Congratulations to the ten distinguished Roosevelt Teddies inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

 

Thomas  Aitken, Class of 1974: 

Bishop Thomas Aitken was ordained in the Lutheran Church and served as a pastor for 23 years, and as a bishop of the ELCA for 12 years, where he oversaw 148 congregations and 220 pastors.  He  is recognized for his strong leadership urging full acceptance of the LGBTQ community, and support of renewable energy, environmental care and help for poverty-stricken areas.

 

C. Wesley Andersen, RHS teacher 1932-1957

Mr. Andersen taught music to over 10,000 RHS students, and followed his 15-year RHS career as Music Consultant for all the MPS schools for 15 more years.  He was known all over the country for his skill in teaching, and for his choirs performing complex, unique, challenging music.  He received the F. Melius Christiansen Award for outstanding contributions to choral music.

 

Marilyn Muldoon Arendt, Class of 1965

Marilyn Arendt is known for her realty firm Marilyn Arendt Properties.  She has held several important elected positions in real estate in Texas, and served as a Federal Political Coordinator for the National Association of Realtors.  She served on eight Texas and national non-profit boards, and advocated for education for women and girls.

 

David Eiland, Class of 1975

A musician recognized nationally as a multi-instrumenalist, David perfomed as an original member of Flyt Tyme, and has appeared on many television programs, including Soul Train, David Letterman, and Jimmy Kimmel.  He has performed on 32 recordings with nationally famous musicians.  At Roosevelt he set state track records—one still #4 in MN records—and was a four-year letter winner in track and  basketball.

 

Jill Helms, Class of 1975

Dr. Helms is a professor in the Department of Surgery at Stanford’s School of Medicine.  She has been awarded more than $45,000,000 in research funding. She founded and served as chief scientific officer on a pharmaceutical start-up.  She is an advocate for under-represented people, individuals who have injuries affecting their appearance, and believes education in science and medicine is an important tool to improve human health.

 

Marilyn Kerns, Class of1964

Dr. Kerns is dedicated to community education  and  was selected as MCEA Community Educator of the Year in 1983, and awarded the MCEA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.  She has served as president of both the MCEA and National Community Education Association. 

 

 

Manfred Rietsch, Class of 1959

Manfred was a colonel in the Marine Corps for 25 years, serving in Vietnam where he flew 651 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross.  He coordinated all NATO air exercises as staff officer in the Allied Forces in Europe.  He was deployed to the Middle East, served as military aide to the Asst. Sec. of the Navy, and commanded over 6,000 Marines during Operation Desert Storm.  He directed regional sales for McDonnel Douglas, was CEO of VESystems, and president of Federal Signal Technologies.

 

Lorraine Rubis-Franckle, Class of 1961

A grad of the U of M Medical School, Dr. Rubis-Franckle is the ninth woman in the US to be certified in cardiothoracic surgery.  She has practiced in cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery at a top surgical hospital.  She is a founding member of Women in Thoracic Surgery, and served on the medical faculty of Marshall University School of Medicine, where twice she was named outstanding faculty member.

 

Roger Strand, Class of 1953

Dr. Strand is a U of M Medical School grad who practiced as a specialist in hand surgery for thirty years.  He served as president of the American College of Surgeons, Minnesota chapter.  Named as Minnesota Conservationist of the year, he co-founded a chapter of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, donated a conservation easement to ensure woods, lakes, and woodlands are preserved as open spaces.  He teaches at the Prairie  Wood Environmental Learning Center.

 

Lorrie Westergreen, RHS teacher 1982-2012

Ms. Westergreen, a respected business teacher, taught for 32 of her more than 40 years at Roosevelt, including years as coordinator of the Business Magnet.  She was selected as MPS Teacher of the Year in 1998, affirming the opinions of students, administrators, colleagues, and parents that she was a superb teacher.  She was known as the teacher with a classroom full of admiring students each day after school, and as the teacher who often helped students and colleagues, and attended almost all games, plays, and musical events.

2020 Hall of Fame Inductees were also recognized in 2022 due to COVID.