Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/97177
Jeremy Baskin Class of 1982 I can safely say that no teacher in my life impacted me as much as Dr. Dolezal. Just last night, I was sharing with my family my first experience with Dr. Dolezal in summer school before my sophomore year. I recalled every reading largely because of the joy and enthusiasm with which Dr. Dolezal led the discussions. My father still, quite legitimately, credits Dr. Dolezal and my experiences in his classroom with a renewed focus and energy that I showed during my high school career. Dr. Dolezal���s passion for literature, his high expectations of students on many dimensions, his grace and compassion continue to inspire me as a boss, colleague, parent, friend and husband. While I am very saddened by his passing, I am so grateful for having had the privilege of studying with and knowing this great teacher and friend. ���My father still, quite legitimately, credits Dr. Dolezal and my experiences in his classroom with a renewed focus and energy that I showed during my high school career.��� Catherine Humphrey Katauskas Class of 1986 Dr. Dolezal was lovingly called Fr. Dolezal in my family ��� my mom is Susan Humphrey, former Latin faculty. We are a Catholic family and knew that Dr. D also was a practicing priest. I spent many hours with Dr. D starting when I was in middle school. He would give me the reading lists for all the high school English classes ��� I knew I could not take them all. I would get the books from the library, read them, and he and I would discuss them over tea or in the park on a bench behind the Chicago History Museum. Dr. D always had a smile, a kind word and tough, honest critiques of anyone���s writing. I am at all good at writing in part because of his English classes. I remember one paper ��� a creative writing sample ��� in which I used dialogue. One part used a knock at the door and the predictable ���Who���s there?��� ���It���s me.��� Dr. D noted that it should be ���It is I.��� I acknowledged the correct grammar and then argued that the teen in the story, the responder, would not likely use that form of grammar, and he smiled, laughed and agreed! He thanked me for reminding him that I knew the correct grammar and as a writer chose to make a more logical word choice given the context. He also was proud that I would explain this without being intimidated or embarrassed. I have too many fond memories of Dr. D to include here. Just know, he was exactly whom he set out to be in life ��� a kind, loving man with the highest of expectations, endless patience and inconceivable amounts of forgiveness! ��� Jeremy Baskin, Class of 1982 Opposite page: A thank you note to Headmaster Jonathan Slater; Dr. D. at work. This page: During his early days at Latin (from the 1961 yearbook). LATI N SCHOOL OF CHI CA GO 35