Robert Spinner to receive Saint John's highest alumni award

Robert Spinner, a 1964 graduate of Saint John’s University, will receive the Fr. Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus Award at the SJU Alumni Association Homecoming Banquet Friday, Oct. 2, in Collegeville, Minn.

The award is the highest honor presented by the Alumni Association and recognizes one alumnus each year for his outstanding volunteer service to the Saint John's community. Spinner is the 41st alumnus to receive the award.

Saint John’s will also present nine Alumni Achievement Awards at various reunion celebrations on Saturday, Oct. 3. Recipients for 2009 include: Ralph Kilzer, a member of the North Dakota Legislature (SJU class of 1957); Don Hall, stockbroker and volunteer (SJU class of 1959); Ken Roering, professor and University of Minnesota department chair (SJU class of 1964); The Rev. Bob Flannery, priest and ecumenist (SJU class of 1969); John Hooley, business executive (SJU class of 1974); Tom Schnettler, business executive (SJU class of 1979); John Wiehoff, business executive (SJU class of 1984); the late Jim Goodman, community leader, posthumous (SJU class of 1984) and Kyle Loven, FBI agent (SJU class of 1989).

The Alumni Association board of directors selected Spinner as this year's recipient in recognition of many years of loyal service to his alma mater. Throughout his life, Spinner has remained connected to the Saint John’s community. He has served as chair of the Board of Regents and is currently a member of the National Campaign Committee.

In addition, Spinner and his wife, Patti, continue to generously support the university. They established The Robert and Patti Spinner Family Endowed Scholarship in December 2003.

Following graduation from Saint John’s, Spinner earned a master’s degree in hospital and healthcare administration from the University of Minnesota and launched a career in the healthcare industry. He spent 33 years with Allina Hospitals & Clinics and its predecessor organizations in various capacities, serving as president and CEO of Abbott Northwestern Hospital for 10 years. He retired in 2001 as president of Allina Hospitals and Clinics. This past June, Spinner was named the interim CEO of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He is the former chair of the board of Catholic Charities.

“When it comes to classmates and alumni of Saint John’s who have impacted my life, the list goes on forever,” Spinner said. “Saint John’s friends are like an extended family that just continues to grow.”

The Fr. Walter Reger Award is named after the long-time secretary of the Saint John's Alumni Association. Known as "Mr. Saint John's," Reger, OSB, was a dean, history professor, prefect, member of the university orchestra and purveyor of Johnnie Bread. He befriended hundreds of Saint John's students and kept up personal correspondence with many of them after they graduated. Reger died in 1971, and the Alumni Association Board of Directors launched the award program later that year.

 

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