In Memoriam - Nancy Gall

Nancy E. Gall, nee Grek, a faith-filled, kind, thoughtful and generous woman was born in Chicago on September 20, 1941, departed on December 15, 2010 and resided in Niles, Illinois.  Loving daughter of Harriette V. and the late John D.; beloved wife of the late David; dear sister of Roberta (Gene) Dieden and Rev. Richard Grek, C.R.; fond aunt of Gene (Joan), John (Donna), Tom (Cynthia), Mark (Erica) and Cynthia Dieden and John (Melinda) and Julie Gall; great-aunt of Ava, Auden, Adelaide, Katrina, Bridget and Sean.

Nancy will be deeply missed by her family and her many friends. Visitation Sunday, December 19, 2010 3-9 P.M. at Colonial-Wojciechowski Funeral Home, 6250 N. Milwaukee Ave. Lying in State Monday, December 20 at Mary Seat Of Wisdom Church 920 Granville, Park Ridge, IL 60068, 9:30 A.M. until time of Mass 11:00 A.M. Entombment St. Adalbert Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers donations to The Anti-Cruelty Society appreciated. Info 773-774-0366 or www.colonialfuneral.com

This Memorial Obituary provided by Colonial Wojciechowski Funeral Home of Chicago


It is with deep sorrow that we have learned of the death of Nancy Gall.  Nancy served the university from 1970 until her retirement in 2000 from the Office of the Registrar.  Nancy passed away on December 15 at the age of 69 after a long illness.  She is survived by her mother, brother, sister, and many extended family.

Our heartfelt condolences go to the family, friends, and long-time colleagues who mourn the loss of Nancy.  May she rest in peace.

Mission and Values, December 17, 2010

More photos from the 25-Year Club Luncheon, 2010

Thanks to Jose Vicens, one of our DES members, we have more photos from the 25-Year Club Luncheon held November 19, 2010 at the Union League Club.

The photos include both DES members and SOON to be DES members* i.e., when they retire they will be eligible to join us!

Joan Lakebrink and Sr. Frances Ryan

Elaine Beaudoin and Margaret Power

Kathryn DeGraff and Mary Kizior*

Sr. Frances Ryan and Peter Pereira

Lazarus Rice* and Martin Williams*

Michael Kazanjian* and Frank Bellizzi*

Joe Clark*, Chris Mennella*, Cindy Summers*,
Randy Shire* and Frank Bellizzi*

James Simantirakis*, Mary Wasniowski*,
Christine Werdrick* and Tom Hojnacki*

Sophie Cervantes*, Mary Wasniowski*,
Jose Vicens and Mary Kizior*

Jeanne Lenti*, John Lawler*, Jim Doyle*,
Cindy Summers* and Peggy Burke*

Also see the previous 25-Year Club Luncheon post.
* DePaul Emeritus Society members in waiting
Photos courtesy: Jose Vicens

In Memoriam - Bruce Vawter, CM

Rev. F. Bruce Vawter, 65, a Vincentian priest and a Scripture scholar, was chairman of De Paul University`s department of religious studies from 1969 until last June. He was an expert on both the New and the Old Testaments and the author of several books on both.

A memorial mass for Father Vawter, a member of the Congregation of the Missions (the Vincentians), will be offered at 5 p.m. Thursday in St. Vincent`s Catholic Church, 1010 W. Webster Ave. He died Monday in St. Joseph`s Hospital following a long illness.

His most recent book was ``Job and Jonah: Questioning the Hidden God`` (Paulist Press, 1983). In it, he wrote: ``The biblical message is meant not only to console but to challenge and provoke. If one reads the Bible only to find comfort and consolation in fixed positions, the meaning of the Bible has been missed. Some Bible-Christians misunderstand the Bible precisely in this way. They search it for confirmation in their prejudices rather than for a summons to re-examine their premises.``

Father Vawter, a native of Ft. Worth, joined the Vincentians in 1942. He was ordained in 1947. A Fulbright scholar, he studied at Eberhard University in Tubingen, West Germany, after receiving a doctorate in sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Before coming to De Paul University, he taught at Kendrick Seminary in St. Louis, St. Thomas Seminary in Denver and St. Mary`s Seminary in Perryville, Mo. He was also a visiting professor at Vanderbilt University and at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Among the books he wrote besides ``Job and Jonah`` were ``The Path of Wisdom,`` ``Amos, Hosea, Micah: With an Introduction to Classical Prophecy`` and ``On Genesis.`` He also edited all the work issued by the Catholic Biblical Association of America and was editor of ``Old Testament Abstracts.``

Chicago Tribune, December 3, 1986

In Memoriam - Thomas P. Munster, CM

Reverend Thomas P. Munster, CM, who held a number of key positions at DePaul University and the former DePaul Academy over the course of a career that spanned nearly 60 years, died on December 7, 2007. He was 85.

The son of Martin and Catherine (nee Browne) Munster, Fr. Munster was born on March 7, 1922. He grew up in Chicago and graduated in 1935 from St. Vincent’s School, the now-closed grammar school of St. Vincent de Paul Parish. Fr. Munster attended St. Vincent’s College, the Vincentian high school seminary in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, graduating in 1940. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at St. Mary’s Seminary in Perryville, Missouri, and continued his theological studies there before being ordained in 1948. He earned a master’s degree in English from DePaul University in 1953.

Shortly after ordination, he returned home to Chicago and became a member of the faculty at DePaul Academy, the all-boys high school sponsored by the Vincentians. Fr. Munster taught English, Latin and religion. From 1952 to 1957, he served as dean of men at the school. In 1957, he was named principal, a post he held until 1965 when he joined DePaul University as director of high school relations, a newly formed position. After serving two years in that role, Fr. Munster was named DePaul’s Director of Admissions, a role he held for the next 14 years.

In 1981, he was named Superior of DePaul Vincentian Residence, which had been his home since 1952. He returned to the university in 1990 as Vice Chancellor in Advancement, working closely with the Athletic Department. “Fr. Tom Munster was not only DePaul’s institutional memory, but a real treasure to our Athletic Department and the entire university community,” said Athletic Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto. “We will always remember him as a great ambassador of DePaul’s values, a servant to the needy with a kind and open heart to all who crossed his path.”

Fr. Munster was keenly interested in the state of the Lincoln Park neighborhood in which he was raised. To revitalize the neighborhood, he helped found two neighborhood organizations: the Lincoln Park Conservation Association and the Sheffield Neighborhood Association. For many years, Father Munster celebrated Sunday Mass at St. Tarcissus Catholic Church in Chicago.

He is survived by a brother and his family, of Chicago: Martin, wife Margaret, and their children Catherine (James) Hartnett, Patricia (James) Suszka, and Sean Munster.

Requiescat in Pacem!

The Vincentian, Earth City, Mo., March, 2008