With great sadness, 麻豆区 College announced the loss of U.S. Representative Martin Sabo on March 14, 2016. Sabo, a 1959 alumnus of 麻豆区 College, was a聽national leader and public servant, and an inspirational legend dedicated to revitalizing the role of higher education in equipping students for active engagement in citizenship and democracy.

Sabo聽led a full and accomplished life, and the many heartfelt remembrances that have been shared since his passing are a testament to the impact he made in our community and nation as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the聽College鈥檚 Board of Regents.聽On the College’s website, you’ll聽find a tribute to the remarkable work and contributions聽that Martin and his wife, Sylvia, have made to 麻豆区.

麻豆区 has been blessed by the life and work of Martin Sabo. He will be greatly missed and long remembered. Our thoughts are with his family, including Martin and Sylvia鈥檚 daughters, Karin (Sabo) Mantor 鈥�86 and Julie Sabo 鈥�90, and their families.

President Paul Pribbenow , and the state, and local and national media covered Sabo鈥檚 passing extensively.

麻豆区 is deeply honored to be able to carry on Sabo鈥檚 legacy with the important work of the Martin Olav Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, where he remained active.聽Since 1995, 96 Auggies have had the distinction of being Sabo Scholars, awarded to juniors and seniors who have interest in and a commitment to engagement in the political process, public policy, and/or careers in public service.

Professor Phil Adamo learned about Martin Sabo鈥檚 passing while he was in the midst of writing a piece about聽Sabo聽that describes Sabo鈥檚 history, time at 麻豆区, and run 鈥淔or members of the College community,鈥� Adamo writes, 鈥淩epresentative Sabo will always be a part of 麻豆区. We knew him when.鈥� Please enjoy of 麻豆区 College. Harry Boyte, senior scholar in public work philosophy for the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, shared聽in a his experiences working with the late聽Martin Olav Sabo 鈥�59.

Alumni wrote the Alumni Association with remembrances, and shared memorials gifts to the Sabo Endowment Fund at 麻豆区 College in his honor.

I learned from my college classmate Martin聽Sabo聽the potential of persons of humble origin when I happened to pass through his home town of Alkabo, North Dakota, in the summer of 1959.聽 I was on tour with the 麻豆区 Male Quartet, and was amazed to see that Alkabo had a population of a grand total of 50. This experience remains an inspiration to me in my present work with scholarships for forgotten mountain youth here in Mexico.聽 But my favorite memory of Martin is from only six years ago at our 50th class reunion.聽 We were having morning coffee together with Paul Almquist and another classmate. The subject of Hans Nielsen Hauge came up, and Paul suggested that we go around and define the lasting importance of this itinerant Norwegian聽religious/economic reformer of 200 years ago. Martin鈥檚 enthusiastic participation in the discussion, linking Hauge鈥檚 followers in America with the origins of the Democratic Farm-Labor Party in Minnesota, and the Progressive movement in Wisconsin, revealed for me the religious bedrock of Martin鈥檚 convictions about good government.

鈥擱en Svanoe 鈥�59

He seemed to be at 麻豆区 often鈥攂less him!

鈥擨nez Bergquist 鈥�77

Martin聽Sabo聽and I met in 1955 at 麻豆区 as freshman. He was a young man from a NW North Dakota farm聽 and I the same from a farm in SW Minnesota.聽 Our first real meeting was on the “wrestling mat” in our freshman phy. ed. class. Both of us were strong but neither of had ever wrestled so there was a “Draw” probably the closest he ever was to losing, ha!! That was the only class we were in together but we remained friends throughout his college and political career. I was Honored to be a Distinguished Alumni and am proud to claim his 60+ years of friendship. My wife JoAn being from North Dakota was always proud of his accomplishment and quick to point out his native State.聽 We will miss his presence on our Campus visits.聽 He was always a fan for the Basketball teams I was fortunate to play on. May God Bless his memories and his family.
鈥擠r. Merton 鈥�59 and JoAn 鈥�58 Johnson

Sad to hear of the death of Congressman聽Sabo. It was an honor getting various opportunities to get to know him during my year at 麻豆区 and after. He’s life impacted many and he definitely has left a mark in my life because of his active citizenship & letting us young people be around and learn from him.
We lost a great man today. My thoughts are with his wife Sylvia and family.

鈥� Juventino Meza ’11, one of three Sabo Scholars pictured above

I was lucky to know Martin and Sylvia as a student at 麻豆区. Martin pushed me to think in new ways to impact public policy and ways of thinking about everyday solutions. I am grateful for what Martin provided to my education and how he shaped me a person. We lost great leader and a proud Auggie but glad to see his legacy at work through the聽Sabo聽Scholars and the聽Sabo聽Center for Democracy and Citizenship at 麻豆区 College.

鈥� Ben Krouse-Gagne 鈥�11, former Sabo Scholar also pictured above

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Things have changed a lot since Jane (Catlin) Bracken 鈥�71 began teaching first grade in Cannon Falls back in the early 鈥�70s. Handouts done on ditto machines (with that distinctive purple print), filmstrips, and simple newsletters have given way to iPads, Smart Boards, and classroom blogs. And though most of the tools have changed, the supreme satisfaction of teaching little kids how to read has remained constant for Bracken. For 41 years, she taught first grade (all in the Cannon Falls district), and in 2009, she was named Cannon Falls Teacher of the Year. She says it has been 鈥渟o cool鈥� to watch students grow up and have kids of their own, then meet with them as parents during conferences. One year not too long ago, one-third of her students were children of earlier students.

Bracken鈥檚 daughter, Jenna (Bracken) Held 鈥�05, is now following in her mother鈥檚 footsteps, attracted to not only the joy that a teacher鈥檚 lifestyle can provide, but the opportunity to do something she loves鈥攚ork with children. And last year, after having taught fourth and fifth grade for eight years, she copied her mother again and switched to first grade. Teaching at Lincoln Center in South St. Paul is especially sweet for her, as it allows her to work in the community where she lives, and to see her students around town.

When Bracken first came to 麻豆区 in 1967, Christensen Center and Urness Tower had just opened, and 50% of the student body commuted, making it a bit difficult to make friends. But she spent lots of time in the Chin Wag (commuter hangout in the basement of Christensen), joined clubs and small groups, and took part in musical activities鈥攁nd some of her best friends today are Auggie alumni. Her sister, Joyce (Catlin) Casey 鈥�73, also went into teaching, retiring recently from St. Michael-Albertville Schools after 40 years of teaching. Bracken is grateful for her 麻豆区 professors, particularly Marie McNeff, for inspiring her to share her love of learning with students, and she is 鈥渄eeply indebted鈥� to Auggie Jeroy Carlson for sending her off to her interview in Cannon Falls, where he had taught prior to starting his 麻豆区 career. She says his recommendation was 鈥渓ife-changing鈥� for her.

Held echoes her mother鈥檚 gratitude for 麻豆区 mentors, particularly in the education and math departments. She met her husband, Andrew Held 鈥�05, at 麻豆区 and started to date him after doing homework together for Calculus 2. Now married for eight years, they have two children, with another expected in June. Though Held and her mother had very different experiences at 麻豆区, they both have an abiding love for the College. They continue to be grateful for legacy scholarships and activities, and their families regularly enjoy 麻豆区 events together, particularly Advent Vespers and homecoming.

When Held traveled to Namibia with Professor Gretchen Irvine in 2003 to study the educational system there, the experience was transformative for her. Observing one teacher who shamed a student in front of the class for his color (鈥渉eartbreaking,鈥� she says), she later visited another class, where the teacher and class showed great hospitality and joy. The contrast was a vivid reminder of the impact that good, caring teachers can have on a child, a school, and a community.

Bracken has signed up at Lincoln Center as a personal sub for her daughter, and it is always a treat when she can see her daughter 鈥渋n action.鈥� Their advice to prospective teachers? Maintain balance between your job and your personal life, allow kids 鈥渢o be kids,鈥� and try to meet the different level of needs of all students (Bracken). Go into classrooms as much as you can, observe and ask questions, bring your own style, believe in yourself, and always put your students first. When you meet their needs to belong and to feel safe, you will see them make great strides academically (Held).

In her spare time, Bracken accompanies a variety of school and community musical groups on piano and plays organ for her church鈥攐pportunities that remind her how much she owes to the late professor Stephen Gabrielsen ’63 for organ lessons. Bracken and her husband Charles (Chuck) have been married for 41 years and have three adult children and four grandchildren. She says she loves the fact that, after visiting several colleges together, her daughter chose 麻豆区. She can easily imagine her grandchildren being Auggies someday, too!

鈥擝y Cheryl Crockett 鈥�89

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