Just Call Her Sunshine
by Genie (Forst) Boyer
Loretta (Jarvis) Dodd '56
Page 3 The Megaphone December 2000
When you meet Loretta Dodd, you immediately understand why her nickname is Sunshine. She even uses it in her email address: "’Sunshine’ ldodd…". Loretta’s ready smile and willingness to help let her easily live up to the name. Doc calls her Igor; and regardless of what Loretta may tell you, that is not short for Ignoramus, but rather refers to the fact that she was a great help to Marv when he was first beginning the Den. She says he used her as a sounding board for ideas and still calls her sometimes for advice. So Marv has his Igor as the original Doctor Frankenstein had his able bodied assistant, Igor. Incidentally, ever wonder where the nickname "Doc" came from? Loretta is responsible for that. She said that he resembled Doctor Frankenstein with his monster he was creating with the Den.
Loretta and her husband, Jim, live here in Elwood. Loretta graduated from Wendell L. Willkie High School in 1956. She works at the Elwood Library several days a week in the Indiana History Room. She is the resident docent on Elwood History. At any given time, one may walk into the Indiana History Room, and there is Loretta pouring over photos, family trees, or talking genealogy with a library patron.
But "just" being the historian at the library is not enough for this busy lady. She is into many, many activities. Loretta tries to walk or ride her bike every morning. She really enjoys taking bike rides up and down the different streets in Elwood because, as she says, "No matter where I go, no matter what street I’m on, it has memories for me."
Loretta is an accomplished musician. She takes piano lessons each week from Katherine Rutledge and says that "having her for a piano teacher has been a dream for 50 years." Loretta plays the organ and is the accompanist for the St. Joseph Church choir. She also played the trombone for 8 years while she was in school. She, Bob Sturtsman, and Larry Fetz used to practice together. Their little group with Bob on the guitar, Larry on the trumpet, and Loretta on the piano or trombone used to perform at the Moose Lodge and at Edgewood Fun Frolics. There are two pianos at the Dodd home, so Loretta has no lack of instruments to practice on! Loretta also enjoys her LP record collection and figures she must own 2300 records including many rock and jazz albums. Dave Brubeck is one of her favorite artists, and when she is home alone, she likes to turn the volume full blast and just enjoy listening!
Along with the above-mentioned activities, Loretta is a moderator of the Panther Den. As if this wouldn’t keep her busy enough, Loretta is a member of the Sesquicentennial Committee, the Main Street Committee, the Elwood Historical Society, and the Friends of the Library where she serves as treasurer. By virtue of being a library employee and a member of the Friends of the Library, Loretta was very involved in the "Christmas at the Library" held the week of December 3- 8.
And last but not least, one must mention the fun-loving Loretta who spreads her "Sunshine" by crashing class reunions. She and Sharon Hurst are the "professional" party crashers of the Panther Den, having begun this vocation this last summer when they showed up at my own Class of ’60 reunion and later crashed at least one other reunion.
So, whether you call her Sunshine, Igor or Loretta, it matters not to this busy lady. She will always be there to help at the library, with the Den site and activities, and/or any of her many other varied activities.
Genie (Forst) Boyer '60
Elwood, IN