In Memoriam - Alexander Davis

We were saddened to recently learn of the death of Alexander Davis, a DePaul retiree of the Department of Modern Languages. We send our condolences to the family of  Dr. Davis who died in November, 2015 just after the following article appeared in the DePaul Magazine.

No obituary has been located.

Source: DePaul Magazine, Fall 2015

In Memoriam - Richard Thornton

We recently learned of the death of DES member, Dr. Richard Thornton, who retired from the Economics Department in 1995. Our condolences to the family of Dr. Thornton.

Dr. Richard M. Thornton, age 89, of St. Charles, passed away at Delnor Hospital, Geneva on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 surrounded by family.

He was born November 29, 1925 in Elgin, IL, son of James & Lillian (Schmitz) Thornton. Richard graduated from Elgin High School in 1943 and went to work for Howard Aircraft in St. Charles, IL producing PT19 and PT23 army training planes and DGA navy ambulance aircraft. Drafted at 18, he served in World War II as an anti tank sergeant with the 65th infantry division of General George Patton's 3rd army. He was awarded a Bronze Star for action in breaching the Sigfried line and his platoon participated in the surrender ceremony for the city of Regensburg, one of Germany's largest cities. Richard also took part in the liberation of Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. Post war, Richard earned his BS in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and joined Continental Can Co. in Chicago as a project engineer. He directed pioneering work in the food and beverage industry and developed many new can making technologies. In 1957, Richard joined Litho-Strip Corporation and participated in developing new metal coating technologies for the building and appliance industries. He went on to become President of Litho-Strip eventually retiring in 1969. He then attended Northern Illinois University, earning a PhD in International Economics in 1974 and joining the faculty of DePaul University, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Economics and Money and Banking. As Director of the DePaul Center for Economic Education, Dr. Thornton developed "The Stock Market Experiment", a simulation stock trading program for Illinois elementary and high school students which ran from 1980 to 1990 giving thousands of students their first experience in stock trading. He retired from active teaching in 1995.

Dr. Thornton is survived by his loving wife, Joyce (Burkart); children Richard (Cindy) Thornton of Strongsville, OH, Thomas (Marie) Thornton of Grafton, WI, Lance (Missy) Thornton of Geneva, Kevin (Carol) Thornton of Chicago, Shawn (Diane) Thornton of St. Charles and Anne Gosz of St. Charles He was preceded in death by his parents, son Daniel, grandson Ian and son-in-law Tom Gosz. Funeral prayers for Richard will be held Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 9:30 am at Malone Funeral Home, 324 East State Street (Route 38) proceeding to St. John Neumann Catholic Church 2900 East Main Street, St. Charles for celebration of Mass at 10:30 am, Father David Peck, celebrant. Burial will be follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Elgin. Visitation will be held Monday, September 28 from 4-8:30 pm at Malone Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. John Neumann, St. Charles 60174 will be appreciated. For information please call 630-232-8233 or visit www.malonefh.com.

See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/elgin-courier-news/obituary.aspx?pid=175937304#sthash.ToYvofni.dpuf

Source: Published in the Elgin Courier News from Sept. 26 to Sept. 27, 2015

In Memoriam - Daniel Serritella

Daniel J. Serritella,  January 28, 1920 - January 4, 2016

It is with sadness we recently learned of the death of Danny Serritella. Danny was a DePaul Security Officer for many years on the Lincoln Park Campus.

Daniel J. Serritella, 95, of Chicago, passed away January 4th, 2016. Beloved husband of the late Vivian. Visitation Thursday, January 7th, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. with a funeral service at 7:30 p.m. at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N. Cicero Avenue, Chicago. Friends and family will meet at Graceland Cemetery on Friday, January 8th for a graveside service at 11:00 a.m.

- See more at: http://www.smithcorcoran.com/obituary/mr-daniel-j-serritella/#sthash.URWLoGRS.dpuf

Source: Smith Corcoran Funeral Home website.

In Memoriam - Thomas D. West

It is with sadness we recently learned of the death of Tom West, retired DePaul Security Director.

Thomas D. West, 87, of Marshfield, WI, formerly of Chicago, IL, passed away March 1, 2016 at St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville, IN.

Tom was born July 12, 1928 in Chicago, the youngest of three children of Thomas J. and Josephine (Dohney) West. A graduate of Loyola University in Chicago, Tom served his country with the 8th Army, Signal Corps as a cryptographer in the Korean War. He was Director of Security at DePaul University before retiring to Wisconsin with his wife, Emily.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Emily; and his sisters, Pat and Margaret. He is survived by his six children, Thomas H. West (Gloria), Sgt. CPD, retired, Nancy Stoecker (Leonard), Susan Crowley (Dr. Timothy), Gregory West, Jennifer West (the late Robert Steigert), Mary West (the late Dan Busto); grandchildren, Evan Crowley (Jessica), Timothy Crowley, Katherine Corning (Patrick), Leonard Stoecker, Marie Matthews (Nikolas), Thomas Stoecker, Elizabeth Fox (Matthew), Lauren Keith (Alex), Anna West; and eight great-grandchildren.

Tom was especially grateful to Bill W., Dr. Bob and Fr. Ignatius McDermott, for 47 years of guidance and serenity. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:00 AM, Friday, March 4, 2016, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 613 Cherry St., Evansville, IN 47713, with Father Ted Tempel officiating. Entombment will take place at 10:00 AM March 5, 2016 All Saints Cemetery, 700 N River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016.

Friends and family may visit from 8:30 AM until time of mass on Friday at the church. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Tom's name to Haymarket House, 932 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL. 60607 and/or Little Sisters of the Poor, 1236 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN.

Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication on Mar. 4, 2016

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=Thomas-West&pid=177934576#sthash.k45oYDRt.dpuf

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Dear Colleagues,

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death on March 1st of DePaul retiree Tom West.  For many years Tom was the director of Campus Security the precursor to our Public Safety Department.  For Tom's obituary please see below:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=Thomas-West&pid=177934576

Our sympathies to the West Family.   May he rest in peace.

Source: Mission and Values, March 25, 2015.

In Memoriam - William Pasterczyk

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Dr. William Pasterczyk at age 99. Dr. Pasterczyk was a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemistry in the College of Science and Health. He began his career at DePaul in 1942 and retired in 1987. He is survived by his wife Ardelle, his children, grand children, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation, Thursday, February 25, 2016, from 4 to 8 p.m., at HABEN Funeral Home & Crematory, 8057 Niles Center Rd., Skokie. Family and friends will meet for Funeral Mass, Friday, February 26, at 11 a.m., at St. Lambert Catholic Church, 8148 Karlov Ave., Skokie. Interment, Maryhill Catholic Cemetery, Niles. Masses or memorial contributions to a would be appreciated.

Info: 847.673.6111 or www.habenfuneral.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=william-pasterczyk&pid=177826173&fhid=2036#sthash.7DCmHLRg.dpuf

May he rest in peace.

Source: Mission and Values Email February 25, 2016
Photo: DePaulia, 1971; University Archives Online, DePaul University.

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Dr. William Pasterczyk

Age 99, of Skokie. Retired Professor of Chemistry, DePaul University. Beloved husband of Ardelle, nee Jaworski; dear father of Karen, Gail (Michael) Deuschle, and the late Joan; loving grandfather of William and Evan Deuschle; fond brother of the late Ray Pasterczyk and Adeline Barnas; dearest uncle and friend to many.

Visitation, Thursday, February 25, 2016, from 4 to 8 p.m., at HABEN Funeral Home & Crematory, 8057 Niles Center Rd., Skokie. Family and friends will meet for Funeral Mass, Friday, February 26, at 11 a.m., at St. Lambert Catholic Church, 8148 Karlov Ave., Skokie. Interment, Maryhill Catholic Cemetery, Niles. Masses or memorial contributions to a charity of your choice would be appreciated. Info: 847.673.6111 or www.habenfuneral.com.

Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication on Feb. 24, 2016
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=177826173#sthash.Y25DPxWw.dpuf

In Memoriam - Ellin Kelly

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death last Saturday after a long illness of Dr. Ellin Kelly, professor emerita in the English Department of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.  Ellin joined the faculty in 1968 and taught until her retirement in 1992.  For many years Ellin was a faithful volunteer in the Archives and Special Collections department bringing to her accessioning work the precision of a scholar.  Ellin most generously endowed a British Literature Award for students. She was also a scholar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

Ellin donated her body to science.  A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's parish in Evanston, Illinois. For church directions: http://www.stmaryevanston.org/visitors/

May she rest in peace.

Office of Mission and Values

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Ellin Kelly, DES Luncheon, May 16, 2014

Jackie Price and Ellin Kelly, DES Luncheon, November 1, 2013

Ellin Kelly, DES Luncheon, May 18, 2012

Ellin Kelly, Mary Hie and Jeanne LaDuke, DES Luncheon, May 18, 2012

Kris Garrigan, Ellin Kelly and Regina Waters, DES Luncheon, May 20, 2011

Ellin Kelly, DES Luncheon, October 21, 2011

Mary Hie and Ellin Kelly, DES Luncheon, October 29, 2010

Source: Email from Office of Mission and Values, February 23, 2016.
Source: Chicago Tribune, February 28, 2016, p 32
Photos: Elaine Beaudoin

Book Club April 6, 2016

Our conversation on "Being Mortal" focused on the importance of what we learned from the book. We decided it served as an owner's manual for us and our bodies, with much useful information about the aging process itself and why our physical processes lead us to our inevitable ends. Far from being depressing, we agreed that the options Atul Gawande presented about care of the elderly, and medical interventions helped us all think more clearly about what our own futures hold. A discussion about the questions faced by making end of life care decisions provided many interesting observations from personal experience. We agreed this was a book many others would profit from reading.


Our next book will be “ A God in Ruins”, by Kate Atkinson. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the book highlights the contributions of one man to the war and his life in post war England. For those not familiar with the book, here is a review.   

We next meet Wednesday, June 1, in Room 115 of the Richardson Library.  Discussion begins at 1:30, with the room open at 1 pm. for anyone who wants to bring in a brown bag lunch.  For further information contact Kathryn DeGraff or Helen Marlborough.

Suggested titles for future consideration:
“The Dust That Falls from Dreams” by Louis de Bernieres
“Frances Perkins:  The Woman Behind the New Deal”  Kirsten Downey
“Frank” by Barney Frank
“The Swerve” by Stephen Greenblatt
“That Cape Magic” Richard Russo