Oct 22, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated in 2015.Robert Wright was a member of one of the early families of Berlin, the first one arriving here in 1853. Through all the generations the Wrights held a keen interest in community and worked for its betterment. Robert, of the fourth generation, was no different. After graduating from Berlin High School in 1920, he spent about two years at Beloit College and then went to work for Blair & Co. of Chicago, (an investment company) from 1925 to 1929 until the stock market crashed. In 1930, he and his father, Fred W. Wright started the Berlin Finance Co. He remained with this company until 1944 when it was liquidated.
He was then named President of the First National Bank of Berlin and remained in that position until his death in 1969. The bank enjoyed steady growth under his leadership. In 1952 he was one of a group of community-minded local investors who formed the Berlin Industrial Development Corporation. This corporation was responsible for bringing several businesses to Berlin, increasing job opportunities for the area.
In his 25 years as President and Chairman of the Board of the First National Bank, he worked tirelessly to encourage businesses to locate to Berlin sometimes using money from his own pocket. Many unsecured loans in those days were made on good faith and Bob’s belief in each person’s ability. Only after his death did people learn of some of his philanthropic deeds. He took it upon himself to mentor young people who showed promise and drive, writing letters of recommendation and helping them find their path. He was said to be as much a friend to the janitor as he was to CEOs of large corporations.
The first Wrights developed a slogan: ‘Wright wrongs no man’ and each succeeding generation lives by that creed. Pearls of wisdom he liked to share with his family and others: It’s OK to make a mistake……just don’t make the same mistake twice. And ‘Say hello to everyone and remember their name.
Oct 22, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Christine Stark Christepherson graduated from Berlin High School in 1975. She went on to earn a B.A. in music education at St. Olaf College serving as co-concert Mistress of the St. Olaf Orchestra during her time there. An accomplished violinist, she had been a member of the Oshkosh Civic Symphony during grades 7 to 12 honing her skills and experiences.
“Mrs. C surely was a force for the good parts of life.” “Mrs. C. made me the person I am today.” These quotes, attributed to Christine, are just a sample of the many from former students.
She did not command a huge salary or a title other than Director of Music at Hillman Community Schools, a remote low-income area in the northern part of lower Michigan. She did command love, respect, and eternal thankfulness from her students who yet today witness to how she changed their lives for the better and made them the people they are today – even now, two years after her death and ten years after being stricken with a brain stem aneurysm.
Having very little money to work with did not stop Chris from having an excellent school music program. She not only repaired, laundered and altered band uniforms when needed, but repaired band instruments as well. She taught band and choir, K-12, most of her 21 years at Hillman. Her teaching skills took the High School band and choirs to MSBOA Competitions on numerous occasions and received several 1 and 2 ratings.
Christine shared her musical talents with the community, playing organ and piano for her church, violin in the Alpena Symphony Orchestra, and in trios and quartets at weddings and funerals. She was also very involved in the lives of her family. When her brain injury stole most of these things from her, she still found ways to participate in life, family and church.
Her favorite sayings: “Set your sights on a challenge and enjoy the experience. Use your skills to make a difference at home and at work.” “If you open up to music it can take you anywhere. Music does not judge or care how good at it you are, but that you appreciate it for the art that it is.”
Oct 22, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated in 2015. After graduation from Berlin High School in 1936, Ben Seaman was working in a factory in Milwaukee when the 2nd World War began. Because that industry was essential to the war effort his entry into the U.S. Navy was delayed. It was while he was on ship in the South Pacific that he read about a new car to be built and sold in the “States.” He wrote to the Kaiser-Frazer company asking about a franchise. He got his answer at another port and the Berlin native became an automobile dealer. Thus, the West Side Garage was born. The first home for the dealership was an old ice cream factory.
Seaman built his West Side garage business, selling over 1,000 automobiles from 1946 to 1953. With the exception of one dealer in Milwaukee, the Seaman agency became the largest in Wisconsin, setting records for the company even though those cars were not the most popular in the American market.
While on a hunting trip in Canada, Ben was stricken with polio in 1952. He was able to overcome the disease but he walked with a noticeable limp for the rest of his life.
Over the next several years Seaman added new dealerships to his stable of cars and added property to grow his West Side dealership to encompass an entire city block. He also purchased a bus company that still operates today….Mascoutin Transporation.
His interest in his community, its welfare and its people are evident by the number of organizations he belonged to, worked for, and lead. He was one of nine men who started the Berlin Community Development Corporation, a corporation dedicated to bringing new businesses to Berlin.
His huge entrepreneurship is matched by his generosity in helping other people start up their own businesses. He was always willing to sit down with anyone and share with them his experiences, successes and failures. Ben Seaman had an ‘open door’ policy long before the term became a catch phrase for society.
His favorite saying was: The harder you work, the more successful you will be.
Mar 27, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2014
Rolf Peterson graduated from Berlin High School in 1957. Not having an interest in college, he joined the Navy. While serving his country he began to realize he had the intelligence to go to college. After the Navy he enrolled at Oshkosh State College (now UW-Oshkosh). He received a Bachelor of Science Degree and then went on to graduate school at the U. of Iowa. His first year was very difficult and he was on probation and then failed his first dissertation defense. With determination he pressed on and later had his M.A. thesis published during the 4th year of the program. He received his PhD., Clinical Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1970.
In his early years, he focused on child clinical research. He spent two years as a visiting lecturer at the University of Western Australia (Perth) and began to develop a strong focus on adult health psychology. After returning to the states, he joined the Chicago Medical School as Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training (DOCT). He also served as Department Chair, 1984-86. While there he continued work with a colleague doing research on Anxiety Sensitivity and was the first author of the original ASI manual.
In 1986 he joined the Department of Psychology at George Washington University as Professor and DOCT. He remained in this position until 2005, also serving as Acting Department Chair for three years. Dr. Peterson served on several special ad hoc appeal committees and a variety of other university and department committees, many American Psychological Association committees and served as Chair of the Site Visit Team to over 20 universities for the Committee on Accreditation for the APA, until his retirement in 2013.
Dr. Peterson was a licensed Psychologist his entire career and also Board Certified in Clinical Health Psychology. He is author or co-author on over 100 research and scholarly publications. He was the Dissertation Director for 81 students over a 44 year span.
In 2012 Dr. Peterson received “Outstanding Leadership and Dedication to Board Certification” Award from the American Board of Clinical Health Psychology. Upon retirement the Psychology Department at George Washington University created the ‘Rolf A. Peterson Scholarship for Doctoral Students at the Meltzer Center’ (the Psychology Department Clinic).
Dr. Peterson’s accomplishments are inspirational given the fact that he was Learning Disabled throughout his student life struggling academically through elementary school, high school and beyond.
Mar 27, 2015 | Inspiration Wall Honorees
Nominated 2014
David C. Good graduated from Berlin High School in 1966. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from UW-Madison and later his M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) from that school. He spent his residency at the University of Minnesota Hospital, Minneapolis, in Neurology.
He is an academic neurologist and has been Professor and Chair of Neurology at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pa. since 2004. Previously he served on the faculty of Southern Illinois University in Springfield and Wake Forrest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. He is certified through the National Board of Medical Examiners: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; and American Society of Neurorehabiltation. The list of Consultant and Staff appointments for him is long and impressive.
Dr. Good’s career has involved research, patient care and teaching medical students and resident physicians. He very much enjoys the teaching aspect of his duties. He is an internationally known researcher and educator in the field of Rehabilitative Neurology, specializing in strokes.
Throughout his career he has published many scientific articles, book chapters, and three books. He has been invited to give lectures throughout the U.S. and world-wide. He has accepted leadership roles in several scientific and professional organizations. Many honors have come his way, among them: Phi Beta Kappa; Alpha Omega: Alpha (Medical Honor Society); ‘Best Doctors in the U. S.’ and ‘America’s Top Physicians.’ “He absolutely loves his work; it is his passion and far more than a vocation,” stated his nominator.
Dr. Good stated “I still consider Wisconsin my ‘home’ and am grateful to the many outstanding teachers at Berlin High School who supported my education and encouraged my future career.
