Community Matters The Glen at Aberdeen Heights
May 2019
Liz Gibbons holds up her father’s Rose Bowl jersey and letter jacket, with her father, Bob Weddell.
February’s Resident in Focus: Bob Weddell
Dr. Donald Behrens created this family of sculptures.
Dr. Donald Behrens
February’s Resident in Focus was Bob Weddell. Bob, who grew up in Highland Park, Ill., played defensive tackle for the University of Illinois football team.
You may not know Dr. Donald Behrens, a resident of The Glen, but you have seen his sculptures around Aberdeen Heights.
His team made it to the 1952 Rose Bowl, which happened to be the first nationally televised college football game in the U.S. The team defeated Stanford 40-7.
Over the years, Donald created numerous sculptures, which can be seen around the Aberdeen community, at his family members’ homes and even at The City Museum. Two years ago, Donald requested some of these works be brought to Aberdeen Heights to be displayed.
Bob and his daughter, Liz Gibbons, told stories, showed residents football memorabilia, including a jersey, alumni magazine, pictures, and of course, his Rose Bowl ring. He particularly lit up when talking about his coach, Ray Eliot. If you see Bob, be sure to ask him about his football playing days.You may hear a good joke or two to make you smile throughout the day.
A retired surgeon, Donald took up metal sculpting and welding after retirement and taught night classes at John Burroughs High School, where all five of his children went to school.
Some of these sculptures need repairs. Knowing his affiliation with the high school, Bethany Holohan, life enrichment director for The Glen, contacted John Burroughs High School to see if a student would be interested in taking on this project. After discussions with faculty, student Grant Kirsch was suggested. Luckily for us, Grant was very interested. He met Bethany at Aberdeen to look at the sculptures and was introduced to the Behrens as well. He will weld, reassemble and repair the sculptures and they will be returned to us at the end of May. It is our hope to have a great open house reception for the family and Grant.
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