In Memoriam - Patricia Mulligan

 

Patricia Mulligan (nee Farrell)--Gone to her final reward on April 19, 2020. Loving daughter of the late Lawrence and Norma Farrell; beloved wife of the late John Patrick for 56 looong and interesting years; always there for us, dear Mom to John (Retired CPD), Karen (Kevin) O'Connell, Larry (the late Michelle Porter) and the late James CPD (Sue); dear mother in law to Virginia Mulligan (RN); Christmas Cookie Making, Easter Egg Coloring Gramma to Katie, John "J.J.", Allie, Sean (Nicole), Kristin, Michael, and Patrick; great grandmother of Connor; sister and best friend of Marian Kulterman and the late Eleanor Swiatly. I love you all now, go and have a great party and be sure to dance on the bar. Arrangements by Cooney Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association are appreciated. For information please call 773-588-5850 or visit www.cooneyfuneralhome.com

To write a note of condolences go to: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=patricia-mulligan&pid=196016172&fhid=16217

Source: Chicago Tribune, April 21, 2020

Photo: SES Luncheon, November, 2003

Book Club October 7

 After Visiting Friends provided many topics for discussion at our October meeting. Several members of the book club especially enjoyed Michael Hainey’s detailed portrait of Chicago in the 1950s and 60s, recalling their own childhood experiences of the city.  Others praised the accounts of newspaper work, both the newsroom itself and the camaraderie of the men who staffed it, noting also that Hainey’s parents met there. Hainey’s training as a news reporter is apparent both in his determined search for the truth about his father’s death and in his direct prose style.  Although some readers faulted the memoir’s style, finding it undistinguished or shapeless, others found it forceful.

As in our reading of other memoirs (such as Educated), we disagreed about the effectiveness and “truth” of some remembered scenes, including Hainey’s imagined recreation of past scenes from others’ hints.  Thinking about memory and the past led the discussion back to Hainey’s intense need to know his father—we considered the appeal of family history in general—and the resolution of Hainey’s search in his realization of his mother’s love and courage.  The narrative arc of the memoir is completed in that final recognition and tribute to Hainey’s mother.

Our next book will be Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. We will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, December 2. Meeting will start at 11 am, however, the Zoom link will be open at 10:30, to make sure everyone can get establish a good connection.

Please contact Kathryn DeGraff or Helen Marlborough if you have any questions.

We enjoy catching up with our former colleagues and enjoy welcoming new members to the group. Zoom meetings have provided a great way for colleagues not in the immediate vicinity of the Lincoln Park Campus to participate and renew old acquaintances!

 

In Memoriam - Dmitry Paperno

It is with sadness we recently learned of the passing of Dmitry Paperno.  May he rest in peace.

Dmitry Paperno, concert pianist, writer, beloved teacher, husband, father, and grandfather died on October 12, 2020 at the age of 91. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lyudmila; his daughters Anna (Bruce) Radzin and Maria (Boris) Tsipris; and his grandchildren, Alexandra and Samuel Radzin, and Olivia (Jason) Wilson and Eugene Tsipris. Loving caregiver Hatuna helped brighten his last years as well. Our heartfelt thanks to NorthShore Hospice. 

He received his musical training under Alexander Goldenweiser at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, receiving a Master's Degree with Honors in 1951 and an Aspirant Diploma in 1955. A prize winner at the Fifth International Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1955 and the First International Enescu Competition in Bucharest in 1958, Paperno proceeded to perform extensively throughout Russia and Eastern Europe as well as in England, Cuba, and Belgium (as soloist with the U.S.S.R. State Orchestra at EXPO in Brussels in 1958). He also made numerous recordings for Melodiya, the record label of the Soviet Union. 

In 1967 Mr. Paperno began teaching at the Gnessin Moscow State Institute. After emigrating to the United States in 1976, Paperno continued to concertize widely throughout the U.S. and Western Europe. A Professor at Chicago's DePaul University since 1977 (now Emeritus), Paperno has been on the jury panel for many international piano competitions. He has also given master classes at the Moscow Conservatory as well as in Belgium, Finland, Portugal, and the United States, including classes at Oberlin and the Manhattan School of Music. 

Mr. Paperno is the author of several essays on music and pianism and the books Notes of a Moscow Pianist (Amadeus Press) and Postscriptum. His recordings on Cedille Records include Dmitry Paperno: Uncommon Encores, Paperno Plays Chopin, and Paperno Live. 

Services are private and plans will be announced for a future memorial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the DePaul University School of Music. Notes of condolence may be sent to 1831 Mission Hills Rd., Apt. 508, Northbrook, IL 60062 For information or to leave condolences, Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, (847) 255-3520 or www.shalom2.com.

Source: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=dmitry-paperno&pid=196951424&fhid=4243

Book Club August 5

We came away from our discussion of The Night Watchman with new awareness of and respect for Native American lives. We noted Louise Erdrich’s ability to capture and convey Native American beliefs and the realities of reservation life—its family bonds, its poverty, the government schools. Her vivid treatment of magic and folklore, and its suggestion that what we might call “superstition” depends a good deal on one’s perspective was reflected as well through the comic illustration of cultural assumptions by Mormon missionaries about what’s real.  Erdrich wove together several story lines in different modes—the Night Watchman’s verbal battle with the U.S. government, Pixie’s surreal experiences in the “nightmare” city as she searches for Vera, the story of Wood Mountain’s boxing and his changing feelings, expertly. But she always kept the central focus on the novel on the actual story of her grandfather and his struggle to maintain Indian lands and identity granted by federal law against the 1953 congressional act that would “terminate” them.

Our next book will be After Visiting Friends  by Chicagoan Michael Hainey. We will meet via Zoom at 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 7. Please contact Kathryn DeGraff or Helen Marlborough if you have any questions.

We enjoy catching up with our former colleagues and enjoy welcoming new members to the group. Zoom meetings have provided a great way for colleagues not in the immediate vicinity of the Lincoln Park Campus to participate and renew old acquaintances!

In Memoriam - Alex Devience

Alex Devience, Jr., 81 of Park Ridge, was born November 18, 1938 in Chicago to the late Alexander and Charlotte (nee Patelski) Devience and passed away June 13, 2020. Alex was the beloved husband of Arlene D. (nee Nelson) for 59 years; loving father of the late Pepper; guardian of Mark Hageli; fond uncle to Linda, Terri, Diane, Patti, Jane, Charlie, Joseph, Alex, Rachel, Steven, and Karen. Alex served in the United States Navy at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. After the Navy, he earned his J.D. degree from Loyola University, Chicago School of Law. Alex not only loved the law but teaching as well which led him to begin teaching business law at DePaul University in 1974. He continued teaching up until four weeks ago. In 1976, a few years after he began teaching, he opened Alex Devience, LTD located in downtown Chicago, IL. His practice would go on to litigate a wide variety of cases including, Alex arguing in front of the United States Supreme Court. To say he has influenced a great number of people is an understatement. Alex loved his family, from his marriage of 59 years to Arlene to his involvement with numerous nephews and nieces, his laugh and playful teasing will be missed. He led by example for all to see. Interment will be at Town Of Maine Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Alex's name.

Source: Online: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/des-plaines-il/alex-devience-9219447

Book Club June 3

We enjoyed our Zoom discussion of The Library Book, which we had to postpone from our scheduled April meeting. Susan Orlean begins with the fire that devastated the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986 and her curiosity about that event, the accused arsonist, and the role of the library and librarians. She uses the event and her skillful writing to weave a multilayered saga. Her story includes the history and development of that library and the role of the librarians who built the collections and the place of the library in the civic life of Los Angeles. She includes her memories of libraries, analysis of the work librarians do, a true crime tale, and anecdotes of books and their users. The session helped restore our sense of connection to our fellow DePaul retirees through this time of social isolation. 

Our next book will be The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich.  We will meet Wednesday, August 5, through a zoom link to be emailed to all, at our usual time, 11 am.  For further information contact Kathryn DeGraff or Helen Marlborough,

We continue to review the titles on our list for consideration for upcoming discussions. Please let Kathryn, Helen, or anyone else in the group, know if you have a favorite book you would like to share with your DES colleagues. As you can tell from the posts, we are interested in a wide range of fiction and non fiction. We enjoy our sessions thoroughly and always have room for more people and more insights.

In Memoriam - Jack Reisman

Dr. John M. Reisman, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at DePaul, died May 19, three days before his 90th birthday. He received his B.S. at Rutgers and his doctorate at Michigan State. During the Korean War, he served as an officer on the USS Wisconsin. He was predeceased by Margo, his beloved wife of 62 years, and will be sorely missed by his loving children, Hope (Jeffrey) Sheffield, David (Caroline), Carl (Robin), and Andrew (Polina), and by his 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Dr. Reisman published eight psychology books, numerous articles, and two mystery novels. He loved old movies, traveling, good food, and a well-organized routine. His family will miss his wit, prodigious memory, intelligence, and devotion.

Published in Chicago Tribune on May 22, 2020.