Arron and the Stillwater Ponies winning the State Championship in 1984
Written by guest writer, Jennifer Young
A quarterback, by definition, is someone who directs offensive plays.
Someone who leads the team. Someone who motivates. Someone who inspires.
Back in the 1980’s, Aaron Oden was that guy. He led the Stillwater Ponies to a state championship. It was an incredible feat, considering he entered the game as a standout running back and came out of it with a state title. Aaron was called in as the emergency backup quarterback, and a quarterback sneak won him – and his team – the trophy.
Aaron stays humble about those days, but he’ll still reminisce about them, just like anyone who’s reliving the glory days. Today though, his attention is on an entirely different team. One he’s been quarterbacking for 35 years.
As the Program Manager at the Kennelly House in Burnsville, Aaron is the glue that keeps this house engaged and thriving and like any good quarterback, he’ll tell you it’s not about him, but his team.
He’s created a family here. A place where the people he works with and serves are more like brothers and sisters.
“I couldn’t see myself doing anything else to be honest with you,” Aaron says.
He knew he wanted to be a caregiver from a young age. His older brother had down syndrome and he was always looking out for him.
“When I went off to school I always knew I was going to work with kids or do something in this field,” Aaron says. “It’s just always been natural for me.”
Tom was a lineman back in high school at South St. Paul
Every good quarterback needs a lineman
A few months after Aaron started at Kennelly House, a familiar face walked in the door.
A little (but tall) blast from his past.
Tom Mohrland played football against Aaron back in the day. He was a lineman for South St. Paul. And while they didn’t play against one another in that championship game, they still knew of each other’s talents.
“He was a quarterback, so I knew his name. I was just a lineman, so he didn’t know my name,” Tom jokes.
“It was kind of a small world,” Aaron says. “I didn’t remember who he was, but I remembered his number, 77.”
Aaron & Tom at Kennelly earlier this year
Tom ended up getting a job at the Kennelly house. Today, he’s an assistant program manager and Aaron’s right-hand man.
They’ve worked together so long (35 years and counting) they call each other their work spouse. It’s a long-standing relationship built on trust and understanding.
Some of the same qualities they encountered on the gridiron.
“We’ve just been together so long,” Aaron says. “We finish each other’s sentences.”
“We’ve got a real good connection and we work well together,” Tom says. “We pull each other through the bad days and celebrate the good days.”
Tom and Aaron, back left, snowtubing with Kennelly back in 2001
One big family
Every Living Well house is like a family, and the Kennelly house is no exception.
Aaron and Tom have been caring for people here for decades. They’ve formed bonds that will last a lifetime. Not just with one another, but with the people they serve and their families.
Aaron and Tom working as a team at Sports day in 2002
“Every family that we’ve had in this house, we’ve gotten along great with,” Aaron says. “That’s huge. And I miss the old families that aren’t around anymore.”
That’s why is hits hard when they lose someone.
“It hits you like losing a family member because they do become like family.” Tom says. “So, it’s been tough losing people.”
As a family, they grieve those losses together.
Sharing stories helps. Humor does too.
“It takes awhile for you to realize this person is not here anymore and that’s the tough part,” Aaron says. “But we talk about it. We have jokes, we have fun. So, the memories are always there.”
New challenges
Both Aaron and Tom acknowledge that caregiving is not easy, especially as the people they care for age.
“Just to watch them grow and slowly see dementia and all that stuff, it breaks your heart. That’s the hardest part of this whole thing,” Aaron says.
“The care they need changes as they age,” Tom says. “We used to have a group of younger, able-bodied people and now they’re 35 years older. So, of course, they need more hands-on care.”
Tom and Aaron are tackling the new challenges together. Much like they did when they faced off on the football field.
With grit, empathy, and above all else, respect.
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