2026 Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award: Carole (1944–2024) and Don Hodgman

Carole (1944–2024) and Don Hodgman exemplify the spirit of the Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award through a lifetime of generosity, civic leadership, and commitment to education, the arts, and their community. For more than five decades, the Hodgmans supported the South Haven area through extraordinary volunteerism and philanthropy, creating a legacy that continues to benefit generations.

Carole began her teaching career at the Kalamazoo Juvenile Home before spending 33 years teaching elementary and special education with Bangor Public Schools, devoted to giving every student the tools to navigate the world with dignity and hope. Don taught biology in the Bangor schools, and for about six years the two team-taught a special education program built around core aspects of biology. Amid it all, they raised their two children, Nichole and Spencer.

Their commitment to education is also reflected in the Carole & Don Hodgman Endowed Scholarship at Lake Michigan College, helping South Haven-area students overcome financial barriers to higher education, and in their designation as Legacy Donors of the Mendel Center, supporting the Jenkins Theatre.

Don was named 2012 South Haven Rotarian of the Year, and Carole received the South Haven Rotary Community Service Award for her decades of selfless service. Following her passing in 2024, the Rotary Club established the Carole Hodgman Memorial Grant to support organizations preserving South Haven’s historical and cultural heritage.

Together, Carole and Don demonstrated that lasting leadership is defined by service, generosity, and investment in others. Their enduring contributions to education, culture, and community make them exceptionally deserving recipients of the Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award.