Crash victim had New Ulm roots

Wellstone's right-hand man attended Holy Trinity Elementary

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The late Sen. Paul Wellstone's right-hand man who died with him and six others in a plane crash near Eveleth Friday morning attended Holy Trinity Elementary School in New Ulm four decades ago.

Tom Lapic's sister, Lynn Guggisberg, lives in Gibbon with her husband, Patrick.

Patrick Guggisberg said the family moved to New Ulm in 1963. Tom attended Holy Trinity through the eighth grade. He then entered the Crosier Seminary and Prep School in Onamia in 1969.

Lapic, 49, never became a priest.

Mike Farrell, who now lives in Eagan, established a life-long friendship with Lapic during their teen years. They lived with the Crosier Fathers in a monastery before Farrell left the seminary.

The men became chimney business partners, cleaning chimneys and selling chimneys and chimney accessories in the Twin Cities more than a decade ago. Farrell later became a teacher. Lapic edited the Chanhassen Villager -- a weekly newspaper -- before taking a job with Wellstone in Washington, D.C., during his first term in office.

Farrell and Lapic were next-door neighbors in Eagan.

"He (Lapic) had a love for thinking, politics, philosophy and government, Farrell said. "He believed in the goodness of people and did everything he could to help others, even if he disagreed with them."

Lapic was described as a quiet man who prepped Wellstone before all speeches and debates. Several weeks ago, he moved from Wellstone's St. Paul office to work at Wellstone's side on the campaign trail.

Patrick Guggisberg said Lapic worked in Washington for Wellstone for about five years, before moving back to Minnesota to work in the senator's home office.

"He loved working for Wellstone," said Guggisberg. "He believed in Wellstone, being a liberal, taking care of the poor."

Lapic was the go-to-guy when people contacted Wellstone's office with various problems and issues. He made sure everybody who sought help from the office was served.

Julie Soehren of rural New Ulm, a classmate of Lapic's at Holy Trinity, fondly remembered him.

"He was a very nice, smart young man as an eighth-grader, which was the last time I talked to him," Soehren said. "It's a great loss all the way around but it becomes closer when one of your classmates is gone in this fashion."

Mary Arnoldi of New Ulm was a friend of Lapic's mother who now lives in Hopkins.

"I was very close with his mother, now Mrs. Duane Henke. She was twice-widowed. Tom was a rather quiet, nice, young man. A good, all-around kid. Obviously he was a sharp man which Wellstone noticed and got hold of him."

Lapic is survived by his wife Trudy. The couple met in college, went their separate ways for two decades before they renewed their relationship while Lapic worked for Wellstone in Washington, D.C.

"Tom went to Washington, D.C. as a 38-year-old bachelor," Farrell said. "We really didn't think he'd get married. Then he came home one Christmas a few years ago and got married. It was a great surprise to his family and friends."

A memorial service for Lapic, Sen. Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila Wellstone, their daughter Marcia Wellstone Markuson, University of Minnesota educational psychology professor Mary McEvoy and Will McLaughlin, a University of Minnesota senior and intern for Wellstone will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota.

The service is open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early.