Armor of Light Award Honorees

History

In 1977, the SJP Alumni/ae Association Board of Directors created the Armor of Light Award as a way of recognizing and honoring individuals who have demonstrated dedication and continued service to their faith, community, and SJP. The Board annually decides on a way to confer one or more of these awards.

Armor of Light Award Honorees

"In appreciation of Your dedication and continued service to your faith, community, and Saint John’s Preparatory School."

Dan '64 and Linda Marrin
Lake Shore, MN; Sistersville, WV, received the 39th award in 2007, the first couple to be recognized with one award.  Both served as SJP Regents, members of numerous committees, and as National Chairs of the To Light the Way comprehensive campaign from 2001-2007 that netted $18 million for the school.  Linda is an executive coach and management consultant; Dan is a musician and real estate developer.

Donn Thurk '56
St. Bonifacius, MN received the 38th award in 2006. First Board Member Emeritus of the SJP Alumni/ae Association Board, one of the founders and promoters of the SJP Alumni/ae Association Scholarship endowment, co-founder of the Prep Classis @ Madden's, father of two SJP alums (Thomas '85,
Timon '82), faithful friends, donor, benefactor.

John B. Klassen, OSB '67
Collegeville, MN; Elrosa, MN, received the 37th award of 2005. Tenth Abbot of Saint John's Abbey, former SJP teacher, Chemistry Professor, Benedictine Values author/speaker. Provided courageous, compassionate, and visionary leadership to the entire Saint John's community at a time when it was most needed.

Lori Pfannenstein
St. Joseph, MN, received the 36th award in 2004, the 8th non-alumnus. Mother of two SJP alums (Tim '86, Paul '88), Prep School's main office secretary/office manager for 15 years; faithful friend, donor and benefactor.

Emmerich Sack
Melk, Austria; Cold Spring, MN, received the 35th award in 2003, the 7th non-alumnus. SJP German teacher, soccer coach, German camp founder and director, MELK director, Gasthaus director, faculty liaison to Regents.

Gordon Tavis, OSB
Mandan, ND; Collegeville, MN, received the 34th award in 2002, the 6th non-alumnus. SJP’s 17th President/Headmaster, OSB Corporate Treasurer, SJP Board member, provided leadership for 80% enrollment growth, financial strength and stability; obtained $2MM gift from Abbey, Meyers Center constructed and boys' dormitory renovated under his leadership.

Laura Jane LaFond
St. Joseph, MN, received the 33rd award in 2001. Charter member of the school’s Board of Regents (Overseers), major benefactor including as a trustee of the Van Evera Foundation, mother of 11 children - 7 of them SJP alums.

Patrick McNeil ‘55
Dayton, MN, received the 32nd award in 2000. Instrumental in the establishment and growth of the SJP Alumni/ae Scholarship Endowment, Alumni/ae Association president & board member, Prep promoter, benefactor.

Godfrey Diekmann, OSB ‘23
St. Martin, MN; Collegeville, MN, received the 31st award in 1999. Teacher, theologian, author, editor, mycologist, monk, had a significant worldwide influence on the Church’s liturgical movement pre- and post-Vatican II.

Eugene McCarthy ‘32
Watkins, MN, received the 30th award in 1998. Erudite and articulate valedictorian of the Class of ‘32, author, poet, statesman, teacher, United States Senator, U.S. presidential candidate in 1968.

Oliver Kapsner ‘49
Rogers, MN, received the 29th award in 1997. Banker from Rogers, MN, member of the Alumni/ae Association board, Hanse Fest organizer, Prep promoter, benefactor. Nephew of Oliver Kapsner, OSB '20, founder of the Melk program.

Peter Froehle
St. Cloud, MN, received the 28th award in 1995. The fourth non-alumnus to receive the award. Longtime Prep physics, driver education, and math teacher; coach; parent. Taught at Prep since 1957.

Thomas Andert, OSB ‘65
St. Paul, MN; Collegeville, MN, received the 27th award in 1994. Fifteenth Prep Headmaster/Dean (1988-1994) before the title changed to president; Prep teacher and prefect.

Dennis M. Cavanaugh ‘56
St. Anthony Village, MN, received the 26th award in 1993. CEO of the Soo Line Railroad, longtime Prep promoter, Board of Regents member, capital drive chairman, benefactor.

Joseph Wenner ‘63
Cold Spring, MN, received the 25th award in 1992. Pediatric dentist practicing in St. Cloud, MN, member of the school’s board of regents (Overseers), he and his wife, Mary, sent their four children to the Prep School.

R. A. (Jim) Randall ‘58
St. Paul, MN, received the 24th award in 1991. Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge, longtime Prep promoter, Alumni/ae Association board president & member, liaison with and advocate of the Minnesota Native American communities.

Fabian Wegleitner, OSB ‘27
St. Paul, MN; Collegeville, MN, received the 23rd award in 1990. Prep teacher, prefect.

Robley B. Evans
Albany, MN, received the 22nd award in 1989. The third non-alumnus to receive the award. Longtime Prep teacher, coach, first lay Dean; Mayor of Albany, MN.

Floribert I. ‘Flip’ Spanier ‘51
St. Paul, MN, received the 21st award in 1988. Business person, president of the Catholic Aid Association of Minnesota until his retirement in 1997. First Alumni/ae Association President, Prep promoter, benefactor.

Carl Dorenkemper ‘25
Minneapolis, MN, received the 20th award in 1987. Business person, longtime Prep promoter and benefactor. (Left a bequest of $125,000 to the Prep School upon his death.)

Eric Buermann, OSB ‘37
Richmond, MN; Collegeville, MN; Humacao, Puerto Rico, received the 19th award in 1986. Prep teacher, prefect, longtime adviser for the Prep World publication.

Gregory T. Merz ‘68
Wayzata, MN, received the 18th award in 1986. Minneapolis business person; Alumni/ae Association Board.

Samuel Lickteig, OSB
Austin, MN; Collegeville, MN, received the 17th award in 1985. The second non-alumnus to receive the award. Prep algebra teacher and longtime Gasthaus promoter/ worker.

John E. Brandt ‘58
St. Paul, MN, received the 16th award in 1985. Lawyer, Alumni/ae Association president, Prep promoter.

Gregory (Cuthbert) Soukup, OSB ‘32
St. Paul, MN; Collegeville, MN, received the 15th award in 1984. Eleventh SJP Dean; the first with the title of Headmaster, served 1958 -1972. Longest serving leader of the school (12 years). Prep teacher, theatre director, coach, prefect.

Harry I. Holtz ‘36
St. Paul, MN, received the 14th award in 1984. President of the Great Northern Trust, Prep fund raiser, promoter, member of the Saint John’s Board of Regents in the early days, benefactor, President and trustee of the Alliss Educational Foundation from which Prep received a $400,000 grant.

Baldwin Dworschak, OSB ‘24
Collegeville, MN, received the 13th award in 1983. Fifth Abbot of the Saint John’s Abbey, teacher, coach, prefect.

John ‘Hap’ Lundrigan ‘60
Osseo, MN, received the 12th award in 1983. Prep promoter, Regent
(Overseer), Alumni/ae Association board member and 3rd ‘unofficial’ president 1973-1975; co-founder of the Prep fund raising programs known as Hanse Fest.

Otto Weber, OSB ‘52
St. Martin, MN; Collegeville, MN, received the 11th award in 1982. Prep teacher, coach, prefect, promoter, founder of the Prep Summer Camps program.

Edward J. Devitt ‘30
St. Paul, MN, received the 10th award in 1982. Federal judge, one of the first lay members of the Saint John’s University Board of Regents (before Prep was separated from SJU), benefactor.

Vincent Tegeder, OSB ‘28
Minneapolis, MN; Collegeville, MN, received the 9th award in 1981. Prep teacher, coach, prefect, football player, and Prep’s seventh Dean from 1942-1944. Longtime historian and archivist; co-founder of the Twin Towers Club.

Thomas P. McKasy ‘26
St. Paul, MN, received the 8th award in 1981. Lawyer; early involvement in Alumni/ae Association

* Alan J. Steichen, OSB
Collegeville, MN, received the 7th award posthumously in 1980. The first non-alumnus to receive the award. Thirteenth Dean/Headmaster; died in office, suddenly, and at a young age in 1979.

Joel Strangis ‘66
Robbinsdale, MN, received the 6th award in 1980. Prep School’s first development director and first alumni/ae director separate from the overall SJU. established a solid foundation upon which to grow the Association. Remembered as a great wrestler in his Prep School days and as a vibrant member of the faculty.

Arnold Weber, OSB ‘44
St. Martin, MN; Collegeville, MN, received the 5th award in 1979. Prep coach, teacher, prefect, and admissions recruiter. Headmaster at Benilde - St. Margaret High School. Pastor at Detroit Lakes, MN and at parishes in the Archdiocese of Minneapolis & St. Paul, notably Holy Name of Jesus.

David F. Durenberger ‘51
Collegeville, MN, received the 4th award in 1979. Born and raised in Collegeville, MN, became a lawyer and United States Senator from Minnesota. On the faculty at the University of St. Thomas.

Paul Marx, OSB ‘39
St. Michael, MN; Collegeville, MN, received the 3rd award in 1978. Prep coach, teacher, prefect. Founded the post-Roe v. Wade pro-life movement and established the Human Life Center at Saint John’s, subsequently named Human Life International and relocated to Washington, DC.

Norbert R. Berg ‘49
Barronett, WI, received the 2nd award in 1978. Control Data VP, co-founder of the SJP Alumni/ae Association (separate from SJU), active fund raiser, member of the school’s board, active on many committees, benefactor.

Julius C. Smith ‘48
Chaska, MN, received the inaugural award in 1977. Lawyer, founder of the Minnesota Renaissance Fair at which many, many loaves of Johnny Bread were sold. He and his wife, Mary, were two of the school’s first Regents (then, Overseers) when governance was evolving to a partial lay board. Six sons attended the Prep School.