A Beautiful Dream: The Steve Pavela Story

Mother was right. Life is like a dream . . . So spoke Steve Pavela in 2013 as he approached his 90th birthday. As a third generation descendant of Catholic Polish immigrants, he grew up in "Goosetown," a diverse and colorful neighborhood in La Crosse, Wisconsin, during the Great Depression. The first of his family to go to college, he attended Notre Dame University on athletic scholarships. His athletic accomplishments during his high school years at La Crosse Aquinas and later at Notre Dame were record setting and remarkable. He is one of the few remaining members of the "Greatest Generation" who served in World War II. His marriage of more than 65 years is a true love story. And his entrepreneurial work as executive director of the Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association and his selfless leadership and dedicated community life are truly memorable. But A Beautiful Dream: The Steve Pavela Story is more than the sum of interesting experiences. This story is worth telling because of the way he has lived his life and because of the lives that he has touched and those who have touched him. This is his story . . . A beautiful dream to remember.