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.
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October 10th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
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.
October 10th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
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
October 10th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
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
October 12th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
A memorial of some type is appropriate but probably not naming a diamond. Don Amber
October 15th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
There are TOO many people that put in MANY YEARS of service at the park to start putting specific names on things.
October 17th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Thank you for your coments This in input that we need to make a good decision. Ken Bohde board member.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
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.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Perhaps the Park Board shouldn’t have asked for opinions if they already had their minds made up.
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
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.
December 17th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
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.
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:38 am
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.