Roosevelt University extends its deepest sympathy to the loved ones of recently deceased alumni and friends. Share a memory or let us know about a recently deceased Roosevelt University graduate here.

Jacob P. Shub (BS Industrial Engineering, ’51) passed away December 9, 2021.

Bertram E. Bates (BSc ’52) passed away February 11, 2022.

Samuel C. Farley (BS Mathematics, ’52) passed away January 20, 2022.

Thomas Crown (BM Music Education ’53, MM Music Education ’59, BGS ’99) passed away December 30, 2021. He had a successful and eclectic musical career, spending the majority of it as second trumpet for Chicago’s Lyric Opera.

His recent bequest established the Thomas and Donna Crown Scholarship to benefit a trumpet player and a trombone player each year.

Sheldon Welstein (BSc Accounting, ’53) passed away January 22, 2022.

Dr. Thomas F. McGee (BA Psychology, ’55) passed away November 29, 2021.

Rivian Simon (BA Education, ’59) passed away March 5, 2022.

Shulamit Elkayam (BA Education ’59, MA Education, ’61) passed away December 30, 2021.

James W. Jesk (BSBA Management, ’62) passed away November 10, 2021.

Shelby J. Pera (BA Music, ’62) passed away June 6, 2019. A lifelong Chicagoan, musician and activist, Pera was born April 17, 1939 to Jotham and Lampeda Pera. Shelby was a graduate of Lincoln Park High School.

She sang in the choir as a child and adult, and then played the organ at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church from 1968 to 1982. As a music lover she had season tickets to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for decades, and she was a regular at the Grant Park Concerts every summer. She taught dozens of Chicagoans to play the piano. Every Advent Shelby would organize a band of her friends to do the “Sing Along Messiah,” first at the Lyric Opera House, then at the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church.

Shelby was the training and financial administrator of the Midwest Academy for thirty years, retiring in 2010. For Shelby it was always more than a job; it was a way to live her values and work for a more just society. Shelby worked with the board and staff to build the Midwest Academy into a national training institute for progressive organizers. She provided a steady administrative hand with thoroughness and ethical standards.

Shelby and her brothers were avid Chicago Cubs fans and season ticket holders for more than 35 years. Seeing the Cubs win the 2016 World Series was the “best moment of her life.”

Through a generous estate gift, Shelby has established the Shelby J. Pera Endowed Scholarship in Piano, which will provide annual scholarship support to future generations of aspiring musicians. Individuals wishing to make memorial gifts to this fund in honor of Shelby should contact director of development Jared Fritz-McCarty at jmccarty@roosevelt.edu.

Olinda Robert Baccega (BA English ’63) passed away in 2022.

Dr. Bennie C. Robinson (BA Psychology, ’63) passed away September 21, 2021.

Jerome M. Smith (BA Sociology, ’63) passed away November 25, 2021.

Joan C. Barch (BA Geography, ’65) passed away October 22, 2021.

Pier Vidoni (BSBA Marketing, ’65) passed away December 14, 2021.

Jesse J. Porres (MA Education, ’66) passed away February 19, 2022.

Edith S. Taber (MA Psychology, ’67) passed away December 24, 2021.

Sandra R. Cohen-Kosner (BA Education ’67, MBA ’83) passed away November 17, 2021.

Kenneth E. Naglewski (BSBA Accounting, ’68) passed away December 2, 2021.

Shelia Hope Stogol (BA English, ’68) passed away March 16, 2022.

John Joseph Cugnetti (BS Mathematics, ’69) passed away January 22, 2022.

Matthew W. Connor (MA Education, ’69) passed away November 17, 2021.

Leon B. LaFond (MBA ’71) passed away November 9, 2021.

Randolph N. Wisener (MA Political Science, ’72) passed away November 21, 2021.

Doris W. Miller (MA Education, ’74) passed away November 30, 2021.

Jerry Allen Ori (BGS Business Institutions ’73, MPA ’76) passed away February 9, 2022.

Thomas G. Rosencrants (MBA ’77) passed away January 3, 2022.

Joycene Ashford-Roussell (BSBA Accounting, ’82) passed away February 10, 2022.

Carol Ann Flynt (MBA ’83) passed away February 24, 2022.

Catherine Scheid (MA Sociology, ’84, MA Educational Administration and Supervision, ’85) passed away January 4, 2022.

Pamela Christine Deacon (BA Data Processing, ’85) passed away December 24, 2021.

Diane Saxon-Carter (BA Sociology, ’94) passed away November 16, 2021.

Lauretta Saffell (Lawyers Assistant Certificate, ’98) passed away December 8, 2021.

Pamela Morris (BGS Liberal Arts, ’00) passed away October 21, 2021.

Richard Owen (BGS Social Science, ’01) passed away November 12, 2021.

Melody Z. Goodall (BGS ’02) passed away November 11, 2021.

Charles C. Cannon (BA Political Science, ’05) passed away November 13, 2021.

Elaine Lerman (BA Education, ’05) passed away March 7, 2022.

Leonard M. Apple (MA Education, ’06) passed away December 15, 2021.

Edward Handzel (BA Political Science, ’06) passed away December 13, 2021.

Howard A. Weiss (BM ’60, MM ’66) passed away December 31, 2021.

Sallie A. Schiller (BS Psychology, ’07) passed away February 3, 2022.

Jean Michele Campbell (BA English, ’11) passed away November 8, 2021.

Richard Owen (BGS Social Science, ’01) passed away November 12, 2021.

Melody Z. Goodall (BGS ’02) passed away November 11, 2021.

Charles C. Cannon (BA Political Science, ’05) passed away November 13, 2021.

Elaine Lerman (BA Education, ’05) passed away March 7, 2022.

Leonard M. Apple (MA Education, ’06) passed away December 15, 2021.

Edward Handzel (BA Political Science, ’06) passed away December 13, 2021.

Howard A. Weiss (BM ’60, MM ’66) passed away December 31, 2021.

Sallie A. Schiller (BS Psychology, ’07) passed away February 3, 2022.

Professor emeritus Jim Cicarelli passed away January 11, 2022. Dr. Cicarelli worked at Roosevelt in Schaumburg for 26 years. After serving as dean of the Heller College of Business, Jim became a valuable member of the Economics Department. Throughout this career, he authored several books and articles that contributed to the advancement of economic thought, including A History of American Economic Thought, Distinguished Women Economists, and Back to the Future of Economics. He cared deeply about the students in his classes.

While retired, he was still active in academic research and writing. In his leisure time, he enjoyed softball, volleyball, tennis and walking with his wife Juli in the neighborhood. He was also a strong advocate for the rights of developmentally disabled adults and their ability to live more independently. Most importantly, he was a devoted husband and father who loved to spend time with his family, especially his son and grandson, and was loved by all.

Dale Clevenger, legendary principal horn of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and artist faculty member of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, died in Italy on January 5, 2022.

Many of Dale’s recordings in the CSO and other discographies remain as the definitive performances of some of the most iconic pieces in the orchestral repertory. If you experienced these performances in person, you will know that Dale’s musicianship and artistry were truly transcendent. Dale was also a renowned pedagogue who graced us with years of superlative and transformative teaching at RU/CCPA (1998-2014).

Linda Berna, who was the director of the Music Conservatory for all those years, notes that she will never forget “the loyalty and love for Dale that every one of his students expressed throughout their studies with him. It is unique in my experience and so touching. And his devotion to them in turn was complete.”

Campus safety officer Albert Grant passed away in December 2021. He began his career at Roosevelt in 1981 and recently celebrated 40 years of service at the milestone ceremony. His service was invaluable, and his presence will be missed by many on campus.

Life trustee Anthony R. Pasquinelli was a visionary cofounder of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate.

After returning from his service in the U.S. Army, Pasquinelli and his brother, Bruno, cofounded the Pasquinelli Construction Company in 1958. By the early 2000s, the company had become the fifth-largest private homebuilding company in the United States.

Pasquinelli joined the University’s Board of Trustees in 2000 and continued his service as a public trustee until 2014. He remained a life trustee until his passing. Pasquinelli served as advisory board chair of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate for many years. In 2006, he and his family established the Pasquinelli Family Distinguished Chair in Real Estate.

Pasquinelli deeply appreciated education and was influential in the development of Roosevelt’s downtown vertical campus, generously supporting both the Wabash Building and Goodman Center projects. The Chicago College of Performing Arts and the Auditorium Theatre were also beneficiaries of his generosity.

Max A. Plager, emeritus professor of mathematics at Roosevelt University, passed away on December 15, 2021. Plager began his teaching career at Roosevelt in 1964. He taught at Roosevelt for more than 40 years, attaining emeritus status in 2006.