Former Senator, St. Cloud Native Dave Durenberger Has Died

Originally published January 31st, 2023 9:29 a.m.

Updated January 31st, 2023 10:31 a.m.

(KNSI) — St. Cloud native and former Senator Dave Durenberger has died.

His spokesperson and chief of staff broke the news Tuesday morning.

Durenberger was born on the campus of St. John’s University in 1934, as his father was an athletic trainer and a coach. He graduated from St. John’s Prep in 1951. He also attended St. John’s University, graduating in 1955 cum laude before getting his J.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1959.

He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978 to fill the unexpired term of Hubert H. Humphrey. Durenberger served in the senate until 1995. He served as chair of the Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence during the 99th Congress and was known for working across the aisle and passing bipartisan legislation on civil rights, environmental protection, healthcare, education and tax reform.

In a statement emailed to KNSI, the school says, “Today our country lost a patriotic American, Minnesota lost a skilled statesman, and Saint John’s lost a great Johnnie,” said Dr. Brian Bruess, president at Saint John’s and the College of Saint Benedict.

“Senator Durenberger’s life and legacy (were) centered on public service and civic engagement,” said Matt Lindstrom, a political science professor at Saint John’s and Saint Benedict and director of the schools’ Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement.

“In his numerous events with the CSB/SJU community and around the world, Senator Durenberger inspired others to work for the common good in a pragmatic, bipartisan manner. He encouraged students to be actively involved and treat others with grace and dignity.

“As much as students would light up with enthusiasm after speaking with him, he also loved meeting and mentoring students. He will be deeply missed on campus, but his legacy of practical political moderation will remain forever.”

Senator Durenberger served on the Saint John’s University Board of Regents from 1987 to 1996 and had just received the Saint John’s University President’s Medal from President Bruess on January 27th, 2023, in a private presentation for his lifetime of public service to the nation and the State of Minnesota.

Durenberger said it was the individual relationships he built over the years that he looked back on most proudly.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve told my former colleagues who all worry about the legislation they pass and all that sort of thing. That’s not what you’re going to be remembered for,” he said while taking part in the 8th annual Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture at SJU in 2014.

“You are going to be remembered for all those relationships you build one person at a time, one incident at a time, one problem at a time, one challenge at a time.

“I really have little reason to doubt that’s the best way for anyone who wants to go into public service – whether it’s the Mayor of St. Cloud, the Stearns County Commissioner or a Congressman or U.S. Senator. You want to be remembered for how solid those relationships were and how faithful you were to the commitments that you made.”

Durenberger was 88.

At the request of the Durenberger family, memorials are preferred to the Dave Durenberger Legacy Fund at Saint John’s University, supporting students participating in the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Washington, D.C., Summer Internship Program
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