
of food, all donated to local pantries. The purchases are made possible by grants and donations. “It has grown just tremendously,” Lilly said. Lilly and fellow committee members Deborah Piston-Hatlen, Nikki Wooten and Tessa Mandra, along with volunteers including Amina Shabani, who nominated Lilly for the Everyday Hero award, deliver the food in what Lilly called a “Prius brigade.” By relying purely on volunteers, 90 percent of funds received goes toward providing food for families in need. “It was important for me to nominate Janice because she does a lot for the community, whether it is giving her time, money, knowledge and experience without expecting anything in return,” Shabani said in her nomination letter. “I have been truly inspired by her actions, and she has taught me how important it is to give back to a community where you live. “Also, Janice truly doesn’t want any attention from what she does. It stems from the goodness of her heart.” Lilly is busy prepping for this year’s winter market and making sure as many people as possible will have access to fresh, healthy food. The HFAF is introducing gift cards that people can purchase and make a donation in another’s name. SNAP benefits also have been doubled at this year’s Winter Farmers’ Market and Lilly and her other volunteers will continue to be just that—volunteers. “We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing,” Lilly said, “because it’s working.”
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Jared Ruff Retired pediatrician knows he’s a lucky man By Lauren Slavin 812-331-4376 | lslavin@heraldt.com Dr. Jared Ruff knows he’s a lucky man. His father walked out on his family before Ruff was even born. But Ruff said he’s lucky that his mother was strong enough to raise him on her own while also working full time to make ends meet in the throes of the Great Depression. Ruff was drafted into the Army’s airborne infantry during the Korean War. But Ruff said he’s lucky that just a few weeks into his basic training, the United States and Korea signed the Korean Armistice Agreement, ending the conflict. And though he never made it to Korea, Ruff was lucky to make three life-long friends while in the service, one who introduced him to the sport that would make him a household name among the local running community. Jerry Ruff is a runner. Well, he was a runner. A bad bicycle accident has limited the 85-year-old’s physical activity to walking, though he hits the Jackson Creek Trail nearly every day of the week. Just don’t you dare call him a “jogger.” “The difference between runner and a jogger is a bib number,” Ruff said, paraphrasing famous runner George Sheehan. “I put on between 850, 900 bib numbers in my lifetime.” He’s also inspired plenty of Hoosiers to don a race number and enter competitions for themselves, said Jo Throckmorton, co-director of the Magnificent 7 Road Race Series. While races
Chris Howell | Herald-Times
and marathons have a long history in Indiana, it was “Doc Ruff” who approached the race directors in seven south-central counties back in 1997 to propose a championship schedule. “He’s a doctor; he understands the benefits of running,” Throckmorton said. “You can pull any statistic you want. If you run, you’re healthier.” Ruff, a retired pediatrician, knows physicians and health researchers dedicate much of their time to finding the best approaches to encourage their patients to increase physical fitness. Exercising for a certain amount of time per week or running in place on a treadmill doesn’t inspire additional activity, Ruff found, or create a sense of community. “It’s kind of hard to really form a relationship with an elliptical trainer,” Ruff said. For almost 20 years, the Mag 7 race series has motivated people to try running as a way to socialize, lose weight and participate in healthy competition. Ruff doesn’t focus on winning, said close friend Jayme McAlister, but the fun of the sport. “He just spent his entire life helping people and doing so much for our community,” McAlister said. “He expects nothing back. He’s a no thanks necessary kind of a person.” Needing no thanks meant that Ruff was “flabbergasted” when he found out he had been nominated as an Everyday Hero. The doctor appreciated the praise, but again counted himself as fortunate for being able to blend his vocation with his avocation. “I try to be the best self I can be,” Ruff said. “I lucked out, I tell you.”
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Jason Millican Paying it forward one man’s way of paying back By Ernest Rollins 812-331-4357 | erollins@heraldt.com It is about paying it forward for local Realtor Jason Millican. As the owner of Millican Realty, a real estate company operating in Bloomington since 1982, he said he is appreciative of the people who helped him through the ups and downs in his life. Millican said the kindness of those individuals helped mold him into the man he is today as well as help continue a local business that he is proud of. “During the downtimes in my life, I really appreciated a helping hand, so I feel like paying it forward is important,” Millican said. Because of such blessings, Millican said he feels obligated to give back to the community that has treated him and his business so well through giving to various charities. He said he typically casts a wide net in terms of those he tries to help from young to old people, adding he probably lends a helping hand to around 30 people on a regular basis. He said he does it because he feels like it is the right thing to do. His philosophy on life is one that he shares with his co-workers and his family. Millican said he is pleased to see others also willing to get involved. But it is more than just giving money to someone in need.
David Snodgress | Herald-Times
Millican said, for him, paying it forward goes beyond the wallet and includes things such as donating one’s time to help, being a listening ear for someone and other small gestures of kindness that can have a lasting impact on a person. Among the charity work he does, Millican said, is an activity his office does together around the holiday season. In collaboration with some of the local churches, Millican said both he and his employees learn about families in need during the holiday season. To ensure those families have a pleasant holiday, Millican said the staff take those families shopping for items from toys to essentials including food and clothing. He added it is always a blessing to see the faces of the family members being helped. In addition, Millican also sponsors a number of local kids’ sports, has been a mentor for kids, especially ones who deal with addiction issues, donated two pigs bought at the county fair to Community Kitchen to help feed people and more. Another project he is involved with is Bloomington SCORE. It is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start and grow. He also serves on the board of directors at Bloomington Meadows Hospital, Sherwood Green Homeowners Association and Bloomington Board of Realtors. “I feel that in life, it’s given me purpose, and I think it has blessed me in success,” Millican said.
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John Connell Active volunteer has a hard time saying no By Rod Spaw 812-331-4338 | rspaw@heraldt.com John Connell needs to get better at saying no. His time is pretty well taken up by all of the things to which he’s said yes. He said yes to an acquaintance at church to help make seniors’ homes more accessible. He’s been part of that guy’s crew for about 9 years, building handicap ramps and stairs for the Area 10 Council on Aging. He said yes to a neighbor when asked to volunteer with the Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospice. He’s been delivering groceries and medicines to hospice patients for a decade or so now. When his son’s track team at Tri-North Middle School needed someone to help out, he said yes at a parents’ meeting and ended up coaching the hurdles — which he had run only once himself in high school. That was 12 years ago, and he’s still doing it. In 2010, he said yes to the Bloomington Bicycle Club about working the finish line at the club-sponsored Ride Across Indiana. Then, three years ago, he became chairman of the whole event, which this year had 1,800 registrants and 1,500 riders. “I let everybody do their job,” he explained. “If it’s something that the top guy needs to make a decision, I do that.” Connell also volunteers at First Presbyterian Church, where he’s finishing up a term as deacon. Because he already was stopping regularly at the Hoosier Hills Food Bank to pick up groceries for hospice patients, he agreed to grab supplies the church needed for its Saturday breakfasts for people experiencing homelessness. Oh, yes, Connell also sings in the church choir.
Chris Howell | Herald-Times
They’re not volunteer gigs, but Connell finds time to be a ski instructor in the winter at Paoli Peaks, and in the summer, he’s a sailing instructor at the Lake Monroe Sailing School. “I’m finding out more and more that I really enjoy teaching things that I know something about,” he said. “I really enjoy working with middle school kids. That’s my favorite age to teach.” Originally from Newark, Delaware, Connell was a professional entomologist working for an agricultural chemical company when he and his family moved to Bloomington from New York State’s Hudson Valley in 1981. His territory covered parts of four states; so volunteering was difficult until Connell retired about 12 years ago. Since then, he discovered that he gets a lot of satisfaction from helping people, even if it means he falls behinds on home projects from time to time as a result of his commitments. Steve Main, who recruited him for the Area 10 handyman program, said Connell is an extremely compassionate person. “He’s a very caring individual, and it shows in everything he does,” Main said. “It’s all about relationships, and he builds wonderful relationships.” When he’s not volunteering, Connell said, you might find him cooking, riding his bicycle or doing things around the house. He said last year, he finished roofing his house—no small feat for a man who turned 69 this year. Connell said he’s getting better at saying no, and has actually done it a few times. But he concedes that he might not be done saying yes. “If the right thing comes up, and I figure I have time, I’m probably likely to do it,” he said.
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John Davenport Retiree found new career as a professional volunteer By Abby Tonsing 812-331-4245 | atonsing@heraldt.com A Monday afternoon phone call catches John Davenport on vacation with his family and friends in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They get back in town late Sunday night, and he’s expected to be at work the following afternoon. Davenport has been retired for 12 years. Now, he works for the good of the community. On Monday afternoons, he spends at least two hours packing lunches for after-school programs at the Community Kitchen of Monroe County. On Tuesdays, he spends at least six hours working at the Shalom Community Center. As a member of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County’s “Mid-Week Crew,” Davenport can be found building houses on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Plus, there’s another eight hours he puts in each week as the church treasurer at St. Paul United Methodist. On game days, he doesn’t watch the action on the court or the field: Davenport leads a fundraising effort in the form of a concession stand. In his professional career, Davenport longed to volunteer, but simply didn’t have the time he desired to devote to serving others. He worked as a quality assurance engineer until the closing of the
David Snodgress | Herald-Times
RCA/Thomson plant. He then spent five years as a bookkeeper for the Monroe County Community Foundation before retiring in 2004. He took a few weeks off and spent much of that time seeking out volunteer opportunities. He then went back to work. “When I was able to retire—well, that’s what I was retiring to do,” he said of his new career as a professional volunteer. “I’ve been pretty blessed in my life. It’s a way to give back to the community,” he said. Davenport this year received recognition for working on his 100th Habitat house. It’s a milestone he’s not surprised to have reached, given that his first build as a member of the “Mid-Week Crew” was Habitat House No. 50. “And we’re up to No. 170-something now,” he said. “It’s both a good way for me to do the types of things—construction things—that I enjoy doing and provide homes for people who need it.” So, what are his favorite forms of construction? Where does he show his talent as a handyman? Porch building. Kitchen cabinet installation. Laying plywood and luan, an underlay, before the installation of vinyl flooring. How about his favorite tool? His impact driver, he says without hesitation, it saves a lot of time: “I’m the type of person who gets too involved in the actual work.”
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Lou Moir Opportunities to serve just fell into place By Anna Rochelle Special to the Herald-Times In whatever way she can, Lou Moir is a people person who does something for someone every single day, probably several times a day. Nominated by more than one person as an Everyday Hero, one wrote, “Throughout her long life, Lou has persistently advocated for the underprivileged and marginalized persons in society.” Moir said she did not start out intending to serve others, but opportunities fell into place. “It wasn’t part of a plan. I’ve had an unplanned career,” said Moir. “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” Years ago, her husband was a store manager and the couple transferred to live in more than one community. She got a job working with women who were on a public assistance program, ADC (or Aid to Dependent Children), training mothers to be better parents. Other jobs followed, putting her in positions where she was helping others in need. When they moved to Bloomington, she got a job at Indiana University and worked with the Groups Scholars program (part of the office for diversity, equity and multicultural affairs) helping students. She could have retired years ago, but she still works there parttime, eight hours a week, and she also works as a volunteer in the student advocates office, continuing to help students who need guidance or assistance. “I call it the office of no return,” said Moir, explaining that this office offers a helping hand when a student has exhausted all other avenues. Through years of working with these programs, it’s estimated she has made a difference in the lives of thousands of students, but that’s not all she does.
David Snodgress | Herald-Times
Moir has also used her skills working as a member of P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization, helping women whose education was interrupted and who are returning to school or the workforce, with personal support as well as scholarships and loans totaling more than a quarter of a million dollars. She actively participates in the local New Yorker Group, in a women’s stock club and the Bloomington Women’s Club, and she leads discussions or presentations in two book clubs. “I like to read. Since I’ve ‘retired,’ it is a real treat to read,” said Moir. She also serves as an elder in the First Presbyterian Church, and one Saturday a month, for several years running, she can be found serving breakfast to local homeless men and women as part of the church’s Homeless Breakfast Program. Moir tells a story about how her granddaughter, when she was in the eighth grade, started helping her serve food at the breakfast. When she started, she stood behind her grandmother, but before long, she was sitting at the table talking to those eating breakfast. Her granddaughter, now a junior in college, continued to work at the breakfast through her high school years and beyond. Moir says she thinks many who are afraid or critical of others who are homeless probably have not gotten to know them or worked with them face to face. “Once you’ve worked with people who are homeless, your attitude changes,” said Moir. “They are people, just like us.” What to others may be a job in human services, for Moir, serving others is “a calling” that did not stop even after she officially retired. Now at age 82, she says she has been lucky as she works every day to help others in some way, hoping to enable them to be the best they can be regardless of their race, gender, orientation or economic status. Her plans for the future are the same. “I just want to continue to do what I can.”
16 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | THE HERALD-TIMES | Everyday Heroes
Lillian Swoape Teen combines hobby with serving others By Brittani Howell 812-331-4243 | bhowell@heraldt.com Since she was a third-grader at Highland Park Elementary School, Lillian Swoape, 14, has been uniting her favorite hobby with her love of serving others: She sews hats for cancer patients who have lost their hair and makes costumes to wear while cheering up kids at charity events. “It’s kind of a passion,” the Bloomington High School North freshman said. “I’ve been making costumes since I was in kindergarten.” Swoape first picked up a needle when she was six, making a stuffed cat with her mother, Cynthia. It wasn’t long before Swoape started to make costumes of her own. Her first conquest was a prairie dress in the second grade. Her next, she said, “was probably Batgirl.” But when she was in the third grade, a family friend named Lauren Long reached out with a project idea. Long had recently been diagnosed with cancer and, at a craft fair, discovered a fuzzy fleece hat with knotted ends that dangle, almost like hair. She showed the hat to Swoape and asked if she could make more for the guests at Camp Bluebird, a three-day getaway retreat for adults diagnosed with cancer, as whimsical and warm headwear for those who had lost their hair to chemotherapy treatments. David Snodgress | Herald-Times
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“She said it made her feel like she had hair again,” said Swoape, who loved the idea and has been doing it ever since. She calls her project Fleece for Peace. To date, she has made about 500 hats for Camp Bluebird and anyone who sends her a personal request. The hats are simple to make, and she does most of the labor herself, though her mother and little sister, Julianna, are willing volunteers. Other friends who enjoy crafting donate much of the material she uses. The bulk of her work has been done through the Monroe County 4-H Program, where she has been an active member since the third grade and a three-time winner of the Grand Champion award for volunteering and service. “I love helping people,” she said. “There’s just something about it. It’s in my blood. I’ve done it since I was little.” She also loves costuming, which led her to a new and recent endeavor that she calls Cause Play World. A pun on “cosplay,” a shortening of the phrase “costume play,” Swoape’s new project started when she dressed up as Batgirl to cheer up a sick cousin. She enjoyed it so much that she reached out to the Indiana Cosplay Association and started participating in their charity events. Her goal is to make regular appearances as a princess or superhero, not only for kids who are sick but for children who have been bullied or made fun of — something she experienced when she was younger. “If I was them, I would want to see a hero,” Swoape said. “I would want a hero around to hang out with.” Cynthia Swoape also enjoys making costumes and sewing, but Lily’s enthusiasm “takes it to a whole other level.” “It’s amazing to me, all the difference she’s made in the world at her age,” Cynthia said. Swoape plays the violin in the Hoosier Youth Philharmonic, performs in the school marching band as part of the color guard and enjoys playing video games on the old consoles her father, Mason, collects. Through 4-H, she enters pieces in clothing project competitions. She is also an honors student, and she wants to pursue archaeology or animation when she gets to college. But for now, sewing and volunteer work with the cosplay association take up most of her time — which is just the way she likes it.
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18 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | THE HERALD-TIMES | Everyday Heroes
Tom Pfister Pulling together helped family past grief By Laura Lane 812-331-4362 | llane@heraldt.com It’s been a decade since Tom Pfister sat in a courtroom and faced a Bedford man responsible for his wife’s death. “A little more than a year ago, the sunshine went out of my life,” Pfister said during a hearing where the hit-and-run driver got a 4-year jail sentence. “Not having Robin is not unlike losing a leg,” he said. “She was the balance in my life.” Robin Pfister, a 44-year-old mother of six, was crossing the road to her car after stopping at a yard sale near Harrodsburg when a man driving a Jeep struck her and left the scene on July 15, 2005. Eleven years later, Tom Pfister is filling the role of both grandpa and grandma to 10 grandchildren. Katie Norris was 4 when her mom, who had two other kids, married Pfister. The couple had three more children after that. “When she died, he asked that all donations be made to the Shalom Center, even though he just became a single dad of six kids,” Norris said in nominating her stepdad as an Everyday Hero. Pfister said that before he started dating Robin, he steered clear of women with kids. “I often thought maybe she was a witch and cast a spell on me, but I guess I just met somebody
Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times
and a family that just fit.” Over the years, the couple often shopped at yard sales. “When you have as many kids as we had, you try to save money,” he said. They often went together, but he wasn’t with her the day she was killed. He was left to to mourn with their children, who ranged in age from 9 to 25; Norris was 18 when her mom died. “It was really tough, especially that first year, with every holiday, every birthday. It takes a long time, but eventually, you get to a point where you have to get past the grief,” Pfister said. “Myself and the kids, we did pull together really well.” After an 8-hour workday, Pfister spends two hours at Norris’ home helping the single mother of three with errands, chores and childcare. When Norris was hurt earlier this year, Pfister came and stayed for six days, even though he had a broken leg and was on crutches. He tends to the needs of strangers as well as family. “He has let many people without a place to stay sleep in his house,” Norris wrote. “He never lets anyone go hungry. He would give any stranger the shirt off his back.” Pfister tries not to be bitter toward the man who struck his wife and left her behind to die. He tries to forgive. “If you harbor that anger.” he said, “it just weighs you down.”
Everyday heroes | THE HERALD-TIMES | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | 19
Rebecca Stanze Her commitment makes the shows go smoothly By Anna Rochelle Special to the H-T Rebecca Stanze doesn’t think of her work as heroic. But for the artists, musicians, performers and creators, event organizers, community groups and individuals who benefit from her expertise, she qualifies as an everyday hero who comes to the rescue and makes things happen from behind-the-scenes. As associate director of BCT Management Inc., Stanze supervises the marketing and box-office services of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. In this role, she advises artists and performers on the best strategies for reaching their audiences and planning for successful shows at the Buskirk-Chumley and at numerous other events in the area. “The services of our ticket office are available to anyone who needs assistance with ticketing sales, not just in the arts but in the community. We recently took care of ticketing for the balloon festival. Anyone can use the Buskirk-Chumley’s ticketing services,” said Stanze. This puts Stanze in contact with all kinds of people in the community who are working on projects and events involving a lot of details to make everything happen as imagined. “It can be a small event or it can be a complicated affair,” said Stanze. “We work with organizers and performers who have a lot of experience, and some who are brand new and have no experience.” From the Bloomington Playwrights Project to the Cardinal Stage Company plus many more, she problem solves and irons out details with creativity and humor. She has plenty of experience and is well-trained for her job. Originally from St. Louis, Stanze came to Indiana to attend Indiana
Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times
University, received a master’s degree in public administration from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, then decided to make her home in Bloomington. She worked at United Way for some time before she was appointed interim executive director. She is credited with guiding United Way through a difficult transition. She has also served as the development director for Monroe County United Ministries, worked on the Monroe County History Center’s Cemetery Project and served on the Alumni Association Board of Leadership Bloomington. Over the last three years at Buskirk-Chumley, she’s the person who guides the permanent and student staff of the box office, and she remembers birthdays and special occasions. She’s also the person who steps up to help organize Buskirk-Chumley support of the community, like the time she set up a box to collect corks from the concession stand to deliver to Stone Belt for one of their craft projects. That’s all in a day’s work for Stanze who said she considers it a great compliment to be named an Everyday Hero, but she sees herself as just simply doing what needs to be done. “I keep my head down and just do my job,” said Stanze, “and the best part of my job is interacting with people.” Danielle McClelland, the director of the Buskirk-Chumley, says Stanze does more than what’s required. “Rebecca shows up when things need to get done in the community, and quietly goes about doing it,” said McClelland, adding that Stanze isn’t at the forefront receiving recognition for her work. “She doesn’t stand on stage very often,” said McClelland, “but the whole show went smoothly and all the people were better taken care of, because she was there.”
20 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | THE HERALD-TIMES | Everyday Heroes
Roger Hartwell Gardening enthusiast shares seeds of knowledge By Carol Kugler 812-331-4359 | ckugler@heraldt.com Known to friends as a Renaissance man, Roger Hartwell has impressed friends and acquaintances with his willingness to share his knowledge of gardening and, especially, saving seeds. “I was amazed at the kind of information he had in his head,” said Paula Perron, who has helped establish a community garden at St. Thomas Lutheran Church and met Hartwell when he was speaking to a gardening group. Hartwell’s enthusiasm about heirloom plants has motivated Perron to raise heritage hogs. “What he said about these heritage seeds was so amazing because it also applied to animals,” she said. Hartwell said his knowledge of saving seeds and creating plants that are better suited to the local environment was passed on to him from his father and grandfather. He currently rents garden plots at Willie Street Community Gardens. In an effort to have people who also participate in the city’s gardening program get a chance to try heirloom seeds, Hartman contacted Baker Heirloom Seed Co. and was given 350 packets of heirloom seeds — ranging from herbs, tomatoes, peppers and leafy greens — that were distributed to every gardener participating in the city program free of charge. He’s also been known to share seeds or plants with people who show an interest in an heirloom variety he’s grown, whether it’s an onion, tomato, pepper, okra, broccoli or other vegetable. Hartwell has helped establish a tight-knit group of seed savers who meet to
Chris Howell | Herald-Times
share their experiences and trade seeds at the local church. The group recently met for a year-end harvest celebration. Hartwell supplied Long Island pumpkins for a soup and vegetables from his garden for a gumbo. It was the culmination of the first year of gardening workshops. Hartwell has also given seed-saving programs for other gardening groups including one for master gardeners. “We just talked about trading seeds and the unspoken rules of trading seeds,” he said, explaining that some people are very cautious about sharing their seeds. Hartwell’s goal is to continue with the workshops next year, starting with a seed-saving program in the spring, possibly adding different types of seed for the second year. When asked about why he’s more into seed-saving groups instead of establishing a library of seeds, Hartwell explains he’s hoping to be part of a close-knit group sharing seeds and knowledge with each other. “It used to be an over-the-fence type of community,” he said of seed savers. “It’s kind of what the seed swap is — to get people working together and at the same time doing good within the community.” Information on what plants work best used to be shared through families, but now that isn’t so common, Hartwell said. “It’s not getting passed down anymore,” he said. “It’s a change in culture.” But it’s a change that Hartwell is working to alter, one seed at a time if that’s what it takes.
Everyday heroes | THE HERALD-TIMES | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | 21
Sharon Aikman Thought of kids going hungry inspired backpack project By Michael Reschke 812-331-4370 | mreschke@heraldt.com Ellettsville resident Sharon Aikman has fostered seven children, adopted three and works seven nights a week every other week as a hospice nurse. But that’s only part of why she was nominated as an Everyday Hero. About four years ago, she read a book called “Radical” by David Pratt that inspired her to ask the question: “Are you really a Christian,” she said, “or are you just paying lip service?” Aikman said she prayed about it, and one day, in the shower, she remembered an episode of “Oprah” she saw years before. In it, school children whose families struggled to provide meals for them were given backpacks full of food to help them get through the weekend. Aikman called the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corp. superintendent’s office and asked if there were any kids like that in the district. The person on the other end of the line told her there were a handful of students in situations so dire, teachers weren’t sure if they had anything to eat between the free lunch they ate at school on Friday and the free breakfast they ate at school on Monday. “I thought, ‘This can’t be happening,’” Aikman said. For the last nine weeks of school, she piloted a project called Backpack Blessings. Counselors, principals and health aides in the district came up with a list of 29 kids they thought might be interested in the
David Snodgress | Herald-Times
program. With parental permission, each student left school with a backpack full of food for the weekend. At the end of the school year, a survey was sent home and every response was favorable, Aikman said. Now, 53 students get $7 worth of food every Friday, and Backpack Blessings is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. The program is funded through donations from area churches, grocery store partnerships and special events. For example, through the community rewards section of the Kroger.com website, customers can elect to have a portion of what they spend go to Backpack Blessings. In addition, Aikman has organized a holiday bizarre where booth rental fees are used to pay for holiday food baskets that provide food for students over winter break. Managing all this on top of raising three kids and working nights can be daunting, but there are moments when Aikman is reminded of why she chose to take on this burden. One night, when her oldest child was having a sleepover, packages of food were laid out in the kitchen. Aikman thought all the kids had gone to bed, but then one of her son’s friends came into the kitchen. “I didn’t know it was you,” he said. The boy told Aikman how much better his mom felt knowing he was bringing food home each weekend. “That was a jewel God gave me to let me see some of the result,” she said.
22 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | THE HERALD-TIMES | Everyday Heroes
Tiffany Girten Little things can make a great difference in someone’s life By Megan Banta 812-331-4368 | mbanta@heraldt.com Being someone’s hero can be as simple as making sure they have a well-balanced lunch, speaking softly and kindly and reminding them to take their medicine. Those are a few of the small, but also important, things Tiffany Girten does every day as a direct support professional for Stone Belt, a direct service provider for individuals with developmental disabilities in southcentral Indiana. They’re also what earned her a nomination as an Everyday Hero from one of the people she helps on a regular basis. Whether Girten is helping him make chicken pot pie, giving him healthy and balanced options for lunch, making sure he has his break money for the day or reminding him to check the daily chart for chores, she helps the person who nominated her make a difference in his life, he wrote in his nomination letter. Girten, who has been working for Stone Belt since May after leaving a job as a cook in a nursing home, lives in Lyons and drives
Courtesy photo
about 45 to 50 minutes every day to make it to work in Bloomington. There’s not really a typical day in her line of work, she said. Some days, she might drive clients out to the YMCA to work out or take them to WonderLab. Other days, she’ll work in the Stone Belt facility, helping people with puzzles, painting and preparing meals. Girten said though her work can be challenging, she does enjoy it. Her favorite thing is seeing the way clients react to victories, however big or small, she said. In Girten’s own words: “When they do something that they’ve been trying to do, they get so excited that they’ve completed that task.” She also understands the importance of her job to her clients. “They need people to support them and help them with those choices,” she said. Girten also gets practical lessons out of her work, including the ability to be more patient with her stepson, who has disabilities. “It has helped me understand my stepson some,” Girten said of her experience so far at Stone Belt.
Everyday heroes | THE HERALD-TIMES | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | 23
Charles Egli Busy volunteer stays active and helps others at the same time By Michael Reschke 812-331-4370 | mreschke@heraldt.com When Charles Egli retired, he was sure of one thing. “I knew I didn’t want to sit around,” he said. Now, at nearly 70 years old, he’s using the skills he learned growing up on a dairy farm and in a career as a representative for a farm machinery manufacturer to help nonprofits both in Bloomington and in southwest Florida,where he and his wife own a second home. In Bloomington, Egli has volunteered as a handyman at The Warehouse, a Christian community activity center, building shelves, setting up cabinets and hanging bulletin boards. He drives an all-terrain vehicle at Peden Farm during the annual Children’s Farm Festival, shuttling people back and forth from the parking field. Some of his most rewarding volunteer work, however, comes from the interactions he has at People & Animal Learning Services, commonly referred to as PALS. The nonprofit provides therapeutic horseback riding and unmounted equine activities to veterans, at-risk youth, and people with disabilities. Egli said he started volunteering at PALS at the suggestion of his wife, who heard about the center in a church group. He had no experience working with the types of clients PALS serves, but
David Snodgress | Herald-Times
his wife thought he’d enjoy working with the animals. As soon as he started, Egli was amazed by the difference PALS was making in the lives of its clients. “You can see it in their face, their reaction,” he said. “They look forward to that day. They just light up.” Now, Egli volunteers at least once a week, usually as a side walker for the horses, but he also does any sort of maintenance work that’s needed, such as fixing fences and mowing the fields. He doesn’t get any sort of monetary payment for this work, but knowing his efforts are making a difference in people’s lives is all the compensation he needs. “It’s gratifying to hear a parent say how they’ve seen a change in their child,” Egli said. “It massages a person’s heart.” In the winter, when Egli and his wife go to Florida, he’s just as active. Egli volunteers at Naples Equestrian Challenge, which provides a service similar to PALS. He does maintenance work and helps with controlled burns at Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. He also boxes up food for Cafe of Life, a faith-based organization that provides meals for people in need. While all that volunteering may seem like a lot of work to some people, Egli said he gets plenty of benefits from it. Not only is it gratifying, but it gets him up and moving around. “When you get old, nothing works, so you have to stay active,” he said. “And what better way to stay active than to help someone?”
24 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | THE HERALD-TIMES | Everyday Heroes
Everyday heroes | THE HERALD-TIMES | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | 25
We at the H-T wish we could write stories about every one of the people nominated this year for Everyday Heroes. To make sure all are honored, here is a brief summary of the remaining nominees and who nominated them. They are listed in the order in which they arrived.
Christopher Brummett
Jesse Richardson
Larry Babbs
Antonio Jackson
A Bloomington police office who also is an amazing brother, husband, father, son and uncle. Nominated by Samantha Stephens A huge heart, a hard worker who brings smiles to all and is always there for family and friends. Nominated by Stacy Babbs
Cody Trammell
For doing things that most 21-year-olds wouldn’t and being a loving caregiver to his dad. Nominated by Lisa Trammell
Legaci
A selfless little girl, age 3 ½, who takes cookies and water to police, collects food for shelters and donates her toys to women’s shelters. Nominated by Aimee
Shanda Campbell
An assistant coach, a bus driver, an Ivy Tech student and a mom to three busy teenagers who always finds time to help anyone who needs help. Nominated by Shavonne Jackson and Kenzie Campbell
Noman Holy
Volunteer with Area 10 Agency on Aging, First Presbyterian Church Saturday morning breakfast for the homeless and passionate advocate for the environment. Nominated by Dana Holland
Valerie Humphrey
Selfless rock of her family who makes sure all needs are met and still has time for a full-time job and being a member of the Fair Board. Nominated by Jake Humphrey
Jared Myers
Keeps kids and community safe as an Ellettsville police officer. Nominated by Ashley Lentz
Turned his life around and is now on mission to give back to the community. Nominated by Bonnie Quick Uses the business he started to give back to the community. Nominated by Cathy Fleetwood
Bloomington Police Department For all they do to serve and protect. Nominated by Samuel Miller
Tina Closser
STEM coordinator at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane who gives endlessly to projects outside of her normal work day. Nominated by Brandy Frady
Morgan W. Lee
Bedford police officer, an organizer of the Dumon McCain Memorial Ride and the FOP Lodge 49 Cops for Kids Ride that supports the Shop with a Cop program. Nominated by Michael Persfull
Tucker Blackwell
A proud born-and-raised Bloomingtonian who captures the heart and soul of anyone he comes in contact with. Nominated by Larry Blackwell
Audra Lampkins
Founder of Reach High Consulting Therapy who pours her heart into her clinic for children with autism. Nominated by Rochelle Dolce
Andrew Webster
Longstanding member of the Boy Scouts and American Legion who thinks of others first and is always willing to help stranger or friend alike. Nominated by Amanda Russell
Mark Wiedenmayer
A local pianist who organized a music ministry for seniors in health care and retirement centers. Nominated by Douglas James
The Apostolic Church
For its commitment to the long-term care and short-term rehab clients at Bell Trace. (Special recognition to Lawrence Keller, Carolyn Keller, Laura Phipps, Caleb Phipps, Theresa Sears, Ben Sears and Jud Sears.) Nominated by Susi Turner
Julie Kathman
Concern for health and welfare of women and children in the community drives her work to improve access and quality of care for those needing healthcare services, in addition to being a wonderful wife and parent to eight children. Nominated by Kevin Kathman
James Allen
A full-time firefighter who helped state the local Cutters football team and arranged to have every game benefit someone in need, such as the Hoosier Burn Camp or an individual battling cancer. Nominated by Dawn Allen
Antonia Matthew
Leader of creative writing workshop at Bell Trac Senior Living Facility who shares her enthusiasm and talent with residents. Nominated by Jenny Kander
Sandy Pate
Minister at First United church who reaches out to people of all sexual orientations and beliefs to provide an inclusive community. Nominated by Margie Hershey
Elan and Rani Rajamani; Ed and Jennifer Huff
These couples plan and coordinate activities for international students attending Indiana University, including the annual furniture giveaway for international students at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church. Nominated by Dianne Shewmaker
26 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016 | THE HERALD-TIMES | Everyday Heroes
nomination summaries continued...
Lucille Bertuccio
Posthumous nomination for longtime advocate of sustainability and environmental preservation, who died earlier this year. Nominated by Michael O’Connell
Jerry Davis
A problem solver who took control of his own health problems so that he would be able to care for his daughter, who has severe autism. Nominated by Jayme McAlister
Rich Sherer
Dedicated volunteer who puts together events such as run/ walks and golf tournaments to benefit deserving causes. Nominated by Jayme McAlister
Sue Frederickson
Involved in many causes and organizations that benefit from her wise leadership, kind heart and boundless compassion. Nominated by Heather Kinderthain
Kenn Nunn
Community philanthropist whose generosity has had an impact on IU basketball fans, local public safety personnel and low-income children. Nominated by Lee Chapman HT-106265-1
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