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Ted Tholen, the longest-serving athletic director at St. Louis Catholic School in Englewood, was on the school’s sixth-grade football team that won the Catholic Schools City Championship in 1972 and on the eighth-grade team that repeated the win in 1974.
Tholen also knew that while many kids might participate in sports in grade school or middle school, most would not go on to play sports in high school or beyond. Therefore, he wanted kids to savor and be part of the sports team experience whenever they could.
The multi-tasking athletic director was known for putting in long hours for his school and archdiocesan sports, as well as for his personal hallmark of ensuring that everyone who tries out for a sport gets to play.
He once explained that his personal reward for his efforts was found in kids who, after scoring their first basket or point, expressed their self-confidence with wide eyes and palpable satisfaction.
“When the smile goes from ear to ear, you’ve made a difference,” he said in March during a toast/roast in his honor.
A friend and inspiration to many students, parents and colleagues, Tholen died unexpectedly the night of June 16 when a car apparently crossed several lanes and crashed into Tholen’s brown Honda Accord.
Tholen, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was on his way home after umpiring a softball game.
The news came as a lightening bolt to those who knew the ubiquitous, friendly athletic director. He was a tireless worker and treated all kids with respect, often giving them boosts of encouragement.
“Everyone was shocked,” said principal Patty Hagen. “It was very emotional for everyone. We just counted on Ted being there, so it was very, very hard on everyone.”
Linda Ferentchak, a parent at the school, was among those who sought to describe how much Tholen meant to the school. “He was an incredibly important part of the inter-school sports competitions throughout the archdiocese and was extraordinarily important to the lives of hundreds of St. Louis parents.”
Tholen left his mark over the years as a result of his intense commitment to the school and sports, as well as extensive hours he devoted to his alma mater.
He played a lead role in organizing, refereeing, and coordinating inter-school basketball games and tournaments for the archdiocese elementary and secondary school students.
The athletic director assisted the volunteer coaches in basketball, baseball and volleyball, oversaw the St. Louis teams, helped maintain facilities and ran the Sports Boosters program, which raises money for sports uniforms and equipment.
He repainted all the blue trim on the gymnasium building last summer and oversaw 40 refurbishings of the gym floor during his tenure. He mopped floors, made popcorn and even rolled up his sleeves when a plumbing problem arose.
“He’d open that gym every day and close it every night during basketball season,” said Marty Hutt, a St. Louis parent
Blayne Van Dyke, a fellow basketball referee, said Tholen loved what he was doing for kids and they, in turn, appreciated how dedicated he was to them and the building in which they played.
“He was a very caring person, very gracious and kind and cheerful to the kids,” Van Dyke said. “He was very cordial to the parents who supported him.”
Frank Stack, athletic director at St. Bernadette who was co-director of the Widget Basketball League with Tholen, said his partner was fair and respected for his knowledge of sports rules and regulations.
“As far as sports in the Catholic program, there is no bigger loss,” Stack said.
Hagen said Tholen endeared himself to students by accepting them at whatever stage they were in their development, wherever they were as individuals.
“He was always a role model and mentor,” she noted. “Even in widget games, he was giving out coaching advice on the side.”
Kids who were involved in athletics over the years were eager to help Tholen, working on tournament brackets, developing schedules and doing some work on the school Web site.
Tholen was known to waive fees when they were an obstacle to anyone playing sports. He felt so strongly that every kid should have pictures of themselves individually and with their teams in uniform, he used concession stand profits so that the sports pictures would be free.
“He was such as kid himself in a lot of ways,” said Pat McCaslin, a St. Louis parent, volunteer coach and friend of Tholen’s. “That’s what really connected with the kids.
“He would ask trivia questions about sports or music,” he added. “He knew everyone and he connected with everyone.”
Hutt said Tholen just seemed destined to devote himself to the schools and its sports program.
“Once he started spending time in the gym, I think he found that thing where he was called in his life to make a difference,” she said. “He was serving God.”
Hagen said that Tholen, who never married, may have been motivated to give back to the school community from which he himself had gained so much.
“I think he made a conscious commitment that this was going to be his family,” she said. “There were all these people who were his extended family.”
