Dilger clan dedicated

When Walter Dilger came from Stuttgart in 1966 to teach with the Department of Civil Engineering, he was unaware Calgary would become his lifelong home, with its university integral to his family’s life.

The original plan for himself, wife Ute, and their three children was to return to Germany after a year. But the family loved what the city, university and mountains offered and made Dalhousie home – adding two additional children.

They’ve all embraced the University of Calgary. Whether it’s Walter lecturing gratis on bridge design at a Nepal university, or Ute volunteering with Faculty Women’s Club executive, campus connection has always been key.

Fast-forward 45 years to last week’s convocation ceremony that saw Walter’s daughter, Margo, receive her MEd.

It’s the eighth degree taken by family – from engineering, law, business and education.

“Learning and hard work are themes modeled by our parents and we’ve been extremely fortunate to apply them to enhance our university and community,” Margo says.

Walter’s daughter Catrin Coe (LLB, legal counsel, Alberta Court of Appeal) is a regarded law sessional who collaborates with brother, Mick (BComm, president, Pembina Oil), who lends expert guest speaker knowledge in her ‘Trusts’ class. Mick and wife Barb honed their entrepreneurial skills 20 years ago when they opened Varsity Drugs at the University of Calgary to satisfy student need for an on-campus pharmacy.

Margo, also a BComm alumna (program director, Continuing Education) teaches online in the transformative Certificate in Adult Learning, which prepares facilitators Canada-wide.

Walter’s Son Chris, BSc Eng, MEng, (director, E&P Reservoir Engineering, Suncor Energy) is a volunteer extraordinaire. He is president of TriWest Soccer, was president for both the Bankview Community Association and BlockWatch, and coaches youth soccer teams – teaming up with Mick when their daughters played together.

Another of Walter’s sons, Andreas, BSc Eng, (Principle Lustre Engineer) has worked everywhere from IBM to startups, through Sun/Oracle, and back again. He helped design/develop the popular PNG graphics format, and Linux penguin logo, Tux. He supports the Engineering faculty financially and by attending events such as their block party, which he attended with his three children in late May.

The youngest Dilgers already proudly represent ‘Dino pride’ in sport. Mick’s two children, Isabel, 19, and Stefan, 17, were members of Canada’s under-19 team and represented Canada in the junior world long track speed skating championships in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Margo’s children, Mia and Dominic Soucie, ages 12 and nine, have represented swim and gymnastics teams locally and provincially.

“It’s such a phenomenal way for youth to strive for their personal best,” Mick, past president of Calgary Speed Skating, says of campus-affiliated sport.

Upon hearing President Elizabeth Cannon speak to building pride in our institution during the 2011 Eyes High launch, Margo realized this is something the Dilgers have been doing for decades – and hope to continue.