New Bicycle Repair Station on Campus Speaks to Alumnus’ Memory

When Phil Hageman, '13, came to Rockhurst University, he brought with him a love for staying active.

Phil could often be seen riding his bike or running around campus. There's a picture somewhere, family members said, of Phil on the front lawn of a house he lived in while at Rockhurst, surrounded by people from the neighborhood as he helped teach them how to fix their own bikes. As a student he helped organize the Hopkins Skip and Jump 5K, a run that takes place during Family and Alumni Weekend which each year benefits scholarships for local students. It was more than a desire to stay fit himself - Phil later earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and remained an advocate for walking, running and biking as a form of exercise and for increased safety on roadways for pedestrians and bikers.

Phil passed away tragically and suddenly in December 2021. On Tuesday, members of his family - parents Tom and Vicki and sister Naomi, '17, '19 CSD - helped members of the University community dedicate a new site on campus that honors his passion and his memory.

"He always had his bike with him and was always trying to get people to ride their bikes," Naomi said. "He definitely would have used it. I think in that sense, this is a great way to honor his memory. I also think he would be happy that it's for the neighborhood and the community as well as for students at Rockhurst."

Located on the sidewalk northwest of Conway Hall, the new site on campus is made up of a FixIt bicycle repair and maintenance station, alongside a new bike rack, stone bench and tree. The University worked with BikeWalkKC, a local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization, for the repair station. Grounds crew and physical plant staff installed the bench and bike racks and planted the tree. A memorial marker ties it all to Hageman's memory. This corner truly speaks to the person Phil was, said Bill Kriege, director of campus ministry who knew him as a student.

"He was an old soul, but also very playful," he said. "I think he had in him an uncommon wisdom that's really life-giving. That is one of our core values, wisdom, and I just feel like this is an incredible exhibit of that - just the simple things that can bring joy, bring meaning, bring connection."