In Memoriam - James Diamond

Ex-DePaul professor James J. Diamond

When DePaul's Blue Demons were one of the nation's top college teams in the late 1970s and early '80s, professor James J. Diamond liked to tell prospective students the university had an economics department the basketball team could be proud of.

A tall man with dark hair and dark eyes, "He had a very quick wit and always had a witty observation," said his daughter, Ann Catherine Wilson. Mr. Diamond spent half a century at DePaul University, first as a student, then as a teacher and dean of the College of Commerce, finishing up with part-time teaching after he retired. He died of heart failure Friday at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. He was 74.

Mr. Diamond was born in Chicago, the son of Scottish immigrants. His father was a mechanical engineer who planned electrical distribution systems, including some on the Northwest Side. He grew up in Lake View, living near cousins with whom he was very close. They often walked the dozen blocks to Wrigley Field to stand outside the walls--no one could afford a ticket--and wait to catch home run balls. If they had a few nickels, they'd take a streetcar to the old Riverview amusement park. St. Andrew's grammar school gave him a scholarship to Quigley Seminary, and he went there three years, finishing up high school at St. Gregory.

It was an easy commute to DePaul, where he earned a bachelor's in 1950 and an MBA in 1951. His first teaching job was at Springfield College. In 1953 he returned to DePaul to teach, specializing in economic theory and econometrics. While teaching, he earned a master's and a doctoral degree in economics from Northwestern University, the Ph.D. in 1962. He became an associate professor, then a professor at DePaul's business school and its economics department. He was department chairman from 1966-70, associate dean of the Graduate School of Business from 1968-70, and dean of the College of Commerce from 1971-78. Then he returned to the economics department to teach until his 1988 retirement. As a professor emeritus he taught part time at DePaul until September 2001. DePaul gave him its highest faculty-staff award, the Via Sapientiae, in 1978. He was president of the Illinois Economic Association from 1980-81, a member of the American Economic Association and the Econometrics Society, and was a consultant to several businesses and nonprofits.

He met Mary Ann Stone at a Catholic youth group. They married in 1959 and lived first in Rogers Park, then in Park Ridge and for the last 23 years in Mount Prospect. "His whole life was DePaul," his wife said. "He was one of those fortunate people who loved what he did." Mr. Diamond loved to read about history, especially the history of the formation of the universe. His sister, Mary Anne Novak, said that as a boy "he could argue with anybody, especially me," about the theory of relativity. Wilson said her father gave her the sense that "you can do anything you put your mind to. I believe he instilled that same kind of confidence in his students." Survivors in addition to his wife, daughter and sister are a son, James, and one granddaughter. Services were Monday.

Chicago Sun Times, June 26, 2002, pg. 75, Brenda Warner Rotzoll

In Memoriam - Amy Brink

Amy Brink, a longtime staff member and retiree from the College of Law, died January 26, 2002 at the age of 97. Ms. Brink spent more than 36 years serving DePaul before she retired in 1971. She started as a switchboard operator and later became the College’s secretary—a post she held under five different deans: Clarke, Taft, Ward, Romiti and Groll.

Dialogue, The Magazine of the DePaul College of Law, Fall/Winter, 2002, pg. 27

In Memoriam - Wesley Vos

Wesley M. Vos, 61, an organist and professor of music at DePaul University, died of complications from liver disease Thursday, May 9, in his home in Crystal Lake. Ever since his childhood in Pella, Iowa, where his parents had a small farm, Mr. Vos' life revolved around keyboards and music. "Wesley probably never remembered not playing the piano," said his wife, Marie Ann Heiberg Vos, whom he married in 1968. Family and friends said his passion was fueled by his grandmother, who paid for weekly lessons and let him practice on her piano. Mr. Vos progressed so rapidly that he gave piano lessons when he was in high school. Though his upbringing was demanding, "I don't think it hurt him a bit, because he came along in great shape," said Larry Grooters, who taught Mr. Vos how to play the organ in high school. Grooters helped Mr. Vos get scholarships to Central College in Pella and then to Washington University in St. Louis. In 1967 Mr. Vos received a PhD in musicology from Washington University and moved to Chicago, where he worked for the American College Bureau and helped edit The Diapason, an organ and church music journal. In 1971 he became associate dean of DePaul's school of music, and began a 31-year career at the university. In recent years, Mr. Vos taught a full schedule at DePaul. He also continued to play the organ at churches in the Chicago area. "He saw [church music] as an opportunity for everyone to participate in the history of the church," his wife said. Other survivors include three sons, Robert, Thomas and Jaime; a sister, Marla Hardin; a brother, Robert; and two grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in the First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St., Crystal Lake.

Chicago Tribune, May 13, 2002, pg. 5

In Memoriam - Leon Stein

LEON STEIN, 91; Composer and DePaul educator

Leon Stein, 91, a composer, conductor and educator who was a fixture in Chicago's classical music community for half a century, died in his sleep Thursday, May 9, in Laguna Woods, Calif., after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.  Mr. Stein composed more than 100 published works, including four symphonies and two one-act operas. More than 90 orchestras performed his music, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which recorded his string quartets.  "He was a person who made his mark on the musical life of the city. There aren't many of us who can say that," said Thomas A. Brown, professor emeritus of music at DePaul University.

Mr. Stein established a relationship in the 1920s with DePaul University, where he received three degrees. Mr. Stein taught at DePaul for 47 years and served as dean of the school of music from 1966 to 1976. He retired in 1978.  Brown said Mr. Stein honed his musical expertise by attending concerts and immersing himself in the art.  "He was a homemade talent. ... He was self-taught and self- motivated," Brown said. "I have great respect for that."

Mr. Stein received DePaul's highest awards for faculty and alumni. The DePaul University Library houses his complete musical and literary works.  His son Kenneth said his father forged a strong connection between his music and his Jewish faith. Even while directing some of the city's top symphonies, Mr. Stein served as music director of the Niles Township Jewish Congregation in Skokie.  He also wrote a book, "The Racial Thinking of Richard Wagner," which tried to reconcile the German composer's musical genius with his anti-Semitism.  The significance of Mr. Stein's music to his own life and his family's was evident in his later years, his son said.

After moving to California in 1984, Mr. Stein suffered a series of health problems but maintained his sense of creativity.  Shortly after breaking his hip four years ago, Mr. Stein composed two works that he dedicated to his granddaughter Emily as she learned to play the flute. Last year, she performed the more difficult work for him at his 90th birthday party.  The flute solos were "a real beautiful gift to me and my daughter," his son said.

And even as Mr. Stein suffered from Alzheimer's, he enjoyed playing the piano in his final weeks of life, his son said.

Mr. Stein also is survived by his wife, Anne; another son, Robert; and four grandchildren. Services will be held in California.

Chicago Tribune, May 13, 2002, pg.5, Oscar Avila, Tribune staff reporter

In Memoriam - Mark McDunn

MARK McDUNN, 80; Professor filled life with music
When her friends would call the family home in River Forest, Madonna Broihier recalled how her father, Mark McDunn, would play a special song on his trombone for each of them.  There wasn't any particular reason he paired certain songs with certain friends, his daughter said, but once he started doing it, he wouldn't stop.  "It was a joke with my friends my whole life," she said. "For one of my friends, Trudy, every time she called he would play `Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.'"

Mr. McDunn, 80, a professor of music at DePaul University for 37 years who toured widely, released three solo albums and played for more than 1,500 radio and television commercials, died Wednesday, Feb. 20, in his daughter's home in Naperville of complications after a stroke.

Born in Johnstown, Pa., Mr. McDunn moved to Chicago with his family as a young child. His love of music began at Maywood's Proviso High School, where his band teacher inspired him to believe he could be the "absolute best," his daughter said, and to relate music to other aspects of life.  "That's what he tried to pass on to everyone," she said. "The joke in the family was that you could talk to my dad about anything, and no matter what the conversation had started out about, you were talking about music within five minutes."

Donald Casey, dean of the School of Music at DePaul University, said Mr. McDunn, besides being a top-notch musician, embodied the university's broader values of caring and kindness.  "Mark believed in that," Casey said. "He made a lifelong impression on his students."

Mr. McDunn's first job as a musician was during World War II. He enlisted in the service after high school and served his country as a member of the Army Band, entertaining overseas combat troops with concerts for about three years, his daughter said.  After the war, he played first trombone for the CBS Television orchestra for 15 years, providing music for live shows. During this time, Mr. McDunn also recorded many television commercials and made records on his own and with different bands.  In 1954, he joined the faculty at DePaul University, teaching there while conducting frequent clinics on brass instruments for other colleges.  "He used to open every clinic by saying that he never worked a day in his life," his wife, Irene, recalled. "He said, `I love my work because it isn't work. It's what I love to do.'"

Mr. McDunn also co-wrote a series of method books for brass instruments that was published in the U.S., Europe and Japan, and he was a design consultant for several brass-instrument makers. He also formed and directed DePaul's Vincentian Trombone Choir.  Mr. McDunn retired from full-time teaching in 1991. He continued to teach part time at DePaul until 1995 and with private students for years after that.  "He had a great rapport with young people," his daughter said. "And he had an interesting way of teaching. It wasn't a thing where [he said] you had to go home and practice, but that this is what you could accomplish if you did practice."  "He taught them music, but he also taught them about life," his wife said, "about all the beautiful things that come from music and doing the right thing in life."

Mr. McDunn also is survived by another daughter, Maureen Chiricotti; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.  Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Luke Church, at Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue, River Forest.

Chicago Tribune, Feb 23, 2002, pg. 23, Karen Rivedal, Tribune staff reporter

In Memoriam - Mary Piechocki

Mary Piechocki, beloved wife of the late John; loving mother of Dorothy (John) Wiebe, Margaret (Dell) Dale and John (Marcia); grandmother of Susan Edmonson, John Wiebe, Jill (Jim) Morgan and Michael Dale; great-grandmother of nine; fond sister of Bernice Kostrzewa, Lillian (William) Ganek and the late John Makarczyk. Funeral Saturday, May 18, 9:30 a.m. from Baran Funeral Home Ltd., 2644-46 N. Central Ave., to St. Stanislaus B&M Church. Mass 10 a.m. Interment St. Adalbert Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to American Lung Association, 1440 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607-9717. Member of the Polish Altar and Rosary Society of St. Stanislaus B&M. Visitation Friday 3 to 9 p.m. 773-622-1488 or www.baranfuneralhome.com

Chicago Tribune, May 16, 2002, pg. 8

In Memoriam - Clara Wachowski

Clara R. Wachowski, nee Olevnik, late of South Chicago, united in heaven with her beloved husband, Bob; dearest mom of Jim (Suzi) and Bob Wachowski; loving and cherished grammy of Jimmy, Erin and Morgan. Visitation Friday 2 to 9 p.m. Funeral Saturday 9:15 a.m. from the Elmwood Chapel, 11200 S. Ewing Ave., to St. Michael Church. Mass 10 a.m. Entombment Holy Cross Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, Masses preferred. 773-731-2749

Chicago Tribune, June 13, 2002, pg. 9