A full house of people turned out last month to pay tribute to a man who has been epitomized as the spirit of Regis at a ceremony between the boys and girls basketball games.
“He had to be smiling at all that happened that night,” said Regis High School’s Mike Bauer, of the Jan. 24 induction of former custodian Joe Spenner. “He was arguably a legendary figure at Regis for almost 40 years.”
Bauer was talking with longtime Regis supporter and parent George Gerspacher, who mentioned how nice it was that Regis had recognition displays in its student center for impactful teachers, including Steve McGrew and Don Heuberger.
“He wondered if such a display might be appropriate for Joe,” Bauer said. “New Regis St. Mary Principal Candi Hedrick enthusiastically embraced the idea, and it was decided that a recognition display would be appropriate for Joe as well. In addition, she thought that we might have a Joe Spenner night at a basketball game to unveil the new display.”
Spenner passed away on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 97. His obituary credited him with being the first custodian/maintenance man since the opening of Regis in 1964. Spenner retired from Regis in 2008 with over 50 years of service to Catholic schools.
Bauer said Spenner was not only skilled at maintenance, but was “a mentor for hundreds of students, devising and helping them with various science projects.”
“At his retirement from Regis, Joe said, ‘I’ll go on here forever. I’ll always be here in spirit, at least,’” Bauer added.
According to Bauer, in later years, Spenner traveled to India several times to assist Catholic priests in funding and building churches and a dispensary. He was an active volunteer at St. Boniface and at yearly Right to Life rummage sales held at St. Joseph’s in Salem.
“When Joe could no longer drive, he could be seen walking to daily Mass until almost 90 years old,” Bauer said.
During his time at Regis, Bauer said, Spenner most likely held the record for attending the most sporting events.
“Whether it was football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, track, baseball or softball regular season or playoffs, Joe could always be spotted in the crowd in his distinctive green Regis boosters coat with the colorful fighting Ram logo,” he said.
