Friends and family of Steve Hershberger, a 44-year-old Fairfield High School teacher who drowned last week on a school Spanish trip to Costa Rica, gathered Thursday to celebrate the life of a man many characterized as funny, passionate and thoughtful.
An assortment of friends, co-workers and students shared stories about Hershberger with the large crowd that filled Clinton Frame Mennonite Church in rural Goshen.
The Fairfield student and alumni choir also sang, and the members wore ties in remembrance of Hershberger, who was known for his vast tie collection, ever-present white dress shirt and bushy mustache.
Allen Rutter, a friend of the Hershberger family, spoke of meeting Hershberger for the first time at a summer camp in 1975 in Missouri. Hershberger’s family was from St. Louis, and brought inner-city youth to the camp.
The Hershbergers were originally from Iowa, “but here they were, in the inner city of St. Louis … volunteering their time and accepting people right where they were,” and “believing the best in them,” Rutter said.
Undoubtedly, this model was foundational to Hershberger “who was known for his ability to work with all students in very creative ways,” Rutter said.
“Even as a youth, I saw in him a quiet, yet bold and courageous person who was compassionate, imaginative and quick-witted,” Rutter said.
“I’ll always remember Steve’s really big smile, really big, brown eyes and a wit and a sense of humor that nearly matched his mustache,” he said.
Stefanie Masters, a 2008 Fairfield graduate, talked about Hershberger’s role as a coach and drama director, saying that Hershberger told students to “speak with the intent to be heard.
“He always made me feel important,” Masters said, who described herself as shy. “He taught me to open up and break out of my shell.”
Friend Bonnie Reagan said Hershberger “never found much value in material things.” He owned two cars, one to drive himself and one to loan to other people.
“I would ask, ‘What if they don’t treat it well?’” Reagan said, “and he would say, ‘Bonnie, it’s just a car.’”
Mike Filbrun, head tennis coach for Fairfield, said Hershberger “was a guy who had no ego. He was not afraid to put himself in a situation that could possibly cause him embarrassment for a cause he believed in.
“Hersh was no phony,” Filbrun added. “He would not waste his resources to impress people.”
His lack of ego was exemplified when he offered to be assistant coach of the tennis team, Filbrun said.
“Hersh had never played tennis in his life, except for in P.E. class,” but he was willing to do this because a few students asked him to, Filbrun said.
Hershberger’s sister, Diane Bontrager of McPherson, Kan., said Hershberger’s interest in traveling and food from other cultures was evident when Hershberger was a resident director at Hesston College in Kansas.
“The smell of curry always permeated from his open door,” she said. He had visited 36 countries, and traveled to every continent except Antarctica.
“I never questioned Steve’s faith in God,” she said, “and I know that one day we’ll be together again.”
Hershberger was set to take over retiring-teacher Mark Jordan’s position as chairman of the English department at Fairfield High School next year. Jordan provided the meditation.
“All of us have lost a friend,” he said. “How could anyone not be a friend of Steve Hershberger? He was the most approachable man I have ever met.”
Jordan quoted a commencement speech given by Hershberger to the class of 1997, when he spoke about the things most important in life: “The sun shining through the trees. The smell of newly-mown hay. The first snow. Lying in bed knowing you don’t have to get up. Your mother’s voice. Your father’s hand on your shoulder.”
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