Sylvester "Shorty" Haehn

HAEHN, SYLVESTER "SHORTY" Sylvester "Shorty" Haehn, 84, passed away peacefully at his Rancho Santa Fe home Saturday, December 30, 2006. Shorty was born and raised in St. Martin, MN. In 1941 he moved to San Diego with three friends and everything they owned tied to the running boards of the car. Haehn, a self-made man, started out in construction in 1952 by building duplexes in San Diego. He prepared designs, directed all construction and did much of the work himself. In 1959 Shorty began doing work for the federal government which continued until his retirement in 1983. Haehn Construction Company completed jobs such as the first runway overlay at Lindbergh Field, the Henshaw Dam spillway, and many projects for military facilities. His support of higher education led to the construction of the S.L. Haehn Campus Center on the campus of St. Benedict College in St. Joseph, Minnesota and the Haehn Museum at the Art and Heritage Place at St. Benedict's Monastery. His many accomplishments included serving on the local and national Association of General Contractors boards of directors, involvement in the San Diego County Carpenters Benefit Fund, and a trustee for the College of St. Benedict. He is survived by his wife Jacquelynn; his children Stephen, Shirley, Pamela, Carol, stepson Morgan; his sister Peggy; grandchildren Mitchell, Ciara and Avery. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Mary, his son Mark and siblings Ruth, Bernie and Arnie. A Vigil will be held Friday, January 5th at 10:00 a.m. with funeral services at 11:00 a.m. at St. Timothy's Catholic Church, 2960 Canyon Rd., Escondido with burial at 3:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers, 3702 4th Ave., San Diego, California, 92103. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com