The following article was written by Raymond. G. Barnett and published in a December 29, 2010, edition of the Illinois Times.
This year, University of Illinois Springfield lost someone who has been with it from its inception. Denny Frueh was one of the first graduates of then Sangamon State University (Now U of I Springfield). He began his career as a rehabilitation counselor for the State of Illinois, before moving into an admissions counseling position for Olney Central College. He would later work for Grinnell College in Iowa, before moving into the UIS admissions office in 1987. Denny would move up through the ranks at UIS, even serving as admissions director, before settling in as co-director for admissions for the last five years, before his leave of absence due to cancer. During his time at U of I Springfield, Denny served in many important positions on university committees, as well as for the Illinois Math and Science Academy’s enrollment review committee during many of those years.
“Denny was the reason I decided to work for UIS, “commented Lori Giordano, UIS admissions director. “He never forgot about the primary duty of this office, helping people become students and improving their lives through education. He never forgot those enrollment and application numbers represent real people.” Others who worked for Denny commented on his dry sense of humor, his friendship, his love of cars, his insight on transfer admissions counseling, and his ability to boil down extremely bureaucratic matters into the human equation. He left an impression because he found a connecting point with each person he worked with.
Denny leaves behind his wife, Patricia, and his daughter, Andrea; as well as his parents, Charles and Geraldine, and his siblings, Linda and Rochelle. He will be greatly missed.
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