Pat Stanford, president of the Churubusco Community Park Board of Directors, is looking for community input on a request to dedicate and name Diamond 1 in the park in honor of the late Dennis “Denny” Cramer.
“We had a request about naming Diamond 1 in the park in honor of Denny for his dedication to the community through years of coaching Little League,” Stanford said. “We would like to hear from the community before making a decision on this issue at our next meeting” in November.
Voice your opinion below by adding a comment, which will be forwarded to Stanford or email it to editor@buscovoice.com.
Denny L. Cramer was 55 when he died suddenly of an apparent heart attack on August 9.
He was the son of the late Wilbur L. and 
Catherine L. (Lynch) Cramer. For most of his life he lived in Churubusco, and as a young man graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne with the class of 1971.
He worked at Precision Heat Treat Company in Fort Wayne for over 20 years and was the night supervisor. He loved coaching little league baseball in Churubusco for 20 years.
I believe a memorial is in order, ex: a tree, batting cage ect… but to name diamond 1 after someone would be a huge honor and I believe there are probably several worthy people of this past and present.
Denny Cramer is worthy of a dedication. However, there have been many others who have blazed paths for the young boys and girls. We were approached many times during my years on the board, and we always declined because of the “many over the few” concept. A plaque would be appropriate.
Bob Amber
I agree with Bob, Denny is worthy of a dedication. I think that we would be best to look at doing some type of plaque in honor of Denny. To name diamond 1 after him, could possibly been seen as other people within the community are not worthy. Example: Egolf’s IGA and or Shelton’s IGA have been sponsoring teams for the youth league for last count over 50 years! Dave Bonar of Bonar Ins has sponsored a team for over 15 years. Not to think of volunteers that have been associated with the youth league for the past 25 years and currently are still active.
Dave Pearson
A memorial of some type is appropriate but probably not naming a diamond. Don Amber
There are TOO many people that put in MANY YEARS of service at the park to start putting specific names on things.
Thank you for your coments This in input that we need to make a good decision. Ken Bohde board member.
I think it is a great idea to honor Denny with naming a field after him. Unlike MOST of the people that donated time @ the park, Denny never had a child that was involved in baseball, therefore donating his time for the good of all of the children and not just a select few.It was something that he just really enjoyed doing.
Perhaps the Park Board shouldn’t have asked for opinions if they already had their minds made up.
If anything starts to get named at the park to honor those who contributed to the Park and town it should begin with my late father George Diller.
Ron Diller is absolutely right! George Diller was the first person put in place to guide the park process. I was fortunate to serve on his first park board. George created a mandatory “masterplan” in an effort to receive grant money. His vision was second to none. Granted, George learned this craft in the Air Force. Churubusco was very fortunate to have George, Dorthy and their family move back to Churubusco. Without George, Jerome Krider, the Turtle Day Association and others we might not even have a park. Ron I apologize for forgetting this valuable fact. Don Amber.
It would make much more sense to have a Park Hall of Fame – and induct people periodically who were instrumental in the establishment, growth and improvement of the place.
But starting a new tradition to single a few people out as worthy of having their moniker on publicly-owned real estate while others are not is short-sighted claptrap, since you’ll end up offending more people who feel their relatives are being slighted – than folks you actually honor.
Mr. Cramer volunteered for 20 years, true.
But many, many folks who have since passed away served the park as long or longer and in ways that touched more people and reached beyond a single sport – but nothing was named after them.
This is because the entire park is a collective legacy of the entire community working together – folks who have donated time and effort for decades and decades — longer than most of Churubusco’s current residents have been alive.
I doubt the founders of the park would have wanted the place carved up to honor specific individuals.
That’s because it is an active and growing and changing COMMUNITY park, not a memorial park.
I AM FOR DILLER FIELD !
The proposal was most likely made out of gratitude and with good intent. However, this is a precedent setting decision. It seems if the board wishes to begin to recognize people for their contribution and service, they should establish a set criteria by which persons are eligible for recognition. Mr. Amber’s idea of a plaque seems like a logical choice especially if it were one to which individual nameplates could be added over the years. Personally, I do think that persons who offer such contributions do so for higher reasons such as faith or altruism and they do not particularly desire to have their recognition/reward here. For one example, Mr. Diller’s contributions, for the park, the town and just as a person, live on in my heart.
why not name it Oscar Field of dreams!
Any one who knew the heart that Denny gave to others should agree to naming a diamond, just because there are other worthy people does not mean “do not name the diamond just put up a memorial” Well the discussions must not have been strong enough to put up other names. He was all heart and soul, dedicated to other people. The discussion came up and was done, so why disagree with it now when family members are reading these responses? Some people think they are above others, and desrespect others.