Scott Thor Lofgren, the son of Howard and Elaine Lofgren, was born December 9, 1954 in Chicago, IL. Soon after his birth, his family relocated to the small farming community of Waterman, IL, some 60 miles west of Chicago. Scott was an only child and known for challenging antics, crawling on his roof, and jumping off with an umbrella as his parachute— Mary Poppins did it! Scott always wanted to be a pharmacist. That desire changed the summer of his junior year in high school when Scott went to Boys State and was made aware of the opportunities at West Point. With his mind changed, he obtained a congressional nomination and was accepted into the Class of 1977. Scott was the only member from his high school to go to college and the only one ever to be accepted and attend a service academy.
As a cadet, Scott and his antics mellowed. He was focused on academics. He would take the lead in WPR and TEE gatherings, setting up study groups for these major events, which usually ended with joke telling and story swapping. He met his future wife, Arlene, a student at Ladycliff College, while a cadet. However, even when she called, he was focused on academics: she’d talk with his roommate for 30 minutes, then say, “Hi,” to Scott, and he’d go back to studies. The studies showed well in his graduation position.
Upon graduation, Scott was commissioned into the Signal Corps. His schooling included the Signal basic and advanced courses; the Communications and Electronic Staff Officer Course at Fort Sill, OK; AFIT and CGSC. He attended Georgia Tech and received his master’s degree in computer science. Scott headed to Fort Hood, TX after his initial training, working various assignments in the 2nd Armored Division (1-16th FA, 142nd Signal Bn.). He then spent three years in Korea with the 1st Signal Brigade and as a company commander for the 275th Signal Company. After Korea, he left for Georgia Tech, then he went to West Point to be the branch chief of records and testing in the Admissions Office. After a brief stop at Fort Leavenworth, KS for CGSC, he headed to the 73rd Signal Battalion as S-3 in Pirmasens, Germany, and then to Bad Kreuznach, Germany, where he was the battalion commander of the 459th Signal Battalion. His final assignment was back at Fort Hood as the force integration officer for TEXCOM and then his second battalion command with the 1114th Signal Battalion. He retired as an O-5 and moved to Ashburn, VA.
Scott’s assignment at West Point was at a particularly unique time. As chief of records and testing in the Admissions Office, Scott was key in transferring much of the Admissions process from writing to computer usage. Scott’s computer education from Georgia Tech was key in implementing new technologies into the Admissions Office for both the office and for the cadet candidates.
Scott married Arlene Wujciak before his first assignment to Fort Hood. He and Arlene had two daughters: Jennifer Lauren, born at West Point, and Courtney Anne, born on the first day of his attendance at CGSC at Fort Leavenworth. He adored both his daughters, his retirement at 20 years was to provide stability to his daughters’ education.
Upon retirement, Scott entered industry with the same passion he had displayed in the Army. Scott had always said he’d never be in sales, but that’s what he ended up doing. His first position was as a business development director at Cabletron. His customer was the Department of Defense and the Army. His team was a group of young, ambitious, yet rambunctious people. They were very unsure of Scott as their leader, with his military demeanor and attitudes. Scott presented himself as a leader by example, “do as I do,” and his team quickly followed him to success. He then left Cabletron for a company known as USI/Integic. Scott led the business development for the company as they pursued and won the second largest contract within the company. Scott focused on their customer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and, after the contract was won and in execution, he ensured they received the best possible solution and product delivery.
Scott’s final career position was with Bentley Systems in the role of master educator (global director). In this position, Scott was focused on Bentley’s worldwide customer base as they executed a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education system for grade school and high school children. Scott worked with Bentley for eight years, traveling the world (China, India, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe) to promote this system and its implementation. The customers quickly came to understand and implement the program based on Scott’s enthusiasm, sincerity, and honesty in promoting the program.
Scott passed on May 24, 2013 from pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed late, as the cancer had already metastasized; he passed within six weeks of the diagnosis. He is sadly missed by his daughters, by his wife, and now by his two granddaughters. And he is sadly missed by his classmates. Scott was an amazing father, husband, leader, and friend, and he is sorely missed. He is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.
— Arlene Lofgren, wife, and Greg Curtis ’77