Thursday, January 22nd, 2015

Two will join St. Henry hall of fame

Pair will be inducted during basketball game on Friday

By Kathy Thompson
ST. HENRY - A pediatric heart doctor and a retired historian will join the St. Henry Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Friday night.
Dr. Douglas A. Balster, 42, who graduated in 1990 and now lives in California, and Dr. Allen W. Bernard, Ph.D., 70, a 1962 graduate now living in Cincinnati, will be honored between the boys junior varsity and varsity basketball games Friday.
Balster, the chief of the pediatrics department at Kaiser Permanente of Redwood City, said he is excited about the award and the chance to return to St. Henry to see family and friends.
"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to come back home," Balster said. "I don't get to do that often, and I'm excited to see everyone."
His love of science developed while attending school in St. Henry, he said.
"I had wonderful science teachers, like Randy Hoying and Allen Summers, who showed me a love for chemistry and physics," Balster said. "They were a true inspiration. I got a great foundation and base knowledge from them and the other teachers at the school."
Balster received an electrical engineering degree from Purdue but knew he really wanted to apply engineering principles to the human body, specifically hearts. To fulfill that goal, he went on to earn doctorates in medicine and cell pathobiology from Ohio State. He also is the founder and chief medical information officer for eMED, which produces software to share information among primary care physicians, specialists and patients.
"I work pretty much non-stop," Balster said, laughing. He has also published 22 articles in medical literature and helped improve the design of pacemakers. Working primarily with infants and children, Balster said he loves his job.
"It's not the child's fault they get sick," Balster said. "They're so innocent. I fall in love with all of them. And my work has been very rewarding."
Balster's parents, Pat and Larry Balster, still live in St. Henry and are delighted he will attend the ceremony.
Bernard attended Fairfield University and then Ball State University after graduating from St. Henry. He received his doctorate in education from the University of Cincinnati and has published many books and brochures on family and historical preservation. Part of that work included researching Mercer County's history.
Bernard said he is "elated" at being selected and honored by the recognition.
"I live each day remembering six words that were carved into the entrance of the high school - 'Enter to learn, leave to serve.' It's how I conduct my life," Bernard said. "In any situation you can learn from those words."
Bernard said he believes growing up in St. Henry gave him a moral code and compassion that have been useful throughout his life.
"When you live in St. Henry, you are surrounded by values not just in the school system but in your family and community," he said. "There were and still are excellent teachers at the school. One of them, Robert Miller, a history teacher, taught me to look above and beyond. He taught me far more than history."
Bernard is the founder and director of Student Voluntary Services at Ball State and Mount Adams Preservation Association. He was a St. Henry Church architectural tour guide in 1997 and 2014 and has had church records published for St. Henry, St. Bernard, St. Francis, St. John's, St. Rose, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Paul's and St. Wendelin churches.
Now retired, Bernard spends most of his time volunteering with numerous organizations and is president of the Northern Kentucky Directors of Special Education and the Graphic Arts Forum in Cincinnati. He is also on the board of the American Historical Print Collectors Society and the Northern Kentucky Association for Retarded Citizens.
St. Henry superintendent Julie Garke said a committee reviewed all nominees' accomplishments, contributions and service. 
"There is just not one reason why they were chosen," Garke said. "It was a hard decision as there have been great nominations over the past two years. St. Henry can be proud and are very blessed to have many of our alumni (receiving this honor or not) that continually contribute to their fields of interest and to the community."
This is the second year the district has given the award.
Additional online story on this date
As the Minster Wildcats prepare to host the New Bremen Cardinals in one of our area's historic basketball rivalries, the gymnasium inside Minster Middle School will be an understandably busy place tomorrow evening. [More]
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