NEW YORK – The National Father’s Day Committee, along with Men’s Health Magazine and the Sani Family Foundation June 22 announced Rob Wunder, of Court House, as the “2009 All-Star Dad” winner.
This award recognizes a special dad who continuously goes above and beyond in not only his commitment to his own children, but to his community and those children needing positive role models to guide and support their growth and development.
Wunder was recognized and honored along with a select group of role models including, Michael “Coach K” Krzyzewski, Head Basketball Coach of Duke University, General D. H. Petraeus, Commander of the United States Central Command and the United States Army, George Stephanopoulos, ABC News Journalist, Jonathan M. Tisch, Co-Chairman of Loews Corporation, Al Unser Sr., Motorsports Racing Legend and Ronald Wurtzburger, President of Peerless Clothing USA. The 68th annual Father of the Year Awards was held at The New York Sheraton Hotel & Tower in New York City on Thursday, June 18, 2009.
Wunder was selected after reviewing thousands of essays sent from all over the United States as part of a write-in campaign sponsored by the National Father’s Day Committee, Men’s Health Magazine and the Sani Family Foundation.
When Rob Wunder graduated from Temple University in 1986, he never imagined he would be moving back into the dormitory 23 years later. After teaching physical education to handicapped students for more than two decades, he found himself with a disabled child of his own. Tragically, Rob’s son, also named Rob, dove into a swimming pool just before his junior year in high school and shattered his c5 vertebrae, an accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Fortunately, Rob’s son graduated from high school on time and was accepted and enrolled as a freshman at Temple University.
Rob put aside his teaching career and moved back to Temple to become his son’s roommate and caregiver. Each day, Rob takes care of all his son’s basic and medical needs, from walking him to class to turning him every two hours throughout the night to prevent pressure sores. Rob has devoted the next four years of his life to his son’s well-being and education. He has created a new definition for the word “father” and exemplifies the true power of love.
Rob’s wife, Sue, and their 15-year-old daughter Hailey, have adjusted quite well to their newfound empty nest as their “boys” attend college together. The Wunder family currently resides in Cape May Court House, N.J.
West Cape May – The amount of TV shows airing is getting out of hand. Less movies are being produced today than ever before. Instead, people are glued to watching shows that most people never heard of.
