Steve Blaha was named director of Campus Ministry on Jan. 14 after previously serving in the acting role. The longtime staff member and alumnus took time to talk with Marquette Today about his love for the outdoors, his journeys to Wisconsin’s Northwoods and the time he fought a forest fire.
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Tell us about your family:
I’m married with four kids.
What are your favorite hobbies and interests?
I love being outdoors. Camping, hiking, canoeing and fishing are some of my absolute favorites. I need to spend time in the Wisconsin Northwoods to recharge and soak in the goodness of God’s creation. I enjoy reading, cooking and trying out new recipes, cheering on my favorite football teams, and traveling.
What are your favorite movies?
Talk with me in person for three to four minutes in any setting and you’ll have a handful of quotes from my favorites from the 1980s.
Who are/is your hero(es)?
Jesus. Blessed Franz Jaggerstatter. Franz was a husband and father who refused to join the Nazis despite intense pressure to do so. Some of this pressure came from within the Catholic Church. He was eventually martyred because of his stance. My parents and grandparents. My wife, siblings and friends.
Any favorite quotes/mottos?
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. For the greater glory of God. That’s what I strive for every day in everything that I do. I fall short all the time. But that’s where I try to set my eyes, my heart and my actions.
What are you currently reading?
I just reread the Chronicles of Narnia for the five billionth time. Will probably jump into Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion” once again.
Any favorite vacation spots?
Definitely Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Anywhere I can be out on a northern lake with loons and eagles. I love visiting national parks, especially those out west. Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Glacier are some of my favorites.
What was your biggest career learning experience?
Every time I have made a mistake. Having moments of failure or not quite hitting the mark or goal teaches me how to do things differently, approach opportunities in new ways, envision and imagine things with new eyes, and engage my imagination and possibilities for the future. Every moment is a learning opportunity and a chance to grow, to love deeper, to be more generous, and to be more effective in how I work with others.
Any fun facts people should know about you?
I once fought a forest fire. I was in high school working at a scout camp in northern Wisconsin. A wilderness survival merit badge group was camping on a bog and lit some fires to cook on, thought they extinguished them and promptly left. Over the course of a day, the remaining embers spread down into the root system of the bog igniting the bog on fire and nearby tree lines. Our entire staff was called into action to ensure a national forest did not go down in flames. I ran a mile to the site of the bog and we formed a bucket line from a nearby lake to the flames, occasionally needing to use pickaxes and shovels to cut off the spread of the fire. After intensive hours of heat, flame, sweat, bog water and leech attacks on other staff members, we eventually got the fire somewhat under control and the national forest service firefighters were able to take it from there. We walked two miles back to our dining hall covered in ash to eat, I don’t even remember what it was, but it was delicious, nonetheless.
What most excites you about being at Marquette?
Working with a diverse group of students in a community immersed in Jesuit education. The opportunity to work alongside so many gifted people in a city that I love. I am grateful to be in a job that is explicitly about serving God, serving the Church, and serving the world. And Marquette is my alma mater. It is an incredible gift to foster the continuing growth of Catholic, Jesuit education.
