Talking to you was always the highlight of my day.  I often think back to those days and you are always there with a kind remark and good advice.

Dear cousin Richard, God bless you. I miss you so very much. Love Lorraine

I miss you cousin Richard. Love from Linderbinder

Dear Dr. Dolezal, You were the best of Latin. You taught me how to think critically and to communicate effectively in both oral and written modalities.To this day, you inspire me as the finest model of an academician, and as one who exudes the values of humanity, intellectual striving, and acceptance of all people. You remain loved.

Richard Dolezal and Truxtun Hare were the dream team of literature for me, opening so many doors to enjoyment and challenge in reading and composition. I often wish my 13-year-old daughter could experience such masterful, generous instruction in literature. Many thanks to you, Dr. Dolezal, for sharing your gifts with so many.

Copy of a note written to Dick Dolezal August 6, 2012
Dear Dick,
It is a hot late summer day as I sit at the computer wildly trying to overtake the work laying fallow as I indulged in the delights of a summer vacation. Preparing for courses as the fall semester will be born anew in several weeks. Several classmates at Latin School forwarded a note to me from Steve Marth about your new home and life at St. Joseph Village.  And so I write now, though you are never far from my mind nor my heart. Your journey has been an epic tome, a sprawling wondrous novel spanning decades, encompassing generations of young scholars, bringing joy and enlightenment to many, many, many of us.  And now you are in the denouement of this narrative. It is not quite the ending that any of us foresaw or one that you might have written for yourself.  But it is hopefully a calm yet celebratory sunset on a remarkable career; a life lived in harmony with the world, a life that has made the world a brighter, better place for your presence.  

I know something of the tedium of quotidian life in a nursing home. My mother, Yvonne, whom you will recall with a smile from many years ago, is now living near us in Lexington at Richmond Place.  Her days are filled with memories but there is not much excitement in the daily course of things except when I visit to bring flowers and chat.  I wish I could visit you now, but Steve will have to be my proxy—and a fine one he is, a faithful friend.  I hope the days pass sweetly in memory, in conversation with the many characters and authors you introduced us to as young English students at Latin School—Hester Prynne, Queequeg, Walden Pond, and Esther Summerson.  I still have a small mayonnaise jar filled with Walden Pond water in homage to the little windex bottle of pond water that sat on your desk for many a year as the silly little gaggle of "Transcendental Club" members—Michelle Archambeault, Dulcie Corkill, and I took in Emerson and Thoreau under your masterful tutelage.

And so, here I sit at the computer, lost in time and in reverie, back suddenly to 59 East Scott Street, remembering the many delights of discovery you engineered for all of us.  As I remember, I am brimming over with gratitude for so much and I just want to take this moment to thank you.  You know how grateful I am, how appreciative we ALL are for so very much.  Thank you, and much love to you, Dick.
Fondly,
Your former student, your former colleague, and your current devotee,
Ron

I still remember how strange it was to pick up the phone early one June morning at home and hear Dr. Dolezal's voice. Shame on me but I listened on the other phone. He was calling to make sure my parents were going to Latin's "Class Day" because I was winning an award and he wanted them to know it so they would be there. How nice of him to call!!  I couldn't believe it. Thanks to his phone call, they did go to Class Day and were so proud.

I have thought of Dr. Dolezal so many, many times over the years. When I got to college, I was the only one in English class who could write a sentence or look for a "theme." 

I hope he is looking down and smiling, reading all the wonderful comments. Please know how many lives you touched.

Sometimes…. I forget ….and still think I need to lay out my navy blue skirt and sweater and get to school early. But then I come to my senses and realize that was 45 years ago. My days at Latin were the best and Dr. Dolezal was such a huge part of it. 

Thinking of you and hoping you are resting in peace. I am so, so sad.

Linda Norian Goodman ('68)

The first year Dr. Dolezal taught at Latin, I had him for American lit. He taught me to pay close attention to the details for punctuation and spelling. He did this by flunking me on my first research paper. It was a harsh reality check, but it instantly made me a better writer. I applaud the courage of a young teacher to flunk a student, and his compassion to allow me to retype the paper and be regraded on the content. (And retying meant re-typing each page on a manual typewriter.) I learned such a valuable lesson: always pay attention to the details whether one is writing a paper or designing a house. 
Thank you Dr. Dolezal for blessing my life. 

Cathy Emmons Phelps, 1962

Dr. Dolezal was a friend, colleague, counselor, and fellow chocoholic. He always had a way of making me feel better. His warm smile, his kind words, and his magic chocolate would bring sunshine to the gloomiest of days. I am sad to learn of his passing, yet grateful I was blessed to know him. He inspired me to be the best educator I could be. Many blessings and prayers for you my friend. I cherish the memories.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24

Dr. Dolezal entered Latin's Upper School along with our '66 class... we will forever be the better for it! Not only because of what he taught us academically, but for the values he instilled in us, his fellow faculty and the Latin community. His passion for teaching and his commitment to each of us as individuals was his cornerstone, but his sense of humor and the twinkle in his eye are what made him the best of the best.

Dr. Dolezal showed me compassion during the darkest years of my life. He believed in me when I didn't believe in myself; helped me when I couldn't help myself. He was a beautiful, beautiful soul with a boundless heart. I will remember his kindness always.

his words, his cadence, his voice... reverberate in my heart, inspiring my deeds to this day.

I am saddened to hear of Dr. Dolezal's passing. He was one of the most influential teachers during my Latin years. His intelligence, passion to inspire excellence, kindness, and commitment to his students and Latin School remains among my fondest memories of my Latin years. Last, but certainly not least, I remember his love of a good (often practical) joke, usually targeted at his compatriot Dr. Cordes. May God bless and keep you, Dr. Dolezal. 

Matt Burnell, Class of 1979

We need look no further than the thoughtful and beautifully written comments here to find your great legacy:  generations of students who learned to think critically and face life with good humor and respect for others.  Truly, the quintessential teacher.  With many thanks.

Dr. Dolezal said to me "you use to many words...just say what it is you have to say."  A lesson that has stayed with me all my life.  Inspiring, loving, gentle, kind soul.  It was an honor to have had him grace my life.

I always thought myself blessed to have had so many wonderful teachers who inspired and opened doors, both in music and academia and the humanities. Dr. Dolezal was the greatest. He opened literature to us in ways that were deeply penetrating and moved beyond the borders of the classroom into our lives, into the arts, into what it is to be human. If a life is judged by how many people it touched, enlightened and inspired, then Dr. Dolezal must be one of the greatest souls I have ever encountered. Thank you Dr. D for all the gifts you gave us.

Dr. Dolezal was one of a kind, the best of the best. And what a true gift to The Latin School to have him for so many years and so many classes. He touched untold numbers of us. His shoes will not soon be filled and his memory not soon forgotten.

Dr. Dolezal was one of the most honorable and truly loving men I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

I was fortunate to have him as my teacher for 3 of my four years in high school.  What an honor!  He taught me to write in a concise manner -- and to eliminate  the words "that" and "which" whenever possible! Ah, the famous red pen . . . I can still see it -- obliterating what I thought at the time was a work of art!  I still swear what he taught me enabled me to land my first "real" job at the Chicago Tribune and my very first byline!

I am fortunate in that I traveled to Chicago about 10 years ago -- even though it was not our class reunion year -- just to tell him in person.  There are not many times in life when you get to tell someone face-to-face how much you really cared for them.  He was one of my heroes.

May you truly rest in peace, sir.  

Pam Bassett Welter -- Class of 1966

I am saddened to hear of Dr. Dolezal's passing. He taught us all not only about literature, but how to think critically, treat everyone with compassion, and to live a good life. He was one of the best teachers I ever had--at any level--and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to be in his classroom for two years. Farewell to a gifted teacher and a wonderful man.

Dr. Dolezal opened the world of literature to me as a student, was my inspiration during my thirty year of teaching high school English, and, above all, has always been my ideal of a compassionate human being.  I always think fondly of the Latin School primarily because, for me, he was its heart and soul.
Tom Cangelosi (Connecticut)

You were the first person who ever inspired me to really read the Bible.

Dr. Dolezal had the gift of guiding students through a meaningless jumble of words (such as Browning's "My Last Duchess") into the essence of poetry and art.  He changed my life and I think of him every day.

I was truly heartbroken to hear of Doctor Dolezal's passing. I remember writing to him a bit over a year ago in a remembrance of his impact on my life and career.  He was one of the finest teachers that I ever had and taught me practically everything  that I ever learned about writing.  Now, as an educator and professional writer, not an article goes by when I don't think about the Dolezal red pen and how  many marks it would leave on my  draft.  The pen has been passed and I am truly blessed to have become one of its many recipients. The writers of today and tomorrow who have passed through the Dolezal portals are a truly fortunate bunch. While I did the  best that I could  with my innate talent, more important was the vision and encouragement that Doctor Dolezal gave me. His critical assessment of what I thought was good enough prompted me to reconsider the height of the bar that I had set for my writing.  Ironically, words are truly  insufficient to express the difference that Dr. Dolezal made in my life and career.  Perhaps the best expression that I have heard about the influence of teachers is the following:  “Teachers who love to teach create students  who love to learn.”   This is the Dolezal legacy and I am glad that the Latin School of Chicago recognizes that contribution made over so many years.

I feel so lucky to have had Dr. Dolezal, the world's best English teacher, for two years. What stays with me the most is how I never skipped homework for his classes. Why? Respect, for him and for myself. There was nothing worse than not being able to fully, accurately answer his question when called upon so nicely, yet suddenly, by one's surname. It was as though you disappointed a proud father. Looking back, he used pain & pleasure motivating techniques very effectively. Ah yes, the wonders and tortures of high school. And if for these we all have truly striven... happily. Thank you Dr. Dolezal. I hope you can hear me and I hope you are in a most beautiful and happy place. 

God Bless you, Dick. You were an inspirational leader to many and wonderful friend to all who were blessed to have you in their life. I promise to say a little prayer for you every time I pass your office.

I will truly miss his amazing ability to always smile and emit positive and profound messages to me. I remember when you actually teared up when I told you our twins were not able to commute to Latin School when we moved to Wilmette. 
I will always remember our dear friend as a great and sacred human being.

I owe Richard Dolezal a great debt. Thanks to him, I was inspired to earn my doctorate in English literature and go on to a meaningful and fulfulling teaching career. Also thanks to him, I was the only Freshman undergraduate student who actually knew how to do a research paper. I still retain the one he graded when I was in his senior English class. I used to wonder how he managed to correct all those errant commas! I smile at the memory, even as I wipe away the tears that honor him.
We shared the same birthday as well.
Rest in peace, dear sir.
Dr.Kendra Gaines
Latin Class of 1964

What a profound impact on so many lives.  I will always remember Dr. Dolezal as the best teacher I ever had. What a wonderful man!

Dr. Dolezal was the best teacher I ever had at any level, besides being a wonderful man.

So grateful for your friendship, so in awe of your spirit, we will miss you and treasure our memories of time with you.

Fondly remembered with respect, gratitude and affection,

Dear Dr. Dolezal,

I am so very sad to hear of your tragic passing. You were an excellent teacher and friend. My memory of you during my Latin years is a prominent one of my adolescence. I always believed you were sincerely concerned about my progress, and my college grades were better than those of mine at Latin as a result.  Your professionalism and conduct were always exemplary---I wish I could say the same about mine!

I returned to Latin rarely after graduating---maybe every ten years or so. I would invariably see you, and we would visit and chat. What a fine life you led, which in turn enriched the lives of your vast number of students and friends who had the high honor and privilege to know you. Rest In Peace, My Friend---I will never forget you.

David Hill Spencer ‘68
August 30, 2012

OBITUARY

Reverend Richard Dolezal

December 6, 1935 – August 28, 2012

Drake & Son Funeral Home

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