Alumnus Gives Back to a “Gem” of a School

Heidelberg University alumnus Bruce Pontious ’72 cannot say enough about the education he earned and the experiences he enjoyed at the university. Here, Pontious talks about Heidelberg and the impact it had on his life, which led him to give back.

Quite simply stated, the experiences and lessons learned during my Heidelberg journey played a significant role in forever shaping my life and career. And I’m certainly not alone! Many “doors opened wide as a bold sign of welcome,” as the hymn text states, throughout my time at Heidelberg. I was fortunate, but didn’t always feel deserving, starting with my dead-of-winter voice audition with Dr. Ferris Ohl and his wife, Dorothy, for which I was 90 minutes late due to a close encounter with a snowdrift. Both Dr. and Mrs. Ohl couldn’t have been more understanding and gracious to my parents, my accompanist who had traveled all the way from Circleville with us, and me. However, I walked away certain this debacle would submarine any chance of being accepted. Instead, it set the stage for many life-altering moments.

Roommate assignments were pivotal in our freshman year and I was so blessed. Kurt Sauer and his family “adopted” me and fortuitously I had another “brother” and yes, a diction “teacher.” Having wrestled in high school, I was determined to make the team at Heidelberg and balance all the demands of being a music major and a student athlete. There were only a handful of music majors who excelled in sports and I soon learned why! It was time to decide. After my sophomore year, the wrestling had to go. I was disappointed but realized my passion for music would be my future.

Music Leads the Way

I was blessed to make it into concert choir, study voice with Dr. Ohl, take piano with Dorothy Ohl and to be selected to join the Singing Collegians my sophomore year. Oh, the stories we could tell, right? Discipline, a drive toward excellence and self-reliance developed in those four years under the strong influence of Dr. Ohl and many faculty members. It was transformational!

Just preparing for performance class in front of your peers every Monday afternoon was a very sobering experience, regardless of the weekend events! Some of the most memorable experiences of my life happened on choir tours every year and our European tour in the summer of 1970 to Germany, Austria and Switzerland for three weeks! We ended each concert with Wilhousky’s arrangement of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” often a tearful yet proud moment.

After graduation, the reality of the “real world” set in and I had no idea how to turn this music passion into a career. Again, doors opened wide and I was offered a position working at Heidelberg—no doubt my “guardian angel” had a hand in that, too. And thus, my career in alumni relations and development began. What a foundation it turned out to be! Paul Yackey and Bill Goodwin were incredible mentors and friends, along with their families.

For that and many other reasons, I feel deeply indebted to Heidelberg. Throughout the years, my visits have waned but my financial support has not. I’ve continued with annual and Fellows contributions, taking advantage of retirement assets, such as required minimum distributions and long-term estate plans to ensure my alma mater continues to touch the lives of young people, wherever they come from and however they begin their Heidelberg journeys.

Now more than ever, the gem we call our alma mater is sorely needed in the world!

Prepare the next generation of Heidelberg graduates through your estate plan. Please contact Doug Kellar at 419-448-2888 or dkellar@heidelberg.edu to explore your options.