With great sadness, Augsburg College announced the loss of U.S. Representative Martin Sabo on March 14, 2016. Sabo, a 1959 alumnus of Augsburg College, was a 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 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 College’s Board of Regents. On the College’s website, you’ll find a tribute to the remarkable work and contributions that Martin and his wife, Sylvia, have made to Augsburg.

Augsburg 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’s daughters, Karin (Sabo) Mantor ’86 and Julie Sabo ’90, and their families.

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

Augsburg is deeply honored to be able to carry on Sabo’s legacy with the important work of the Martin Olav Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, where he remained active. 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’s passing while he was in the midst of writing a piece about Sabo that describes Sabo’s history, time at Augsburg, and run “For members of the College community,” Adamo writes, “Representative Sabo will always be a part of Augsburg. We knew him when.” Please enjoy of Augsburg College. Harry Boyte, senior scholar in public work philosophy for the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, shared in a his experiences working with the late Martin Olav Sabo ’59.

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

I learned from my college classmate Martin Sabo 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.  I was on tour with the Augsburg 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.  But my favorite memory of Martin is from only six years ago at our 50th class reunion.  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 religious/economic reformer of 200 years ago. Martin’s enthusiastic participation in the discussion, linking Hauge’s 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’s convictions about good government.

—Ren Svanoe ’59

He seemed to be at Augsburg often—bless him!

—Inez Bergquist ’77

Martin Sabo and I met in 1955 at Augsburg as freshman. He was a young man from a NW North Dakota farm  and I the same from a farm in SW Minnesota.  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.  We will miss his presence on our Campus visits.  He was always a fan for the Basketball teams I was fortunate to play on. May God Bless his memories and his family.
—Dr. Merton ’59 and JoAn ’58 Johnson

Sad to hear of the death of Congressman Sabo. It was an honor getting various opportunities to get to know him during my year at Augsburg 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.

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

I was lucky to know Martin and Sylvia as a student at Augsburg. 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 Sabo Scholars and the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship at Augsburg College.

— Ben Krouse-Gagne ’11, former Sabo Scholar also pictured above

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Things have changed a lot since Jane (Catlin) Bracken ’71 began teaching first grade in Cannon Falls back in the early ‘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 “so cool” 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’s daughter, Jenna (Bracken) Held ’05, is now following in her mother’s footsteps, attracted to not only the joy that a teacher’s lifestyle can provide, but the opportunity to do something she loves—work 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 Augsburg 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—and some of her best friends today are Auggie alumni. Her sister, Joyce (Catlin) Casey ’73, also went into teaching, retiring recently from St. Michael-Albertville Schools after 40 years of teaching. Bracken is grateful for her Augsburg professors, particularly Marie McNeff, for inspiring her to share her love of learning with students, and she is “deeply indebted” to Auggie Jeroy Carlson for sending her off to her interview in Cannon Falls, where he had taught prior to starting his Augsburg career. She says his recommendation was “life-changing” for her.

Held echoes her mother’s gratitude for Augsburg mentors, particularly in the education and math departments. She met her husband, Andrew Held ’05, at Augsburg 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 Augsburg, they both have an abiding love for the College. They continue to be grateful for legacy scholarships and activities, and their families regularly enjoy Augsburg 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 (“heartbreaking,” 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 “in action.” Their advice to prospective teachers? Maintain balance between your job and your personal life, allow kids “to be kids,” 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—opportunities 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 Augsburg. She can easily imagine her grandchildren being Auggies someday, too!

—By Cheryl Crockett ’89

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