A Tribute to Thomas K. Plofchan, Sr.
Vice President for Institutional Advancement 1986-2001
July 16, 1937– December 7, 2001
In the Spirit of God You Brought Growth.
In 1869, three of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word were
called upon by Bishop Claude Dubuis to help people who were in need,
stating that Our Lord Jesus Christ sought relief at their hands. At
his calling, the Sisters immediately traveled to San Antonio to help.
In the same way, Thomas K. Plofchan traveled here to join the university
in August of 1986, to aide in the advancement and development of a growing
university and to bring to it his love, sense of determination and his
spirit of sharing to everyone.
A very admired, well-recognized man in his profession, Plofchan directed
and aided in a multitude of fundraising campaigns for the university,
each of which had great success.
Mr. Plofchan participated in a number of organizations and somehow
always found time to spend with his family and friends and to encourage
and motivate others to pursue their dreams.
On Dec. 7, Mr. Plofchan went to be with the Lord after a long illness,
but his memory has not and will never leave the university or the people
he came in contact with during his lifetime.
The university came to a stand still on Dec. 13 as offices closed
for two hours in honor of Thomas K. Plofchan, beloved friend and irreplaceable
colleague.
Mass was held at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word at the Motherhouse
where university employees were in attendance to pay their final respects.
He Will Never Be Forgotten...
The greatest story
I'll never forget was the day after an Associates Dinner several years
ago when it was still
in Marian Hall. Tom had brought in a beautiful oriental rug and
chair from his home as
a setting for the annual Associates Christmas photos. After
the dinner the
Ballroom was "locked."
The
next morning as Tom was walking in to Marian Hall a male student was
leaving with something
rolled up under his arm. When he got closer he saw that it was
HIS rug. He
asked the young man where he thought he was going with the rug, and
the response
was that "I am taking it home to my mother for a Christmas
present." Not.
The official story from the apprehended student was that he bought the
rug from another
student in Marian Hall. And we all know that the male dorm has
oriental rugs all
over the place.
Another few minutes
and Tom's and Paula's oriental rug would have been history.
-Dick McCracken
“I'll always remember Tom starting our regular staff
meetings with a funny story about someone he had recently met or a joke
he'd heard. Tom was so pleased when he gathered his colleagues for a
meeting to fill us in on the university's news and discuss strategies
for fundraising. He took obvious delight in bringing us together and
smiled when we joked with each other or the discussion went off on one
of its inevitable tangents. I'll always remember Tom sitting at the head
of the conference table, smiling and laughing, enjoying our company,
reveling in our collegiality. He will be greatly missed in the
Institutional Advancement department here at UIW.”
-Jon Gillespie, Assoc. Director of Foundation, Corporate &
Government Relations
"Tom was a wonderful boss and treasured friend. I
admired, respected and trusted him completely. I will miss him
greatly."
-Laura L. Shaw
Executive Director of Development
“As Tom's Administrative Assistant for 4 1/2 years I
wanted people to know that he was the most gentle, caring person that I
have met in a long time. His love for his wife, children and
grandchildren was wonderful and inspiring. He lived the Mission of the
Incarnate Word each and every day. He enjoyed his work, he was a great
boss and mentor. He always listened to what a person had to say and
never put anyone down but took suggestions under consideration.
It was a privilege to work with him and to be part of
his San Antonio family. He was always thinking about the fundraising
possibilities for UIW. He had a beautiful singing voice. His way of
working and getting us all to work as a team was only one part of his
way. He was involved in all aspects of the division and the UIW
community. Even in the hospital his mind was busy thinking.
I feel very grateful to have known him and Paula and
through e-mails his family. He will be missed by all of us.”
-Jessie Mae Casares
Asst. Director of Development/Advancement Services
" Tom was not only my mentor but my friend as
well. He was the patriarch of the most remarkably gifted, loving and
compassionate family I have ever had the privilege of knowing. In the
past few months, he shared with me his vision for the future of the
Department of Institutional Advancement and gave me the opportunity to
facilitate and implement those plans in his absence. In his way, Tom
gave me the wings to soar and to realize my own potential. It is a gift
that I will cherish and remember always. I know that now I have a
special guardian angel that will forever touch my soul."
-Heather Stumberg
“You could always count on Tom for a smile and
encouraging words! He will be greatly missed.”
-Martha Trevino
“Tom would often attend meetings here at the Brack
Villa, we all know that there's never any parking on campus. I recall
the first time he attended one of his meetings here. He would walk up
the steps, come in and have this huge smile and say there's no parking
around here, he then would asked if I mind moving his car that he had
illegally parked. He then handed over his keys and started to walk off
without even blinking his eyes (he knew I wouldn't say no) and smiled.
The next time he attended a meeting, he came in and handed me his keys
but this time I was ready, I said to him Tom! Does your car have gas? He’d
reply, yes! Does your car have a radio? He turned around and looked at
me and said it's got a CD player, that's when I said to him that's all I
need, I'm taking your car for a spin. He then gave me this sort of weird
look with a smile and said alright, just don't have me wait. When the
meeting was over, he would say ‘oh you’re back, did you have fun, do
I have any gas left’. We’d laugh. Then he’d pick up his keys and
would leave until the next meeting. He will be missed.”
-Gladys Delgado
Alumni Relations Office Manager
"Although I never had the fortune of meeting Tom,
I have grown to know his kindness and generosity from the many wonderful
memories his colleagues and friends have shared with me. And I know that
with those memories, Tom's goodness will continue to live in the hearts
of many."
-Lisa M. Rangel
Federal Grant Writer
“There were many things I loved about Tom, but among
the most was that from day one when I came to work here, he was a very
hands-off administrator. He had confidence in me. He let me get the job
done my way and liked the results I produced. I was always, during the
nine years I worked for him, grateful for that opportunity because doing
it my way and still being a team player has allowed my to do well in
this business. I've helped bring in a lot of money to Incarnate Word.
Tom gave me the opportunity to be successful. At the same time, liked
Tom's intelligence and his knowledge of the fund raising business. I
learned much from him. It is always a special pleasure to have a boss
you genuinely like, admire and respect. That's how I felt about Tom. He
was widely respected in the fund raising community and I was proud to
work for him. Here at Incarnate Word, I've established a reputation for
hiring good secretaries, and one day, Tom's secretary quit. I had to go
on a trip out of town, and while I was gone, he tried to steal my
secretary who was very good a what she did. I got back in time to catch
him and I told him to back off, go find your own secretary. And he did,
and he never again tried to steal my secretary.”
-Robert Sosa
Director, Foundation, Government, & Corporate Relations
How the family remembers him...
Nickname: Grandpa
Texas
“One time I said ‘Dad can you make me a sandwich?’
So he walked over and grabbed my face between his hands and said: 'Poof,
you’re a sandwich!'"
- Jennifer Tyler
“If my dad were here and he saw all these people, he’d probably ask
everyone to pitch in and raise some money. My dad was a fundraising
master.”
-Thomas K. Plofchan Jr.
“When Jim Henson died, there was a quote in Time
magazine from a little girl who was asked about the Muppets and their
disappearance after Henson’s death, she said ‘Maybe God needs the Muppets
in heaven,’ in the same way I tell you, God needed my dad in heaven.”
-Dan Plofchan
They Saw the Flame
 Under
a colorful site of flags, umbrellas and raincoats, a crowd of cheering
spectators anxiously awaited in the pouring rain to get a glimpse of
the amazing flame as it made its way though the streets of San Antonio.
University employees lined Hildebrand St. in a patriotic display as
the Olympic torch paraded in front of their eyes, and up the hill at
the International Conference Center were more enthusiastic fans.
The lighting of the flame signifies the opening of the Olympic Games
and it is originally lit during a ceremony at the site of the ancient
Olympic stadium, located in Olympia. Women dressed in robes like those
worn by the ancient Greeks use a curved mirror to light the torch with
the sun’s rays. As the flame travels through the 125 major cities, it
is guarded carefully so that it is not extinguished, but a torch is
lit from it each day to start the day’s relay. This year, the torch
weighed approximately 3 pounds and enough torches were reproduced to
give torchbearers a chance to purchase their own.
Incarnate Word High School was selected as a holding point for the
Olympic torch which made a historic appearance by being brought to San
Antonio for the first time ever. Another historic first for the Olympic
Flame was that it traveled underwater along the Barrier Reef. The torch
was escorted by a flock of police officers and by a parade of Chevrolet
vehicles of every model.
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