Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 23

women around her, who will be her lifelong friends—young women
whose faith puts mine to shame.”
Similarly, Dave enjoys interacting with Wheaton alumni and
friends.

in total harmony and trust with him; we have felt like we’ve had
major-league-level advice at every point. Wheaton has a gem
in Dave Teune. Clearly, his work for Wheaton is his ministry for
the Lord.”

“Contact with our donors really refreshes me,” he says.

An instrument of Christian ministry, Dave’s work has even served

“They’re interested in the same things I’m interested in—integrating
faith and learning, being a witness for Christ. It’s very inspiring.”
Recently, for example, he met with a California couple who,
after discussing supporting Wheaton via the eventual sale of their
rental building, spent an equal amount of time in animated
dialogue about ways to apply Christian apologetics to contemporary
culture.
This kind of interaction has encouraged Dave in his work at
Wheaton. It has also helped him get through times of personal
struggle when he found himself questioning his place at the College
or his effectiveness in his role. “The freshness of these relationships
has helped reignite my enthusiasm at low points,” he says.
Dr. R. Mark Dillon, vice president for advancement and alumni
relations, has worked with Dave since arriving at Wheaton in 1994.
He appreciates—and knows that Wheaton’s donors also appreciate—
Dave’s uncompromising integrity and commitment to excellence.
“Fundamentally, those who want to give to Wheaton know that
Dave is looking out for their best interests,” says Mark. “They have a
deep level of trust in his knowledge base and integrity.”
Lenore Callahan agrees. “Dave always works hard to find the best
option for the individual. He is never willing to separate the gift
from the giver,” she says.
Trustworthy, knowledgeable, and humble—these are a few of
the words that colleagues and donors consistently use to describe
Dave.
“Dave’s humble spirit is apparent to all who have worked with him,”
says Dr. David Johnston ’65, who worked at Wheaton from 1977
to 2009, most recently as senior vice president for finance. “He has
worked mostly behind the scenes, where he has not sought personal
recognition for his significant accomplishments.”
Brian Oxley ’73, M.A. ’75, an entrepreneur, businessman, and
Wheaton donor since 1997, says Dave isn’t the stereotypical lawyer.
“He is patient, understanding, humble. He’s a great sounding
board who always listens. And that’s remarkable, because I think
I’ve given him more Wheaton College lectures than any professor
there.”
Like Brian, Dr. Barrett Anderson ’50, an orthodontist who
has sought out Dave’s assistance with a number of complex sales
and charitable trust donations over the years, appreciates Dave’s
competence and personable approach.
“Dave is very bright, very trustworthy,” says Barrett. “Over
the past 15 years, my wife, Regis, and I have felt we were working

as a vehicle of matrimony.
In 1979, Lenore Callahan’s mother, Ruth Carlson, employed Dave
via a local law firm after her husband’s death that year. She liked
him so much that she engineered a plan to introduce Dave to Mary
Wilterdink, a fellow choir member.
Ruth convinced Mary, who lived in the same apartment complex
as Dave, to deliver him a plate of homemade cookies. Dave jokes
that Mary brought the cookies by on Christmas Eve, hoping that
he wouldn’t be home. But he was indeed home, and the two were
married in 1982. In addition to Molly ’09, they are parents to an adult
son, Jonathan.
As for Dave’s career at Wheaton, his three-decades-long investment
promises to leave a lasting legacy.
“Dave has a strong sense of Wheaton’s key place in today’s culture,”
says Mark Dillon. “He thinks holistically about the mission of
Wheaton College. Because of his diligence and care for hundreds of
alumni and others, Dave’s impact will be felt at Wheaton College
for many years to come.”

Dave Teune ’74 and his
family at his daughter’s
wedding on August 7, 2011.
From left: Jonathan Teune,
Andrew Denton, Molly Teune
Denton ’09, Mary Teune,
and Dave.

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