Byrne Hall

Byrne Hall
The Academy building was turned over to DePaul University, and renamed Byrne Hall. Bygone DePaul | Special Collections & Archives

Introduction

About the DePaul Emeritus Society

DePaul University values its ongoing connections with its faculty and staff retirees, as it values their past contributions to the university’s mission. The DePaul University Emeritus Society was founded in 2008 with the merger of the Staff Emeritus Society and the Emeritus Professors Association. The Society is sponsored by the University’s Office of Mission and Values.

The purpose of the DePaul Emeritus Society is to provide a means for ongoing connection, communication, and socialization between the university and its emeritus faculty and staff, and between individual retirees whose professional lives were for so many years dedicated to university service.

Photos, events, and information of interest to members of the DePaul Emeritus Society will be posted to this blog. Please take a look, add your comment, offer to be an "author" or just enjoy.

Friday, February 6, 2015

In Memoriam - Edwin Zolik

I returned from vacation to find this note in my in box. Sad news. I have just learned that Ed passed away at about 5:30 PM 29 January at his home in Sarasota, Florida. It was his wish that I contact you at this time. As you all know, Ed has fought the good fight these past years. He wanted to be in his home until this day. He was comforted by many wonderful caregivers and nurses up until his passing. It was his wish not have any funeral service. Charles L. Bardelis

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Edwin and Margaret Zolik

It is with sadness that we have learned of the death of Edwin Zolik.  Ed served in the Department of Psychology from 1963 until his retirement in 1988.  He passed away on January 29 at his home in Florida at the age of 90.

Ed was a founding member of the field of Community Psychology when he became the Chairperson of the Psychology Department at DePaul University in the mid-1960s, transforming an evening master's program into a psychology doctoral program that had previously not existed.  Ed helped secure funds to begin a community mental health center, and also began a series of community psychology discussions at the Midwestern Psychological Association in 1976, that have continued for that past 4 decades.

It was his wish to not have any funeral services.

Our condolences go to the family, friends, colleagues, and former students who mourn the loss of Ed.  May he rest in peace.


Mission and Values Office, February 6, 2015
Photo: Courtesy: Catholic University of America
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1 comment:

  1. Lenny Jason wrote this tribute to Ed.

    Dear Friends of Ed:

    I will miss Ed, as he was a close friend of mine, and it was his vision of community psychology that initially attracted me to join the DePaul University faculty in 1975. At that time, Ed was the Chairperson of the Psychology Department, and he believed that community psychology had much to offer in developing collaborative partnerships with community groups in solving many of the problems that faced our society. Ed was a founding member of the field of Community Psychology when he became the Chairperson of the Psychology Department at DePaul University in the mid-1960s, transforming an evening master’s program into a several psychology doctoral programs. When he was being originally recruited to join DePaul University, he made it clear to the President that he would only agree to accept the job offer if there was an agreement to begin a doctoral program, and the President agreed to this request. Prior to this, DePaul only had undergraduate and master’s programs.

    Over the years, I marveled at how Ed was able to so successfully create new settings, as when he helped secure funds to begin a community mental health center or when he began the series of informal community psychology discussion meetings at the Midwestern Psychological Association in 1976, that have continued for that past 4 decades.

    Ed mentored many DePaul graduate students, and he always had time to provide stories about the early years of our Division, his community post-doctoral training at Harvard, and his many adventures doing epidemiology and community-based research. I worked with Ed on a number of studies in the late 1970s, including ones involving dog litter, and Ed was always willing and eager to get involved in the most unorthodox types of community research.
    Unassuming and kind, Ed was an active researcher, mentor, and friend, and our field has prospered in so many ways by his presence.
    Sincerely,
    Lenny Jason

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