Dec 20, 2019 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Lucy Smith was born in 1850 in Markesan, WI. She was educated at the Musical Academy in Beaver Dam and the Notre Dame Convent, (now Mount Mary College) in Milwaukee. After teaching school for several years, Lucy married Charles Secor Morris, a young entrepreneur of Berlin.
Lucy Smith Morris achieved many great accomplishments. She was a genius in leadership and successfully brought women together to enrich the quality of their lives, while transforming the worlds of culture and reform.
Lucy recognized the potential power of women’s political influence if they organized statewide. Through her efforts, the Wisconsin Federation of Women’s Clubs was founded in October of 1896. Lucy was elected its first president, and held a lifelong passion for the success of this organization.
Second only to her support for the Women’s Club’s success was her interest in the promotion of libraries. During her tenure as President of WFWC, her club members established over 100 libraries around the State of Wisconsin. She was appointed to the Wisconsin Free Library Commission (later named Wisconsin Library Association) in 1896 by Governor Robert LaFollette, and was one of the first women so appointed. Lucy served as its President for 20 years. For her accomplishments in promoting libraries, Lucy was named to the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame in 2018.
Locally, Lucy was involved in several projects. She was instrumental in the movement to start a hospital in Berlin, and she and her husband financed the first manual training and domestic science departments of the Berlin High School. She actively participated in the suffrage movement of the day, and entertained national leaders in her home when they visited the area.
In 1998 a Wisconsin Historical Society marker was placed in Nathan Strong Park honoring Lucy’s accomplishments.
Her life stands out as an example of courage, honesty and kindness and the City of Berlin would be poorer without her contributions.
Oct 24, 2018 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2018. Jeanie Walker graduated from Berlin High School in 1960 as valedictorian. She received her BS degree in education from UW-Oshkosh and married Robert Bruce in 1963. She taught in elementary schools in Oshkosh, then in Bozeman, Montana while Robert was in college.
After Robert graduated, they moved to Minnesota and then to the Green Bay area where Jean was a stay-at-home mom and an active volunteer for 13 years. When their youngest child was nearing school age, she began taking courses to become re-certified to teach in Wisconsin. A shortage of teaching jobs, combined with her long-standing interest in health and medicine, led her to take courses in physics, organic chemistry, and genetics in preparation for entrance to medical school. She was accepted into medical school of UW-Madison in 1982.
The family faced a number of challenges in order for Jean to continue her studies. Medical school is difficult enough for a young, single student living in Madison, but especially challenging for a 40-year-old woman with a husband and 3 children living in Green Bay. She persevered and received her MD in 1986.
After completing a family practice residency in 1989, she began considering where to practice. After being gone for 29 years, the Bruces deciding to return to Berlin and Jean went into practice with Dr. Michael Shattuck. After 19 years as a family doctor, she retired in 2008.
Dr. Jean is a dedicated doctor, involved grandmother, activist, and school volunteer who is always willing to lend a helping hand. She is an inspiration to students and to anyone wanting to achieve a particular goal. Jean has shown that with hard work and determination your goals can be accomplished.
Dr. Bruce’s words for the Wall: I am honored to have been nominated and selected to be on the Inspiration Wall. I would like to think I am representing the parents, grandparents, teachers, volunteers, and others who inspire children every day. Being inspired to reach goals is important, but, hopefully, we also inspire children to speak up for what they think is right, to ask questions, to listen, and to consider others and their points of view and their goals as well.
Oct 24, 2018 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2018. A 1970 graduate of Berlin High School, Gene Trochinski went on to a 40-year career as teacher, coach and administrator, 36 of them in Orange County, Florida. During his tenure at Dr. Phillips High School he built an athletic program that earned 86 conference titles, 96 district, 22 regional, 10 state and four national championships. He was twice named the Civitan (FL) Wrestling Coach of the Year and was inducted into both the Dr. Phillips High School Athletic Hall of Fame and DPHS Theater Hall of Fame. He taught for 15 years and served in administration positions the next 25 years.
Gene was twice selected as Administrator of the Year in a district with over 200,000 students. DPHS was also selected, during his tenure, as having the top athletic program in the State of Florida. As principal of a high profile school, he was able to travel to numerous states and countries with his school’s Center for International Studies Magnet Program and the Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Programs. Additionally, he had the privilege of training with the Marines at Parris Island and meeting presidents from other countries. A new administration building at DPHS, the Gene Trochinski Building, was named in his honor.
He is testimony to the fact that anyone from a small town can go on to excel in more than one educational area. While at Berlin High School he was a four-time varsity wrestling letterman and captained the team his senior year. During his senior year he won the Reedsburg Tournament, Little 10 and Regional titles, advancing to the WIAA State Tournament. He also participated in wrestling at UW-Oshkosh and in 2018 was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from UW-Oshkosh. He received his Bachelor of Science from UW-O in 1974 and attained his Master’s degree at the University of Central Florida in 1978 and his Educational Leadership degree from the same university in 1990.
Since his retirement, he and his wife, Mary Jo, a teacher for 36 years, have been volunteering at a local elementary school, teaching students to read. Both of their children also became teachers. Gene also mentors new middle and high school principals in Orange County Florida.
Two of his favorite sayings are: “Face it. Nobody owes you a living.”
“What you achieve or fail to achieve in your lifetime is directly related to what you do or fail to do.”
Oct 24, 2018 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2018. The Brooks family moved to Berlin in 1948 when Dick was 19 years old. Dick, his dad, Gary, and brothers, Raymond and Glenn were hard-working entrepreneurs who owned and operated various businesses in Berlin: Wisconsin Tanktainer, Carri Craft Catamarans, Artcraft, Prefinished Wood Products and Brooks Yachts. The catamarans and yachts were considered some of the finest available and captured the interest of movie stars and celebrities of the time.
Always an active participant in civic groups and events, Dick’s true love for people created his passion for contributing to this community. He helped design the Veteran’s Memorial in Riverside Park, was involved with the Berlin Veteran’s Foundation, single-handedly painted the American Legion Hall, sang with the Senior Singers, volunteered at All Saints Parish/School, and was a long-time member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus and Berlin Jaycees.
Dick left his creative mark in memorable ways as he supported the Berlin Booster Golf Outing, Helping Hands for Cancer 5K, 4th of July Duck Race, Senior Triathlon, the annual River Raft Regatta, and even the memorable “Dude Looks Like a Lady” fundraiser. He portrayed ‘Uncle Sam’ in community parades where he was perched at the top of the fire department ladder truck. Dick always believed in staying active and played in the Berlin Softball League and with the Oshkosh Comets Semi-Pro Football Team. He earned awards at various athletic events into his 80’s and was waterskiing at the age of 85.
The Honoree made a positive impact in a fun and giving manner, through hard work and being kind. He was not only an inspiration to the Berlin community, but most importantly to his family; Leanne, his wife of 61 years, their six children and their spouses, and their 15 grandchildren. His ‘family’ didn’t stop there. He spread his laughter and love to all who crossed his path and was truly known by all as the one and only “Grandpa Dick”.
His life’s motto: Happiness!
Nov 2, 2017 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2017. A native of Milwaukee Wisconsin, Phillip Sass left his job as a food chemist and moved to Berlin in 1973 when he and a partner launched Wisconsin Spice, Inc. in an abandoned 19th century building located on Capron St. In the 35 years since its inception, Wisconsin Spice has grown from its humble beginnings into a global powerhouse in the mustard industry supplying over 25 countries with its products.
In 1985, Sass, now sole owner, moved the company to its existing facility in Berlin’s South Industrial Park as the first occupant in the newly created park. Multiple additions have helped the company grow in place.
Sass has given back to the community even while growing the company. For more than 20 years – 1985 to 2016 – he was coach of the Berlin Barracuda Swim Team, donating 25-30 hours/week to coaching, preparing for practices, and attending swim meets. During that time, the team had swimmers compete at the State level every year, and frequently had swimmers qualify for “Zone” regional championships as well. There were several swimmers who qualified for national competitions under the coaching of Sass, and multiple swimmers went on to compete at Division I and II universities.
Additionally, Sass led a group that was instrumental in convincing the School Board to include a girls’ and boys’ swim team at Berlin High School beginning in 1994. He was coach of that team from its inception to 2007. During that time, Sass coached four state champions and several All-State swimmers. He led the boys’ team to win the State Championship in 2001. He was named Boys’ Coach of the Year (Division 2) in 2001 and Girls’ Coach of the Year (Division 2) in 2002.
Throughout his life, Phil Sass has made community service, volunteerism and mentorship the cornerstones of his life. The accomplishments he achieved are the outcome of his own strict adherence to the 3 D’s – Desire, Determination, and Dedication.
Nov 2, 2017 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2017. Stephanie Ceman graduated from Berlin High School in 1983. At that time she headed for UW-Madison, planning to go to medical school. While there she majored in bacteriology and graduated with distinction in 1987. Part of her preparation for medical school included research in a genetics lab. This became her focus and in 1994 earned her PhD in Genetics. Because she was working on the genetics of the immune system Stephanie’s next course was to pursue the cell biology of the immune system and from that obtained a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago in Immunology.
Continuing her journey she went to Emory University in Atlanta as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute research associate. In time she was promoted to research assistant professor at Emory.
In 2003, Stephanie became affiliated with the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, where she does research and publishes in peer-reviewed journals and books, in addition to teaching medical genetics to first year medical students. Over the years she has attended numerous conferences, given invited talks in the U.S. and abroad, and co-holds a patent for work done at Emory University.
Outside of her teaching and research assignments, Stephanie joined Kiwanis International in her area in 2012 and has been involved in several of their projects including the Challenger League which is a baseball league for any child who cannot play in Little League – due to limited mobility or cognitive impairment. She became Game Manager in 2014. Since 2004 she has participated in the EPC program…Education to Careers and Profession Program, mentoring high school students and run by the local school district.
Dr. Ceman is currently Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. She is an affiliate faculty member of Beckman Institute; an affiliate member of the Institute Genomic Biology at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign; and Associate Professor at Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Her emphasis in research is the role of genes in cognition and research on Fragile X Syndrome.
Dr. Ceman stated that the best advice she can give a graduate is to identify how to get paid for doing something you love. As someone once told her: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
A quote by Robert H. Schuller found on one of her paperweights has inspired her: “What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?“
