In Memory: Lee Pfund '49
Nobody was more passionate in 36 years serving his alma mater than Lee Pfund ’49.
The last to head coach two varsity sports at Wheaton, upon winning a record 362 basketball and 249 baseball games, only an Alumni Association directorship position coaxed Lee off the bench.
“What a blessing to serve as grads those I had watched as students becoming leaders for Christ and his kingdom,” Lee said.
Following eight years pitching pro baseball for St. Louis and Brooklyn, Lee learned collegiate coaching on the job, earning a lifetime of fandom with five CCI basketball and one baseball championship over 26 seasons.
“Former players look upon Lee almost like a second father,” baseball coach Matt Husted says. “His relationship with God was in his fabric.”
Retired men’s soccer’s coach Joe Bean HON says Lee was “a wonderful example—respected and admired.”
Don Brinks ’50 recalls that Lee prayed daily for his former team captains. Once, John Dobbert ’60 phoned him. Lee said: “It’s funny, I pray for you on Tuesdays and you just called. How’s your wife Dottie?” Lee’s last words to John Pierucki ’69 were, “I just prayed for you this morning.”
Dave Franson ’71 keeps “his picture in a Dodger uniform in my office so, when people ask, the ‘Lee Pfund Story’ is a great lead-in to the Gospel.”
Lee passed this wisdom on to both of his Alumni Association executive director successors, Marilee Melvin ’72 and Cindra Stackhouse Taetzsch ’82: “Alumni won’t care what you know until they know that you care.”
Marilee says, “It is right to thank God for the gift of Lee Pfund: snowy white hair, warm handshake, reassuring smile.”
Amen.
LeRoy H. Pfund '49, professor of physical education emeritus, died June 2, 2016. Lee was the last to head coach two varsity sports at Wheaton and posted five CCI basketball and one baseball championship over 26 seasons. He served 13 years as executive director and vice president of the Wheaton College Alumni Association and was named Alumnus of the Year for Service to Alma Mater in 1977. Lee was voted to both the Illinois Coaches Hall of Fame and the Wheaton Athletic Hall of Honor, and pitched for both St. Louis and Brooklyn professional baseball organizations under a no-Sunday-ball contract. Preceded in death by his wife, Mabel, Lee is survived by his sons John ’65, Kerry ’71 (Carol Gottschall ’73), and Randall ’74; and two sisters, Ruth Muzzy ’45 and Phyllis Hiley ’55 (Paul ’60).