Member Spotlight

 

Ben Herr

Diversity Council Volunteer

 

In 1998, Robert “Ben” Herr agreed to a favor requested by his former IBM co-worker, George Thompson.  George, at that time Executive Director of the Diversity Council, asked Ben to make copies of a few videotapes.  Ben obliged, and nine years later, volunteers 12 hours a week in the Diversity Council office and has been a long-time member of the Membership Committee.   

 

An alert recruiter at IBM can be thanked for bringing Ben to Rochester.  After serving in the United States Air Force, Ben pursued a degree in mechanical engineering at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.  Upon completion of his degree, Ben was considering a position with IBM on the east coast when the recruiter noticed Ben grew up in Austin, MN.  The recruiter asked if Ben would prefer to interview for a job in Rochester.  Ben said yes and accepted a position with IBM in 1962. 

 

He and his wife, Pat, raised four children in Rochester: two boys and two girls.  All four have settled in the Twin Cities metro area, and Ben and Pat travel north regularly to visit their seven grandchildren.  In his spare time, Ben enjoys watching sports, including football, hockey and baseball.  He cheers for the Gophers, Vikings, Wild and Twins.  After suffering a stroke in 1997, Ben took up gardening and landscaping in the place of woodworking, a risky activity considering the loss of mobility in his left hand.  However, his and Pat’s Rochester home continues to display evidence of this hobby – Ben constructed the cabinets, bathroom vanity and some furniture. 

 

Despite not woodworking these days, Ben has not stopped building.  His volunteer work helps the Diversity Council build a welcoming and inclusive community.  Ben sees a need for people to work and live together in harmony.  He says, “the better we can get along, the better off we all are.”  As the Diversity Council works to create the community Ben envisions, we recognize that it is his contribution – and that of all our volunteers – that makes us better off.