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Richard Olenchek Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Richard Olenchek
JAMES WIGDERSON
September 18, 2008
To Dick's family,
My son James has a blog and this was posted on it:
RIP Richard Olenchek
Richard Olenchek died from pancreatic cancer on Saturday. He was 70 years old. The obituary in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says he was a teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools for 35 years. I knew him for four.
As head coach of the girls softball team at Vincent High School, he got to know my dad through a fundraiser they worked out for the team. By the time I got to High School it was already decided for me that I would be a member of the Math Team. That's how Dick Olenchek and my dad worked.
Mr. Olenchek could drive me nuts. We would go to math competitions where I was expected to use every shortcut I could to answer the questions quickly. Then back in the classroom he would mark my homework and test answers wrong -even when I had the right answer- with a note, "show your work."
My senior year of high school I neatly planned my schedule so that the last hour of the day was a study hall which meant that I would be leaving early. I also had a study hall earlier in the day where Mr. Olenchek tracked me down to tell me not to go anywhere at the end of the day, but to report to the math office. He told me that he was pleased to discover that I had free time at the end of the day that I could sit in the math office and correct homework and do other things for him. He asked if he needed to confirm this with my father. No, don't bother, I told him. It's not going to change anything.
On the other hand, he once offered to act as my lawyer. Part of the reason I had such a light workload my senior year (aside from already being able to graduate as a junior) was that I was going to spend a month abroad in Israel. My English teacher, rather than give me an incomplete for the grading period and let me make up the work later like everyone else, somehow managed to give me a "C". The result was I was technically grounded, even though my overall grade point average was 3.5 for the semester. Mr. Olenchek couldn't believe any of it, the grade, my "grounding", and he told my father he was willing to act in my defense in any court my dad set up.
During one grading period in his class I think I accidentally punished the rest of the class. He was in front of class wondering aloud if we were going to get in two tests before grades closed. I quickly figured out I needed two more tests squeezed in. I had a rare bad test earlier, and two tests instead of one meant I could keep an A average in his class. I accidentally let this slip aloud, bringing a chuckle from Mr. Olenchek. I don't think it was any surprise to my classmates when he did, in fact, managed to get two tests in.
Maybe he owed it to me. Before one math competition my sophomore year some teacher from another school just went on and on to Mr. Olenchek about his brilliant student. Mr. Olenchek didn't say anything. The "brilliant student" and I ended up tied for best in the city that day. Mr. Olenchek later told my dad how much I made his life easier that afternoon.
It was probably the least I could do. After all, I had a great teacher.
Dawn Hoefler
September 8, 2008
Dear Olenchek Family,
I was so sorry when I heard about Mr. Olenchek from a fellow student at Vincent High School. I am a 1988 graduate of Vincent and I had Mr. Olenchek for junior year Algebra 2. He was an excellent teacher....my favorite at Vincent. I nearly flunked Algebra my freshman year but with him as my teacher I got A's and B's. He was one of the best teachers I ever had and he had a great sense of humor. My heart and prayers go out to you. God Bless.
Tracy Uhrman Dwyer
August 28, 2008
Sue and Family,
I am sorry for all that you are going through. I was saddened by the news and devastated that I did not know in time to make it to the services. Mr. O was one of a kind. As a teacher, coach, mentor and later a friend, he had a huge impact on me. I will be forever grateful.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Louise & Dennis Cannizzaro
August 28, 2008
Dear Sue
We were so sorry to hear about your dear husband, Dick. We met you both when you were visiting the O'Connors in Florida, and again when we came to Wisconsin for Irish Fest. We send you and your family our sympathy.
Tom Koepp
August 27, 2008
Dear Olenchek Family:
Dick will be deeply missed by me, and I want to express my sympathy to the olenchek family for their loss.
Dick and I came from the same general area in Milwaukee and were real good friends in high school and afterwards. Dick helped me get through high school physics. I will always remember Dick when I look at the special picture of Dick on the wall in my study from a reunion of Pulaski football players that I look at almost every day. My wife and I will keep Dick and his wife and family in our prayers.
Todd Brown
August 25, 2008
Dear Olenchek family,
I'm so very sorry to hear about your loss. Where can I start about Dick? What an incredible man!! As I read notes in this guest book I am absolutely amazed at the number of people who's lives he touched deeply!! It is very obvious the Dick has and will continue to live on through the beautiful imprint he has left on so many people in this world. Thank you Dick for every precious second you gave us.
Steve Feyrer-Melk
August 24, 2008
Dear Olenchek Family,
The pain of the loss of your beloved husband and father can be countered by his favor in God's eyes.
Dick was one of the best people I have ever had the the pleasure of knowing. I have always considered him my "Milwaukee Father" as I spent many days sleeping at his house and eating his food. During those college summers training with his son Dave, I was welcomed with open arms into his home. Seeing him on game day brought a smile, even after a loss on the field. His ability to communicate just the right words with his gravely voice, was unique and always cut to the chase. His sense of humor trumpted me on every occasion.
My heart is with your family during this most difficult time. Be strong together and know that Dick is home, sitting in his chair with the Lord at his side and the angels as his students.
Love, Steve
Don Zapfel
August 23, 2008
Mr. O was a great teacher. I was inspired by his humor and dedication to helping kids learn. He impacted every student he came into contact with, whether it was in the classroom, in the halls, or out on the field. I would say that he was one of the few teachers that inspired me to become a teacher and now administrator.
Fred Unger
August 23, 2008
Olie was a great guy and a wonderful friend. I have wonderful menories of our times in high school and all the fun we had. He was a great family man and a wonderful teacher. He will be missed by all. My wife and I will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers.
Pat Parks
August 22, 2008
Dick and I team taught a couple of classes in 1968 or 69. He was a terrific teacher and a very fine person. His funeral was a wonderful tribute to him. You are all in our prayers. Pat Parks (and Jim)
Greg Kroll
August 22, 2008
I yet reside in the very block on the south side of Milwaukee where Dick lived as a boy. When I was maybe around seven years old, Dick's older brother, Rollie, and I would play alley touch football all the time against Dick and my older brother and Dick's best friend, Dave. Rollie would block, and I would follow and we would rumble through the smaller Dick and Dave. If the run didn't work, Rollie would have just have me throw him a pass with his superior height. All he would have to tell me was "Gregga, Watch Your Pegga". We were unstoppable! Dick and Dave got their payback when they were in high school and I was in grade school (four years younger). We'd constantly play "stickball" on a vacant lot at the top of the block on which we lived. Well, Dick and Dave ("College All Stars") would play me and either friends Dennis Walton, James Barant, Dennis Kolata, or Darrel Laschen and they would continually beat us five out of seven. We would often mimic swings and name the players of our major league favorite ballplayers. Dick had a picture perfect left handed swing and he was often Eddie Mathews or Ted Williams. The games would be very competitive and confrontational as the pitcher called balls and strikes! It taught us all the challenge to excell and certainly gave us a "will to win". Thanks. Dick, for the boyhood memories!
HIEU NGUYEN
August 22, 2008
Dear Paul and Olenchek's Family,
I heard the new today from Mike Lisser and I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
God Bless
Eric and Brenda Regenfelder
August 22, 2008
Olenchek Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I will always remember Dick's great sense of humor as well as his laugh. Peace to all.
Erv Scheibengraber
August 22, 2008
Dick's passion was evident in and out of the classroom, he was truly one of the greatest teachers I ever had the honor to work with. I will always remember the boundless energy and enthusiasm that he brought to the classroom, school, softball diamond, our community... need I go on? His spirit lives on in all of the lives he touched... again far too many to count. God Bless.
Terri Herrmann (Polk)
August 22, 2008
Olenchek Family,
I am so very sorry about your loss. Olie holds a special place in my heart. He was, for me, a teacher, coach, friend and mentor. I feel truly blessed to have known him.
James Wigderson
August 21, 2008
http://wigdersonlibrarypub.blogspot.com/2008/08/rip-richard-olenchek.html
He had a tremendous impact on my life and I will never forget him.
Cindy Pasbrig
August 21, 2008
Dear Olenchek Family,
I am truly sorry for your loss. Mr. Olenchek was my softball coach at Vincent. There are so many memories of him that will never be forgotten. He was the greatest coach and his winning record proved it. He will be missed.
WILLIAM D WIGDERSON
August 21, 2008
To Olie's family,
I first met Olie in the early 80's. My neighbor, Jim Brengosz's daughter Barbie was a pitcher on Vincent's soft ball team and Jim invited me to go to a game. I went and soon found myself fascinated by Olie's coaching. Maybe it was because I had been the Head Coach of Marquette University's Club Football Team in the mid 70's for several years. Watching Him was like watching a chess master playing a dozen games at the same time...A thing of beauty to behold. I went to several games and it was always the same!!! I got to know him on a personal level when I served as President of the Vincent Booster Club for 3 years in the Mid 80's. I often stopped by the math department's office as both he and Mr. Zwick where head coaches. But what I remember best about Olie was when my youngest son got a D in Algebra (his older brother was a Mathlete) and I told Olie I wanted him to repeat the class...At first Olie's reaction was "but he passed why would you want him to take it again"....Because he didn't get it!!! I must have been the first parent to make such a request because it took Olie several days to get an OK.
It is a testament to his memory the number of lives that he touched in so many ways!!! You elf (with the pipe) was truly 1 in a million!!!
Deanne Hawthorne (Hamilton)
August 21, 2008
Olenchek Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Olenchek was my softball coach and teacher at Vincent. He will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. God Bless
Marilyn Kesselhon
August 21, 2008
Dear Olenchek family,
You have my deepest sympathy. I came to know Dick as a lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UW-Milwaukee. Over the years, we developed a friendship and mutual respect for each other. I will miss his presence in the department and the opportunity to read, each semester, his stellar teaching evaluations. I review all the evaluations from the numerous sections each semester and his have always been among the "excellent" group. His deep devotion to his students and his sense of humor will be missed by the students taking Math 095 this upcoming semester. And I will (and have) missed his presence in our department.
Kristina Lawniczak(Roeske)
August 21, 2008
Dear Olenchek Family,
I am sorry to hear about your loss. Mr. Olenchek was a great softball coach. He was an inspiration to us all. He had a way of lighting a fire under you to make you the best he knew you could be. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Thayre Faust
August 21, 2008
The call on Monday night, 8/18, from a fellow VHS classmate, informing me that Mr. Olenchek had passed away, struck my heart and moved me to tears. Any teacher who can make a forty something woman cry at just mentioning his death must be special. Yes, ‘Olie’ was special, very special!! My prayers and sympathies are with his family and many friends who he has touched!
Cancer is a ferocious bug when it attacks your body, I’ve been there, I know. While it may have beaten his body, I can hear through Sue and the family that it didn’t win his interminable spirit. Many wonderful thoughts and memories of him will remain forever in my mind’s eye. I’ll share just a very few.
I count myself blessed to have known Dick and that I was able to share in his life and learn from him. He was a tough teacher and, at times, I could almost say intimidating. He pushed his students hard to help them reach their greatest potential. He invoked a ‘can-do’ spirit in his protégés. I know, because he encouraged me so that I went on to college to pursue a mathematics degree. He moved quickly at the board – his dexterity at being able to erase with his right hand while writing with his left is unmatched. His trademark signature, RTO, graced our graded papers. He had nearly an ethereal presence – you couldn’t miss his pipe smoke when you entered the math department halls. He had a fatherly temperament – you could trust him to be able to share any confidence. The twinkle and laughter in his eyes always made me think he was a leprechaun. With Dick, you could always sense the care and compassion. One of the only things that I couldn’t ever get straight with him was to get him to believe that soccer is the better sport.
After moving beyond the walls of Vincent High School, I continued to remain in touch with Dick. I sometimes joined him at the Ripon – Lawrence football games. His son played at Ripon while I attended good ‘ole LU. When I was preparing for my college graduation, I nominated him for LU’s teacher of the year. While he was not accepted to receive the reward, I will always recognize him as ‘one of the best!’ He was always the teacher – when my oldest daughter was born, he and Sue gifted her with an ABC candle nightlight. We traded cards at Christmas and always suggested getting together for lunch. I kick myself now for not making good on that promised lunch date. Let that continue to be a lesson to us all that we must ‘make the time’.
Dick is the ultimate “pass it forward” type. He found gifts in me and helped me become a better person. While he did all this for me, I can only imagine what he did for the other students he met and helped over the years.
While 70 is a very young age for dying, the fact that he had shared his gifts with all of us assures me that he will always be very much alive – through all of us. He will always be with us. He will always be with me!
In closing, I share this little poem:
God Saw You...
by Unknown
God saw you getting tired,
When a cure was not to be.
So He wrapped his arms around you,
and whispered, "Come to me".
You didn't deserve what you went through,
So He gave you rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best
And when I saw you sleeping,
So peaceful and free from pain
I could not wish you back
To suffer that again.
Kathy Sterle
August 21, 2008
Dear Olenchek family my heart has a piece of it missing since I heard of the news that you all have suffered a great loss of a loving husband,father and grandpa.To me Ollie as he was known to us in softball at Vincent was a great influence to many he may of been hard at times but was always fair.Ollie taught me to appreciate and have compassion for the love of the game and all of it has carried over into my life today. From times i saw him in summer when playing fastpitch to the last article in the newspaper of him having breakfast with his granddaughter at school always brought back wonderful memories of what a good person he was.Ollie you will truly be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family
Teresa (Bacon) Stiff
August 20, 2008
Dear Olencheck Family,
I am so truly sorry for your great loss. Mr. Olencheck was my Math teacher and softball coach. He taught me many life lessons. After he taught me respect ( the hard way), we became great friends. Mr. Olencheck had great advice and words of wisdom. He will truly be missed but remembered in many hearts. He has touched many in so many different ways.
Kim Daniels (Johnson)
August 20, 2008
My sincere condolences to the Olenchek family. I was fortunate to have had him as my softball coach and Geometry teacher at Vincent. He retired from Vincent the year I graduated. He was a very dedicated and compassionate teacher and coach. He touched many lives and will be greatly missed.
Laura Manahl
August 20, 2008
Olenchek family,
I am truly sorry for your loss. He was a very good man, and softball coach. He will always be remebered.
Sandi King
August 20, 2008
Many thanks to Mr. Olenchek for being a wonderful teacher and role model to me during my years at Vincent High School (class of 82). He always encouraged me to do my best and never give up. My prayers are with his family.
With fondest memories.
Bob and Pat Sterle
August 20, 2008
TO the Olenchek family .Our deepest sympathy.May God be with you during these difficult times .Our daughters,Jane and Kathy were truly fortunate to have Mr. Olenchek for a softball coach at Vincent high.Sincerely,Bob and Pat Sterle
Amy Zirbes (Asen)
August 20, 2008
To the entire Olenchek family,
I was shocked to hear of Mr. Olenchek's passing. I enjoyed our occasional "bumping into each other" around Tosa. I always made an effort to walk by his house with my son to say hi. He went from being my coach to my neighbor/friend. He was a very devoted coach and teacher and made a dramatic impact on every life he touched. I am honered to have known him and I know he will be greatly missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Rod Wilterdink
August 20, 2008
My sincerest condolences to the entire Olenchek family.
Olie was a true pleasure to coach against as his Vincent team was always well prepared and very competitive year in and year old. Our Cedarburg team had many great battles with Dick's teams, and he was always gracious whether he won or lost. In recent years we have crossed paths in the Monday Senior Softball League and have enjoyed talking about great games between our two teams. Most recently I talked to him this summer when he stopped by the park, and while being more frail, he had that same spirit and sense of humor that made him special. I'm really glad that I got to see him in his last summer
Terri Agnew (Kastner)
August 20, 2008
Olenchek Family ~
My deepest sympathy for your loss. Mr. Olenchek was also my math teacher at Vincent as well as my softball coach. Math was/is my favorite subject and I am sure this was largely in part of his teaching method and his connection with his students. He was a fabulous role model. You should be proud of how many lives he touched in such a positive way, his legacy will live on for years to come.
Paul Brandenburg
August 20, 2008
Sue, David and Family:
We are so deeply sorry for your loss. Trudy and I were both shocked when we heard the news. As a Husband, Father, Teacher, and Coach he touched many lives and had a postive impact and influence on each and every person he interacted with. Trudy and I are at a loss of words to express how saddended we are by his passing. Trudy knew him at Vincent and then further through David and I at Ripon. We always enjoyed his humor and insight. He was a caring and intelligent man whose presence always brought levity to a room. A person's greatness is not measured by wealth or social status. It is measured by the lives they have positively shaped and formed and the legacy they have left behind for others to follow in. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all during this difficult time. God Bless and take care.
Paul and Trudy Brandenburg and Family
Lisa Dunkovich (nee Roseneck)
August 20, 2008
My sincere condolences to the Olenchek Family. Mr. Olenchek was my Softball Coach and Geometry teacher at Milwaukee Vincent. He was an amazing man with a lot of passion. He will be missed tremendously and never-ever forgotten.
Debbie Biersack (Karpowicz)
August 20, 2008
I am so sorry to here of your loss. Mr. Olenchek was my highschool softball coach. His coaching and great personality had a huge impact on me and has never been forgotten. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Thomas King
August 20, 2008
Ollie and I were classmates at Pulaski HS and played football there together. Had not seen him for 50 years until our reunion. Had a wonderful discussion as though we had seen each other often. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Wendy Ruger (Whiteside)
August 20, 2008
Dear Olenchek Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Olenceck was my softball coach for three years and as I got older he became my friend. He will be missed dearly but never forgotton.
Marcy Allen (Scheibengraber)
August 20, 2008
Dick took my (ex) husband under his wing when he began his teaching career. As our family grew, we were welcomed into the Olenchek home. He was truly a good man.
I feel honored that I knew him.
My deepest condolences to the entire family.
Michele Tschopp
August 20, 2008
Dear Olenchek Family,
I was surprised and saddened to hear of Mr.Olenchek's death. He was always so kind and friendly thru the all the years back to Longfellow Junior High. My folks and I send our thoughts and prayers to your entire family. Our condolences on your great loss.
Michele Tschopp
Kim Buske
August 20, 2008
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Mr O.. was the best coach ever! Your memories and drills on the diamond stay with me forever! you will be forever missed and forever remembered
Kim Buske (Karpowicz aka Guppy)
Dorothy Brengosz
August 19, 2008
I first met Dick years ago when He and Jim played in the city softball league. Then when Barb went to Vincent, he was her teacher and softball coach. He made quite an impression, as he was one of the few teachers she kept in contact with. Please accept my sympathy for your loss. He will be in my prayers, as will you.
Denise Schmidt
August 19, 2008
To the Olenchek Family,
I would like to extend to you my thoughts and prayers at the loss of such a dear man. I was a member of the very first softball team Mr. Olenchek coached at Vincent H.S. and a freshman algebra student the first year he taught at Vincent. A former collegue of your husband's, Mrs. Parks, told me to introduce myself to him and to refer to him as Ollie. He immediately wanted to know who had put me up to it and from that point on we built a wonderful student/teacher and player/coach relationship. He was and will always be my favorite teacher. Thank you Mr. Olenchek for giving of yourself.
With Fondest Memories and Thoughts,
Denise (Denni) Schmidt (Raasch)
Lisa Morse Spaay
August 19, 2008
My prayers are many for the family of Mr. Olenchek. He was a part of my many high school memories as my inspiring math teacher and softball coach. He was a great man and my heart is heavy to learn of his passing.
Jack Roggenbach
August 19, 2008
I was sorry to hear of Dick's death. I knew him from our days at Pulaski and I know his family will miss him dearly.
Cindy
August 19, 2008
My Coach, My Teacher, My Friend:
God saw you where getting tired,
And a cure was not to be,
So he put his arms around you
And Whispered, "Come to me."
With tearful eyes they watched you,
And saw you fade away.
Although they loved you dearly,
They could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating
A clever mind is now at rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He takes the very best.
My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Olenchek family.
2 teach is
+ 2 touch lives
________________
4 ever
.
Jeff Grayson
August 19, 2008
Mrs. Olenchek, Dave, Beth, Paul and Mike,
I want to say how sorry I am that Mr. Olie passed away. I am so glad that I was able to tell him to "stay strong" on the recent Brewers telecast and then to hear how touched he was about it when we talked ten days ago. His calm demeanor and great sense of humor always reassured me when we saw each other, going all the way back to when Dave and I became friends more than 30 years ago. Mrs. Olenchek, I will never forget how you and Mr. Olie reached out when I went through some tough times earlier this decade. I hope that you will be comforted by the fact that he was liked and loved by so many. What a legacy he's left. What a great man. How lucky I was to have known him. God bless you all. Your friend, Jeff (Josh to you) Grayson
Barb Chapman
August 19, 2008
Sue & Family, I was deeply saddened to hear of Ollie's passing. I have many fond memories of him and I learned much from him. I think of your family often and will continue to pray for you now. He always spoke so fondly of his family. He was truly one of a kind. He will be deeply missed by many and wonderful memories of him will remain.
Paul and Nancy Hagerty
August 19, 2008
Our thoughts and prayers are with the the Olenchek family. Both of us worked with Dick and considered him a friend and colleague.
Patrick McLaughlin
August 19, 2008
I am very sorry to learn this news and offer my condolences.
After many years, his lessons -- and humor -- about math (and life) still stay with me.
Tom and Mary Lou Koepp
August 19, 2008
So glad we had our mini-reunions and had a chance to know Dick. He was always so pleasant and a lovely host. He loved to serve Leon's custard for dessert.
Kim Kostusak (Malick)
August 19, 2008
Olenchek Family,
I'm sorry for your loss, Mr. Olenchek was a wonderful teacher and a great role model. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Jodi Lee (Presky) Bowers
August 19, 2008
I was saddened to hear about the loss of Mr. Olenchek. He was not only my teacher and softball coach at Vincent High but also my teacher at Burroughs Junior High. I have many good memories of him and the way he cared for his students. His dry humor and his unique way of getting our attention during class brings a chuckle when I think back and I will always fondly remember the smell of his pipe when I would come into the Math Department. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family. He will truly be missed.
Robert Pipes
August 19, 2008
Richard and I met a few years ago over coffee at the Brueggers shop on Bluemound Rd. We spent many hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings talking about family, friends and the joys of growing up and our shared love for books and reading. I was very sad to hear of his passing. We had a special relationship fostered by our common experiences growing up. My condolences to his family, he spoke lovingly of you many times and held you close to his heart.
Colleen Fossum Kurth
August 19, 2008
I am sad to hear of the loss of Mr. Olencheck. He was my teacher, softball coach and friend. He inspired me in so many ways and I have wonderful memories of him. My thoughts to his wife and family. Love, Colleen
Jennifer Kraier
August 19, 2008
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Both my father and myself have many fond memories of Mr. Olencheck and we are sadden by the loss.
Jennifer Kraier (and Steve Kraier)
Jennifer Kraier
August 19, 2008
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and Prayers are with you.
The Kraier Family
Steve and Jennifer
Janet Olenchek
August 19, 2008
Kowing Mr. Olenchek(Papa) was a great honor. He was an inspiration to us all. I want to express my deepest sympathy to the family and want to thank them for letting me spend some time with him in his last hours. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Marie Rohlinger Rohne
August 19, 2008
Mr. Olenchek was my softball coach at Vincent. I have been thinking of him quite often this past spring, my own kids now being in baseball. He had a very good quality in teacher/explaining what was to be done. I was hoping to see him at our upcoming reunion (20 yr Class of 88). He left many lifelong impressions on students over the years, this is a gift not many have. Thank you for the memories!
David Goodwillie
August 19, 2008
I am sorry to hear about your loss. Mr. Olenchek was a great teacher, he was tough but had a way of reaching me and actually helping me make sense of Statistics. Seeing him at the Wisconsin Athletic Club in recent years, he still had a way of motivating me.
Beth Castro
August 19, 2008
Mr. Olenchek was my softball coach at Vincent. His influence in my life lingered long after I left the high school softball field. He pushed me to be a better player and person. He attended my wedding, and we made sure to exchange Christmas cards every year. I will miss his kind and inspiring words.
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