Dan Bowler by Brooke Stanley ‘16 Dan Bowler retired from teaching in January 2022 at the end of the first semester. On Saturday, May 21, 2022, he passed away leaving behind many to cherish his memory. May he rest in Christ’s love. Mr. Bowler was so much more than a math teacher. He was a dedicated mentor, coach, and friend to his students during his tenure at BSM. He brought energy and passion to his students every day — especially his Mathletes, with the math pun shirts and donuts. He encouraged leadership, built confidence, and wrote countless recommendation letters for his students for their continued growth. As a friend, students could always count on Mr. Bowler to recite the results from all the athletic co-curriculars and talk shop about numerous sports. While he was not known for easy math courses, he was known for having a door always open, being the score keeper at basketball games, and being able to explain the meaning of a derivative countless times for over three decades. One of the more infamous Mr. Bowler memories for those lucky enough to have him as a teacher was the end-of-year calculus scavenger hunt. There aren’t many teachers who can get students running around for hours on a quest to continue finding more calculus problems to solve. Mr. Bowler worked tirelessly to instill confidence in his students, in their math abilities, and also outside of the classroom and BSM. He encouraged questions, learning, and growth, and if a student was willing to put in the work, he would support them in achieving their goals.
Retirees Make a Kathy Hawkinson
Dave Herbst
by Dr. Carol McNamara
by Mary Fran O’Keefe
You know that person who does everything perfectly and makes it seem easy? The one you want to be when you grow up? That’s Kathy Hawkinson.
A positive presence in academics and athletics, Dave Herbst spent 14 years guiding Red Knights in the classroom with noteworthy stints as a hockey coach and golf coach.
Kathy and Scott Hawkinson first came to BSM as parents when their daughters Katie ‘05, followed by Ellie ‘07 and Martha ‘10, enrolled in the junior high. In January of 2001, Kathy began work as the junior high administrative assistant, a job which grew in its demands over the years. She quickly became the face of the junior high. Parents stayed to chat when they came to the office, teachers trusted and respected her, and more than once a student rushing in for assistance called her “Mom.” Kathy has many enviable qualities. She is kind, patient, responsible, organized, and competent. She is equally adept at multitasking office demands as at wielding a wastebasket to rescue sick kids or have them spit out their gum. She is a dynamite proofreader and flawless writer. She became a whiz at corralling teachers to sign awards and submit grades on time and was even able to forgive her boss for spilling coffee on those meticulously prepared awards. When the Hawkinson family lost Scott to cancer in 2014, Kathy’s steady grace and strength were unparalleled in the face of such great sadness. Dave Platt recalls how she knew all the students by name and worked hard for them every day. He remembers her stories of the lake, especially of the eagle that built its nest right over the cabin, and her mostly unsuccessful efforts to convince us that kombucha not only is good for you but also tastes good. The BSM Junior High is blessed to have had Kathy Hawkinson as our administrative assistant extraordinaire, and we wish her well in retirement.
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| Summer 2022
Dave’s mission in the classroom was to help students build the academic skills necessary for success. His patience and good communication skills enabled him to establish strong relationships with his students and move them forward on their educational journeys. A talented hockey player himself with roots on The Range and success as a Badger, Dave coached some of the most accomplished BSM girls’ hockey teams. His 2014 team was the State Runner-Up and included a future Olympic gold medalist. His love for sports moved to the links in the spring. Coaching the Red Knight golf team enabled him to share that passion. Dave’s ready smile, willingness to help, and positive encouragement will definitely be missed by students and athletes alike. Enjoy your retirement Dave!
Lisa Lenhart-Murphy ‘86 by Becca Meagher Lisa Lenhart-Murphy has been a vital member of the Benilde-St. Margaret’s community for 23 years. Not only has she created programming that truly enhances the student experience, she has also worked to create a just and fair working environment. She exemplifies what Frederick Buechner said when he talked about vocation, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
