Summer 2009 22, 3 - Lindbergh School District

2009 Distinguished Educators
Lou Lunte
ou Lunte was born and raised in
L north St. Louis, graduating from
Beaumont High School in 1943. Lou
graduated from Washington University
in 1950 with a degree in liberal arts/
social science and was immediately
hired by the newly formed R8
(Lindbergh) School District to teach
science, math and civics.
Lou left Lindbergh in 1954 to teach in
Colorado, where he earned his
master’s degree, but returned to St.
Louis in 1957 after receiving a
fellowship to study physics at Wash U. for one year. In
the fall of 1958, he was rehired at Lindbergh where he
worked until he retired in 1983.
During his time at LHS, Lou mentored many new
teachers in addition to touching the lives of thousands
of students. The Spirit yearbook was dedicated to Lou
in 1965 and again in 1975, along with Herman Haeger
and Al Jaworski. Lou is one of only three individuals to
be honored in this way more than once.
The 1965 dedication read as follows, “For his
Robert Tobler
obert Tobler began teaching at
R LHS in 1956 and taught Instrumental
Music in the district before becoming
Director of Instrumental Music
in 1965. Mr. Tobler retired in 1998.
According to past students, Mr. Tobler
had the ability to instill a striving for excellence
in his students while making
every bit of it enjoyable. One recalls,
“His wonderful sense of humor made
me look forward to band class; there
was always something special about
the days when Mr. Tobler led the band.
On those days, the students would sit
up a little straighter and a certain excitement
would fill the air. Under his
guidance, we became the best band in the area. Mr.
Tobler taught me a love of music and always challenged
me to do my best. ‘Is this good enough’ is a
question that would never have been asked in his class
– only your best was acceptable. It was Mr. Tobler’s
influence that led to my becoming a teacher myself. He
was a teacher who truly enjoyed what he did and it was
evident every day to his students.”
3
A Touch of Class • Summer 2009
participation in the affairs of both
Lindbergh High School and the
community, as an exceptional teacher
of social studies, biology and advanced
biology, as the sponsor of the Biology
Club, as an active member of the
Science Teachers’ Group, the past
president of the Lindbergh Community
Teachers’ Association, and an
enthusiastic and hard worker for the
Washington University Science Fair,
we, the yearbook staff are proud to
dedicate this 1965 Spirit to Mr. Louis
Lunte, a man who has unselfishly
dedicated himself, since 1952 to the
education of many Lindbergh students
who have had the privilege of associating with him.”
Students remember Lunte as a wonderful teacher who
turned kids on to science. One student remembers that
he was the only teacher who gave her a passing grade
despite her failure to do well on written tests due to a
reading disability. “He took my class participation into
account and knew that I understood what he was
teaching. I will always be grateful to Mr. Lunte for not
giving up on me.”
Lunte and his wife, Shirley, have five children and now
live in Nevada.
30 years.”
Another student remembers that when
the Jazz Band would play, Tobler would
just sit back and smile as though to say
“I am really enjoying this performance.”
He had a real bond with his band students.
Tobler’s influence on some students
began way before they ever entered
LHS, though. “When Mr. Tobler
came to our class in 5 th grade and
played that wha-wha on the trombone,
and all those comical sounds you hear
at the circus or in the background of a
cartoon, I just knew I had to play it. Not
only was it a great sound, but the way
he smiled and laughed, I knew I wanted
him to be my teacher. Mr. Tobler taught
me a skill that I have used for the last
Tobler also taught life lessons. “I learned a lot about
the music business, entertaining and not sweating the
small stuff from Mr. Tobler. He instilled in me an attitude
for which I will be forever grateful. Thanks, Mr.
Tobler, for your guidance, talent and friendship. I’m
richer because of you.”