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 MICHAEL FEDO: A former Denfeld teacher and well known author of many books including: The Man From Lake Wobegon, The Lynchings in Duluth, Trial By Mob, One Shining Season, Chronicles of Aunt Hilma and Other East Hillside Swedes, Indians In the Arborvitae, and The Pocket Guide to Minnesota Place Names. Fedo is also a contributing writer to the LA Times, NY Times, Newsday, and the Christian Science Monitor. Michael's father who shares the same name, was also a teacher at Denfeld. Both Michael Fedos even taght at Denfeld together for a short time.  EDWARD M. FELIEN (Ed): Mr. Felien was born in 1943 and has been a chemistry teacher at Denfeld for many years. Felien has also taught other science and math classes and has helped coach volleyball. Ed has taught in several other schools including Morgan Park High in Duluth, Humboldt High in St. Paul, and in Eugene, Oregon. In 2001, Mr. Felien took part in a MPCA pilot program to clean up mercury from schools. Felien once told the Denfeld Criterion that his philosophy on school is "Good enough is never good enough." In 2008, Felien was awarded the Goldfine Gold Star Teacher Award along with $5,000. Denfeld principal Ed Craford said, "Mr. Felien is by all measures one of the finest teachers with whom I've had the opportunity to work with in my 28 years as an educator." Those who were taught by Felien know his famous Morgan Park ice cream story...  DICK GASTLER: Former Denfeld social studies teacher, Mr. Gastler gained international attention during a charitable effort. In 1984, Dick was known as the TEACHER IN THE TACKY SUIT after he repeatedly wore a tacky green polyester leisure suit in an attempt to raise food and money for local food shelves. His story was mentioned in newspapers around the world and Mr. Gastler even appeared on ABC-TV's Good Morning America. Mr. Gastler has also taught at Southshore H.S. in Portwing, Wisconsin and at schools in Mound and Ortonville, Minnesota.  DAVID GORDON (Dave): Mr. Gordon has taught German and Speech at Denfeld and is famous for doing the morning announcements on Denfeld's P.A. system. Before teaching, Dave was the music director and a popular radio personality at WEBC-AM Radio in Duluth. Gordon earned a Master's Degree in Education from UMD in 1975.  GEORGE F. HOLLIDAY JR: Mr. Holliday served as Denfeld's principal from 1991-1995. George was born in Ely, Minnesota on April 7, 1939. Holliday graduated from Duluth East H.S. and then earned a Bachelors Degree in Geology and a Masters in Education Administration from UMD. George also served as principal of Duluth Central H.S. and of Washington Middle School. After he left Denfeld, Holliday became Director of School Operations for Duluth Public Schools. Mr. Holliday died on June 6, 2002.  JOHN R. MILROY (Jack): Mr. Milroy was born in 1939 and was a long time math teacher at Denfeld. Milroy also taught at the former West Junior High in Duluth. John has been a local business owner including formerly owning the Shamrock and Palace bars in Superior. Milroy has been known for buying Dairy Queen treats for the entire class and bringing in his wife's famous caramels.  LISA MITCHELL (Krocak): Lisa served as Denfeld's vice principal until 1992. Before coming to Denfeld, she spent five years with community Education and five years as a Home Economics teacher. Mitchell has also served as Duluth's Secondary Technical Center principal from 1992 to 2000 and principal of Duluth Central High School since 2000.  KEVIN MURPHY: A former Denfeld Physics teacher, Kevin won "Teacher of the Year" award in Illinois. Murphy has been interviewed on National Public Radio and has been recognized in several national publications as well as in a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden where he met with President Clinton. In the early 1990's Murphy jumped out of an airplane and had his Denfeld physics students calculate related physics. The Ripsaw News devoted an entire cover to Kevin Murphy in December 2000.  MARK OVERLAND: Denfeld's Choral Director. In 1993 & 1994, Mark worked as an assistant to the casting director for the Walt Disney movie Iron Will. Overland also appeared in the movie as a drummer. Mark has worked with two other movies in the past. Mark is an actor with the Renegade Comedy Theatre and appeared in the show "Patience".  WARREN L. PETERSON: A 1977 Denfeld Graduate and former Denfeld Economics, History, Civics, and Psychology teacher. Peterson graduated from UMD and once worked as a prison guard. Warren has also taught at Duluth Central, Lincoln Elementary, and in St. Cloud and Pillager Minnesota. Mr. Peterson is currently the principal of Cloquet High School. In 2003, Peterson and a school councilor had to disarm a student who brought a loaded gun to school.  MARIE V. SALTWICK: A 1925 Denfeld Graduate and former Denfeld biology teacher. Marie taught at Denfeld from 1930 to 1970. When she died in 2001, Saltwick shocked Denfeld and those around her by leaving a $2,700,000.00 donation to the Greater Denfeld Foundation. Everyone thought she had little money, however she made a fortune in the stock market. Marie died on January 22, 2001.  DR. STEPHEN D. SEYFER (Steve): Dr. Seyfer served as Denfeld's principal from 1984 to 1991. Later Seyfer served as Whitefish Bay Wisconsin H.S. principal and became Superintendent of the Gibraltar Wisconsin School District.  WILLIAM VUKONICH (Bill): Bill was a Denfeld coach and the 1989 winner of the John Mariucci Award.  JOE VUKELICH (Vuk): A 1977 Denfeld graduate and Government/Economics teacher since 1989. Joe is the author of Come Back Home; A History of Denfeld High School. Joe enjoys his roll as a Republican stratigest, but enjoys his roll as a father of twin boys even more. In 1993, Joe was invited to and attended the inauguration of president Bill Clinton in Washington DC. In 2003, Vukelich was an official with the "Save Our School" organization which rallied to keep Denfeld open as a High School. Mr. Vukelich's trademark-saying is "You're always welcome back to Denfeld/Senior-Alumni Rescue Room 'where everybody knows you're name and we're always glad you came'." Vukelich once said this about Denfeld: "Denfeld is home and you don't realize until you are older how important home is."  WILLIAM L. WESTHOLM (Bill): A 1966 Denfeld graduate and served as Denfeld's vice principal in 1992 and as principal since 1995. In the past, Bill has been a teacher and served as vice principal at both East and Central high schools. Westholm studied law and spent three years as a lawyer. Mr. Westholm serves as chairman of the Greater Denfeld Foundation. Bill once played football at Denfeld and split his head open after running into a steel beam just before a game. In 2005, Bill left Denfeld to become an Assistant Superintendent for Duluth Public Schools Mr. Foster (1905-1916) T. H. Shutte (1917) James F. Taylor (1918-1945) Dr. Chester Wood (1946-1948) G. Dell Daedo (1948-1963) Robert Van Kleek (1964-) [1925 Denfeld Graduate] Dr. Wayne E. Samskar (1970-1984) [1945 Denfeld Graduate] Dr. Stephen D. Seyfer (1984-1991) George F. Holliday (1991-1995) Mr. Ken H. (1995) William L. Westholm (1995-2005) [1966 Denfeld Graduate] Edward Crawford (2006-) |