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Presence and personality: RememberingNick Speharby Bobby Berridge, vice president for operationsBob Berridge shared this eulogy at Nick Spehar’s funeralon July 9 at St. Jerome Croatian Catholic Church,Chicago.Thank you, Lord, for putting us in a family withNick!If anyone on earth knew what the word “home”means, it was Nick. Home is where you go andthings are consistent, dependable, the same—andpeople know your name.Forty-five yearsNick came to work at LSTC in November of 1967,two months after the school opened in Hyde Park. Hecleaned and fixed and wateredthings, but, more importantly,was there consistently, dependably,creating family.For 45 years he was there.People came and left for a lotof different reasons—you knowfamilies. Forty-five new classesof students, perhaps 4,500 students,came and left. Hundredsof faculty and staff came andleft. Seven different presidentscame and left. Nick was stillthere.Interim President PhilHougen, first came to LSTC as astudent in 1968. He came backfor a doctor of ministry degree;then he came back as Bishopof Southeastern Iowa Synod. A Nick Speharfew years ago, he came back asBoard Chair and then as InterimPresident. Over the years, as he traveled throughoutthe church, people asked him about LSTC, “Howis it going?” He would tell them about students orfaculty, new things happening at the seminary, andthen he’d say, “Yes, Nick is still there.”PersonalityNow Nick was not just presence. Nick was personality.Everyone knew Nick—in the halls, at the frontdesk, outside in the courtyard. He talked to everyone:plumber or preacher, prince or pauper. Nicktalked to you, joked with you, cared for you.He would make up special names for people:“preacher,” “boss,” “trouble.” Or special sayings,“I’m gonna keep an eye on you!” “That’s going tocost you a little extra.” “Slow down, you make medizzy.” “Stop planning so much…I don’t know if Ieven be here tomorrow.”He would say it all with his wonderful smile.As we go through this day and the days to come,listen to the stories—stories where Nick will continueto make us smile.Tell the story about the day that MikeHuckelberry gave Nick a ride to the hardware storeon the back of his motorcycleand popped a wheelie all theway down University Avenue.Nick held on so tight he nearlybroke Mike’s ribs—and hewalked back to the school.Remember how he almostburned down housing becausehe left soup on the stove whenhe walked up to the store andstopped to talk to a neighbor.Tell about how one yearthe seniors talked him intoroasting 12 pigs in back ofthe Conference Center and heended up doing it all himself.Talk about the dayWilliam Lesher came to hisinterview to be president andthe students put a sign on thebuilding: “Nick for President.”Or tell how Nick drovethe new John Deere tractor down the sidewalk andwhile he was waving at the students in the cafeteria,ran into the glass at the front door.Blessed to serveI have worked with Nick since 1984. Others haveworked with him longer and know him better, butwe all have been blessed to know and serve God’sKingdom with Nick—the man who knew what itmeant to be family.11