In Memoriam - Kay Allabastro

Catherine, "Kay" Ann Allabastro, nee Ghee, 89, of the Edison Park area passed away peacefully surrounded by family on November 26. Beloved wife of the late Louis A. Loving mother of Thomas (Patricia), Louis J., Pamela (Bruce) Johnson, Karen, and Paul (Elizabeth). Devoted grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of two. Dear sister of Mary Cygan, and the late Thomas Ghee and Margaret Dvorak. Cherished aunt and friend to many. Kay was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. During WWII, Kay worked at the Studebaker plant, where she met her husband. They then moved to DePaul area, where they raised their five children. Kay worked at DePaul University for over 25 years.

Visitation will be Friday, November 29, at Cooney Funeral Home, 625 Busse Hwy., Park Ridge from 3 to 9 P.M. Funeral Saturday, November 30, 9:15 A.M. to St. Paul of the Cross for Mass at 10:00 A.M. Interment All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to University of Illinois Disability Resources and Educational Services at 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, IL 61820 would be appreciated.

For info 847-685-1002 - www.cooneyfuneralhome.com
Published in Chicago Tribune on Nov. 28, 2013
Photo: SES luncheon, October 2006

DePaul Publications Online

More and more DePaul publications are now online.  So you don't miss out on news about the University, bookmark the following websites on your computer

DePaul Magazine - Online

DePaulia - Online

A Publication for Faculty and Staff

Newsline - Online

Also, check out additional DePaul online information sources including WDPU (the DePaul radio station), DePaul's event calendar and DePaul social media outlet.

Fr. Richardson Celebrates 90th Birthday

Fr. Richardson will turn 90 this December.  Help him celebrate his birthday by sending a note to

John T. Richardson, CM

DePaul University

Chancellor's Office

1 East Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, Illinois 60604

On DePaul's website, this short biography is provided.

Fr. John Richardson was born in 1923 in Texas and ordained in 1949. He served at DePaul in various roles, including executive vice-president and dean of faculties, beginning in 1954 until his election as DePaul's ninth president in 1981. His presidency lasted until 1993.

Rev. John T. RichardsonFr. Richardson said of his tenure, "I would see the era of the '60's and '70's where DePaul moved very fast in becoming a true university… I would see the '80's and '90's as looking more at our mission." Fr. Richardson's focus on continuing DePaul's strong tradition of Vincentian values during his tenure has strengthened DePaul and its reputation throughout the city and the world.

His presidency marked a period of intense growth of DePaul's community involvement in Lincoln Park, the Loop, and all of Chicago. Examples of DePaul's urban partnerships can be found in the 1150 W. Fullerton building, which DePaul bought and renovated in 1993, and in the DePaul Center in the Loop. The University provides space on the first floor of 1150 W. Fullerton for the Chicago Public Library to use. The DePaul Center, formerly the Goldblatt's Department Store building in the Loop, was purchased in 1991 for the relatively small sum of one million dollars. DePaul renovated that building as well, and then leased five floors back to the city. It also committed to create a two and a half million dollar scholarship program for Chicago students who perform community service, as well as to continue to anchor the South Loop. In addition, DePaul formed partnerships with 47 inner-city schools. Under Fr. Richardson's direction, the International Human Rights Law Institute, the Institute for Business Ethics and the Center for Urban Education were founded. Along with five other universities, DePaul established the Chicago Center for Peace Studies. At the same time, the academic rigor of DePaul's programs increased and DePaul continued to cement its strong reputation in Chicago and nationally.

Fr. Richardson also presided over the construction of three new residence halls, which dramatically changed life at DePaul as the school began to attract students from out of state. At the same time, DePaul opened its first satellite campus in Oak Brook in order to better serve adult and commuting students. The Richardson Library, built in 1992, was the first free standing library in DePaul's history. By the end of Fr. Richardson's presidency, enrollment had reached 16,500.

Source: DePaul University Website, accessed November 21, 2013, www.depaul.edu

Fall 2013 Luncheon

A wonderful time was had at the 2013 Fall DES Luncheon -- a possible record attendance of more than 65 attendees.




In addition to a beautiful All Soul's Mass said by Fr. Richard Benson CM, the DES members were treated to a delicious leafy green salad with fresh pears, beef short ribs atop creamy mashed potatoes with baby fresh carrots, and completed with chocolate ganache cake in a pool of creme anglaise sauce.  Mighty tasty.  The vegetarian plate was equally as festive with large portabella mushrooms encasing various layers of fresh vegetables.  And, of course, red and white wine.

Dean Corrin and Abby Ables, from The Theatre School, provided an outstanding presentation sharing with the DES members the "thinking" and various concepts that went into the design of the new Theatre School building.  For a look at the inside of the new Theatre School click here to see a video of the DES tour which followed our luncheon.

Mark your calendars for our Spring Luncheon on May 16, 2014.

Theatre School Building Tour

The DES members were treated to a student-led tour of the new Theatre School facility following our Fall Luncheon.  Approximately 20 members toured the five story building located at Racine and Fullerton.  For those of you who spent a lot of time on the Lincoln Park Campus, the site was known as the "Baby Factory" as it has previously had a manufacturing plant that made baby buggies among other items.






Enjoy virtually wandering through the Theatre School building. 

If you were unable to join us on November 1, we hope you will stop by and take a look in person, or even better, attend one of the many plays produced in the facility.

DES and Philanthropy, 2013

The FY 2013 DES Philanthropy report is final.  You were all most generous - our students thank you.

Highlights of DES giving FY2013:

• Total raised for The DePaul Emeritus Society Scholarship this year: $16,893.  The most raised in one year.
• 95 DES members generously supported the philanthropy efforts.
• Office of Mission and Values, for the second year, matched up to $15,000 of the money raised
• With this matching gift and $3,155 in earnings from the principal of the endowed scholarship fund, we were able to give 7 scholarships during Spring Quarter, 2013.  Most scholarships were in the $2,000 - $2,500 range.
• Including the DES Scholarship gifts, retirees gave more than $250,000 to the University this year.
• The DES Scholarship's current principal balance is now in excess of $90,000.

Read some comments from this year's scholarship recipients.

The Mission and Values Office committed to a three-year, matching grant of $15,000 per year.  This is year three. Let's exceed the $15,000 again!

Thanks to all who support DePaul University and its students.

Snapshot of DES, Fall 2013

Who makes up the DePaul Emeritus Society?

• We are 249 retirees strong - 33 more retirees than when we began in May, 2008
• Plus 58 spouses of deceased retirees join with us
• Of the 249 retirees, 61% are faculty and 39% are staff. (152 faculty; 97 staff)
• Our gender representation is 57% male and 43% female (143 male; 106 female)
• Our current retirees stretch over four decades with the earliest retirement date 1979 - more than 34 years ago.
• Our ages also span a few decades with our youngest retiree being born in 1953 and our most senior retiree born in 1915.
• 72% (179) of us live in Illinois; the remaining 70 live in 24 states, District of Columbia and two live in a foreign country.  About 44% of the out-of-state members live in four states: Wisconsin, Florida, California, and Arizona.

So that is a little bit of who makes up the DePaul Emeritus Society in the fall of 2013.  But there is one more thing that we all have in common and that is our decades-long love for the University, its mission and St. Vincent. 

Source: Human Resource Department