To share a memory or let us know about a recently deceased Roosevelt University graduate, please email us at advancementservices@roosevelt.edu.

Edward Knaggs (BS Chemistry, ’45) accrued 47 U.S. patents in chemistry and continued providing seminars and writing for chemistry journals, as well as the Encyclopedia of Chemistry, well into his nineties. He is known for the process of Continuous Film Sulfonation, a process still used today.

Professor Raymond Niwa was a member of the faculty at Roosevelt University from 1946 to 1997. As a violinist, he joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1951. During his tenure at Roosevelt, he led the Faculty String Quartet for six years.

LeArthur “Lee” Dunlap (BA Political Science, ’49) had a very distinguished U.S government career, working with several agencies in intelligence and international security. Lee was a part of the group that launched the international Sky Marshal program for the FAA and received may honors and commendations during his time there.

Joe Segal died August 10, 2020. After serving in World War II, Joe Segal came to Roosevelt and took over the jazz club. Through his connections in the Chicago music scene, he brought in popular local and touring artists like Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins and Charlie Parker. The live music sessions that Joe Segal hosted as a Roosevelt student became the Jazz Showcase, the oldest jazz club in Chicago. In 2019, he gifted the Joe Segal Jazz Archive to Roosevelt University.

Donald “Don” Pickett died April 4, 2020.

Ralph B. Block (BSc Commerce ’51, MBA ’68), educator and musician, passed away June 12, 2020. Ralph served in the U.S. Army and taught business at City Colleges of Chicago through 1989.

Payah Prochovnick (BA Sociology, ’52) passed away May 24, 2020.

Robert Arthur Burgess (BSc Marketing, ’53) passed away July 24, 2020. He was a longtime accountant, bookkeeper and tax adviser for small businesses. He also nurtured a lifelong interest in the art of magic and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, in which he was bestowed the Order of Merlin for his long service.

Howard L. Treshansky (BSc Accounting, ’56)

Robert Theodore Krinner (BSc Marketing, ’58)

David Nathanial Hartman (BSc Marketing, ’58) passed away May 13, 2020. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. David taught machine shop, mathematics, astrometry, California geography and political science at Santa Ana Junior College for 40 years, rising to a department head and retiring at age 70.

Andrew Eric Rusnock (BA Economics, ’58) died August 27, 2020. He was a programmer and systems analyst for several decades for the Navy and a number of private companies including General Electric, the Illinois Central Railway, and Washington National Insurance. Andy was a generous, thoughtful, learned man who was devoted to his family.

Joan Small (BS Physics, ’62), a former deputy commissioner of the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and a renowned champion for the arts in Chicago, died June 24. While attending Roosevelt, she married Lynn Small in 1962, to whom she was married for 57 years.

Clifford J. Ahonen (MBA ’63)

Robert E. Less (BSBA Accounting, ’64)

Carmen Cammarata (MA Education, ’64) passed away April 12, 2020. He began his long career in the Gary schools at Webster in Glen Park, assistant principal at Emerson and principal at Washington, Aetna, Spaulding and Kennedy-King. He was profoundly dedicated to his family and his students.

Thomas E. Reed (BA Political Science, ’65), passed away July 20, 2020. While serving his country in the Marines, Thom was hired by a U.S. government security agency to work as a field agent. While working as a field agent and traveling the world, he held corporate executive positions at the same time at several major financial services companies, including Johnson & Higgins, Marsh & McLennan, Bayly Martin & Fay and Aon Corporation.

James “Jim” Rys (BA Psychology, ’64) passed away on July 6, 2020. Jim was a first lieutenant in the Army and went to Vietnam in December 1967. Jim worked as a Director of Strategic Marketing and Advertising Research for Sears, Roebuck and Company in Chicago for 24 years. He went on to work for The Blackstone Group, Sorkin Einstein Research, Wachovia Corporation and Assurant Health.

John C. Ferrell (MA Education, ’66) died April 28, 2020. After a 24-year naval career, John taught math and physics for 22 years for the Norfolk Public Schools. He was a deacon, Sunday school teacher and choir member.

Jack Joyce (BS Chemistry, ’66) passed away June 28, 2020. He worked for Inland Steel in East Chicago, Indiana, for 40 years. At retirement in 1983, Jack was Superintendent of Quality Control. He enjoyed wood carving, traveling, crossword puzzles and reading.

Margaret Poznak Mine (BA Philosophy, ’66) died August 1, 2020. Mine worked as an editor (at JAMA and assisted Prof. Mitford Matthews on his “Dictionary of Americanisms on Historical Principles”) and instructor at the American School of Correspondence. Mine volunteered with the Hyde Park Tot Lot, the Bret Harte Education Council, Catalyst for Youth and Chicago Ethical Society.

Debbra Schwartz (BM ’68, MM ’70), violinist, teacher, mentor, avid storyteller and Crusader for the Arts, passed away July 31, 2020. At Roosevelt, she studied with Morris Gomberg. She played professionally at that time as well with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the University of Chicago Chamber Players, as well as touring and performing freelance work with Sammy Davis, the Temptations, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Marlene Dietrich, among others.

Warren Wesley Brewer (MA Education, ’69) passed away July 28, 2020. He served as a principal for Sheboygan Middle Schools, and in 1976 led his school to a National School of Excellence Award.

Arthur Gillis (BSBA Accounting, ’70) passed away on March 21, 2020. He was the former director of the Program for Accelerated College Education (PACE) at Pierce and an advocate for adult learners pursuing higher education.

Robert G. “Rusty” Willrett (MA Education, ’70) died June 11, 2020. He taught in Antioch, Ill. as a biology and world history teacher. Willrett owned a greenhouse and floral business for many years.

Ruth Maxine Gallinot (BGS Sociology ’71, MA Sociology, ’74) passed away on August 2, 2020. In 1980, Ruth began her own consulting business and was president of Gallinot & Associates in Chicago.

Blanche M. Manning (MA Urban Studies, ’72) passed away on September 20, 2020. In 1987, she became the first African American woman elected to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court. On May 5, 1994, she was nominated by President Clinton to serve as a district court judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Joyce (Sirota) Bogolub (BSBA Actuarial Science, ’72)

Wayne Louis Baker (BSBA Management ’73) passed away on July 15, 2020. While serving in the Navy, Wayne earned his bachelor’s degree from Roosevelt University. He found his passion in 1994 when he left a successful career in the corporate world and opened the Ann Arbor franchise of the Wild Bird Center.

Ralph P. Forsberg (MA Philosophy, ’73) died May 9, 2020. In 1989, he joined the faculty as an assistant professor at Delta College. Academically, Ralph’s areas of interest were business and medical ethics as well as non-Western, classical modern and political philosophy.

James R. Paradiso (MA Philosophy, ’73) passed away March 16, 2020. An early adapter of the digital academic movement, he was known to teach online college courses at 4 a.m. from his home office, enjoying his most creative hours before the sun rose. Later in life, Jim’s artistry blossomed, first with painting, then photography and, finally, memoirs and plays. He went on to have dozens of pieces published and dedicated his work to his wife, Suzi.

James Francis Keane (MPA ’74) died April 12, 2020. He was elected state representative from the 28th District and served with distinction from 1979 to 1992.

Gail K. Bell (MA Education, ’75) passed away March 12, 2020. She had a long teaching career that included positions in Florida and a number of primary schools in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.

Adaleen A. Hogan (BGS Sociology, ’75) passed away May 25, 2020. She retired from the State of Illinois Pollution Control Board in 2002.

Patricia Harvey (MA Education, ’76) swept into office as St. Paul Public Schools superintendent in 1999 with an agenda to end social promotion for struggling students and to hold schools accountable for chronically low test scores. By the time Harvey left in 2006, the district was basking in five years of climbing scores and a flourishing reputation as an urban district on the rise. Harvey died February 24.

Susan L. Terry (BGS ’76) died July 11, 2020. She worked at several Chicago area hospitals and retired from nursing in 2014.

Joanne Cecelia McCarville (MA Education, ’77) passed away June 19, 2020. Joanne was a teacher in special education at the grade school level for many years. She was a devout Roman Catholic and longtime member of St. Gertrude Catholic Church in Chicago.

The actor, orator and singer Wendell A. Jackson, Sr. (BGS Information Systems, ’77) passed away on July 25, 2020. He retired as a child specialist for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Kathleen Gallagher (MA Psychology, ’79) passed away on July 22, 2020. She worked for many years in the compliance side of Workers’ Compensation Insurance, advocating for employee rights. She enjoyed reading, music, watching movies and spending time with family and friends.

Marissa Grace Browne (BA Psychology, ’80) passed away May 10, 2020. She worked in the social field as an addiction counselor.

Patrick James “PJ” Walsh (BGS Business Institutions, ’81) died April 23, 2020. He was a successful, long-time executive at IBM, having worked there for 36 years. Upon retirement, he became a certified financial planner, always willing to lend calm and sound advice to his many friends and family.

Michael Joseph Kelly (MBA ’82) passed away September 27, 2020. He enjoyed a successful career in management and was vice president of production for Home Run Inn. He was a member of St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield for the past 25 years.

David C. Bruner (MA Computer Science, ’87), who taught courses in psychology, neurobiology, and business communications for 20 years at Cleveland State University, died August 15, 2020. His professional work began with a focus on psychological issues confronting military veterans.

Susan J. Johnston (nee Brown), (BGS Business Institutions, ’88), 72, died July 2, 2020.

Steve Howard Jones, (MA Educational Administration and Supervision, ’89) died on June 15, 2020. Steve enjoyed a 37-year career teaching for Chicago Public Schools, most recently at John W. Garvy Elementary School, before retiring in 2010. He was a teacher and mentor, community activist and gang intervention worker at an after-school program for underprivileged youth and young adults at Saint Elizabeth Drexel Center for 15 years.

Ricky L. Wuorenma (MA Information Systems, ’90) passed away June 28, 2020. Rick served with the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant commander aviation officer from 1977 to 1987. He flew commercial aircraft for Pan American Airlines for five years before he owned and operated Soil Rich 2000.

Bonnie J. Wedington (BA Psychology, ’95) died on January 1, 2020. Bonnie served as executive secretary in the CCPA Dean’s office from 1998 to 2017. All who knew her will remember and miss the superlative hospitality, loyal supportive spirit and joyful enthusiasm that she brought to everything she did.

Susan K. (Epstein) Gordy died June 19, 2020. She served as a trustee of Roosevelt University for many years. Susan had a long career in the banking industry, first at First National Bank of Chicago, then at her own consultancy, SKG Associates, and later at LaSalle Bank and its parent ABN-AMRO (Netherlands).

Kim Marie Van Pelt (Organizational Leadership Certificate, ’06) died June 3, 2020. She served as both an evangelist and pastor, most recently co-pastoring the Saint Stephens Evangelical Church.

Keith Steven Wilkins (Paralegal Studies Certificate, ’09) died June 4, 2020. An avid, lifelong lover of all things sport, Keith was an excellent swimmer, steady skier and bowler, loyal fan of almost all things Chicago — Bears, Bulls and White Sox — and board game enthusiast.