In Memoriam…
In Memoriam…
Information posted here is provided by individuals via this submission form. Please copy and paste death announcement or provide a link to the obituary.
2023
Find details about the passing of fellow Harper College colleagues.
2024
Dorothy “Kris” Howard, 98, of Arlington Heights, IL, passed away on March 13, 2024. Kris was well-known in the Palatine area for her volunteer work and leadership positions in numerous organizations. She was elected to Harper’s Board of Trustees in 1981, and served for 24 years, twice as chair. Afterward, she served on the Board of Directors for Harper’s Education Foundation.
Charles (Chuck) Norris passed away February 5, 2024. Charles E. Norris was born in West Chicago in 1939 and began his career at Harper College in 1969. He founded and built the Anthropology Department and Archaeology programs and brought passion, wisdom, and humor to his classrooms for over thirty years, semi-retiring in 1999.
He loved South America and Mexico throughout his service in the Peace Corps (Peru), graduate studies in Mexico City, digs in Arizona, Illinois, and many travels, and he shared that love with those who knew him.
He was an adoring and devoted husband to his wife Laurie and an exceptional father to his son Justin. He was with his family in Florida as he passed on February 5, with his usual dignity and grace, and will be greatly missed. To those who knew him, please raise a glass to this amazing man who touched so many lives.
Gary Nowickas passed away January 14, 2024. A link to his obituary can be found below.
2023
Betty Marie Cords, 91, of South Elgin, IL, passed away on December 7, 2023. Betty began her career at Harper in September of 1982 as a Clerk II Night Supervisor in the Bookstore and worked in a variety of positions over the years. She was a Secretary in LS/HS when she retired in September of 2005. She returned to Harper in a variety of part-time positions through 2012.
Darrell RIchie passed away on November 5, 2023 –
Darrell Richie, 83, of Carpentersville, IL passed away on November 5, 2023. He had battled a number of serious health issues in recent years, and bounced back after each one, until the last, never wanting to give up.
Darrell started at Harper on June 13, 1983 as a Maintenance Mechanic, later becoming a Foreman in the Utilities department, and in his last position, served as the Project Supervisor in the Physical Plant. He retired from Harper on June 30, 2005.
Darrell is survived by Gloria, his wife of 60 years, his son James, granddaughter Sophia, and grandson James. He will be remembered as a kind man who loved playing golf and spending time with his family.
Diana Sharp passed away on October 10, 2023. Diana served as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Harper College from 7/2002 – 7/2012. A link to her obituary can be found below.
Janet “Jan” Trede passed away on August 18, 2023. Jan worked as an executive secretary until her retirement in 1997. The link to her obituary can be found below.
2022
Teresa Bachara passed away on July 20, 2022. Teresa was employed for many years as an Administrative Assistant at Harper College. She passed away at home after a long illness, surrounded by family. The link to her obituary can be found below.
Pauline Jenness passed away on June 6, 2022. Pauline was a long-time member of the math faculty, and was instrumental in a number of key projects
over the years. She was very student-oriented, and created the Math Lab approach to individualized instruction at Harper, a new and unique method at that time. She was also a strong proponent of the metric system when it was gaining favor in the 70’s, and prepared many helpful materials and resources on the subject, some that are still being used today. The link to her obituary can be found below.
2021
Jan Jacobsen passed away on October 15, 2021. Jan worked as a Veteran’s Assistant in the Veteran’s Affairs and Financial Aid Office from 1983 – 2008. We will post her obituary when it becomes available.
Frances Brantley passed away on October 6, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. Frances was a Faculty Counselor in Student Development from 1978 – 2002. She returned as an Adjunct/working retiree counselor from 2003 to 2006. A memorial in the Chicago area is being planned by the family, but no details yet. Please view a brief obituary here. We will post more details as they become available.
Here’s Frances’ obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/salem-or/frances-brantley-10393940
Barbara Jay “Bobbye” Levine passed away on September 2, 2021. She worked in Business Services/Finance and retired in 1994. Please see her obituary for more details.
Gerald Mellenthin passed away on August 28, 2021. He worked at Harper College for 25 years and retired as Coordinator of the Data Processing Department. Please see his obituary for more details.
Dr. Elizabeth (Betty) Anne Hull died August 3, 2021. She taught English and Science Fiction for over 30 years at Harper College, where she headed the Honors Program and earned the school’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 1997. She taught English and Science Fiction for over 30 years at Harper College, where she headed the Honors Program and earned the school’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 1997. After retiring as professor emerita, Hull established a scholarship at Harper named the Elizabeth Schmik Hull Fund, to honor her mother, after whom she was named. Betty was an integral part of HCAA Board for many years. For more information, here is her obituary.
Debbie Hajek, passed away on May 2, 2021. Debbie began working at Harper in 1998 in Continuing Education. Through the years, she worked as a Registration Assistant, Wellness and Sports Assistant, and Dual Credit Coordinator. Debbie retired from her most recent position as an Administrative Assistant in Career and Technical Programs in July, 2019. Information will be updated on Debbie’s Memories site along with pictures and memories from her life. For more details, please view Debbie’s Eulogy
Gail Hoban, who worked as the secretary in Math and Science from 2002 until she retired in 2012, passed away on April 11, 2021. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at the Davenport Funeral Home in Barrington. For more details, please view the obituary here.
Bill Miller, passed away on April, 2021, former History Professor.
Gene (Eugene) Kimmet, passed away in Lake Geneva, WI on February 13, 2021. He was chair of the Economics Department until he retired in 1988. For more details, please view the obituary here.
Edward Liska, passed away peacefully January 13, 2021 in Lake Zurich, Illinois. He was born January 8, 1938 in Chicago to Edward and Anna Liska.
Edward graduated from Northern Illinois University where he earned an undergraduate and graduate degree. He also earned a Master’s Degree from Cal State, and an Ed.D. from Northern. Ed taught Psychology and was a counselor at Harper College from 1969 until his retirement in 1995.
Ed is survived by his wife of 53 years, Karen. Services for Ed were held privately.
For prior years go to the In Memoriam Archive page.
In Memoriam Submission Form
Please complete all fields in the form below to send your information for inclusion on the “In Memoriam” area of the HCAA site.