Latin School of Chicago

Mike Teolis Music Department Chair It was around the time of his mother���s passing that Richard and I began to chum. After several lunches ��� one of his favorite things to do ��� we talked and learned more about each other. Both of us were born in Chicago, raised Catholic. I toyed with the seminary. He went through it. We both were baptized at St. Alphonsus Church. In fact, I used to kid him that I was probably going ���goo-goo, ga-ga��� in my mother���s arms at the same masses he might have attended all those years ago. So, I guess from that standpoint, we were destined to meet. To me, Richard was a scholar, a holy man, a lover of all things chocolate ��� especially Blommer���s ��� a colleague, and sometimes a sounding board. He was also a knucklehead. I considered him a close friend. He loved old films, music, his favorite foods, his faith and giving me a hard time. If he were passing by when I was talking to someone, he would tell that person, as he raised his finger and cocked his head, ���You are known by the company you keep.��� He would throw a few other digs at me in front of this person, and then suddenly, put his arm around my shoulder and say, ���But he���s my buddy.��� I mentioned ���the finger.��� Yes, Richard used to give me ���the finger��� ��� no, not that one. I started noticing it early on in our friendship. When his mother died, he asked me to put the music together for the funeral. It was shortly thereafter that he came to me to tell me that he wanted me to do the music for his. Mind you, that was 20 years ago. Since then, he would come to me periodically and say that he had to update a document regarding arrangements for his funeral ��� whenever that would happen. I thought he showed me that document once, but I can���t say for sure. In any case, he would remind me about it. He would look at me, raise ���the finger��� and cock his head and say, ���Now, don���t forget ��� you know what I want.��� Sometimes I would answer, ���Right, Richard, the ���Ave Verum,��� but what else do you want?��� He would quickly respond with a dismissive wave of his hand and say, ���You���ll figure it out.��� Food, did I mention food? Often, he would come to my office, with that ���finger��� pointing to his watch, indicating it was time to eat. Sometimes he would stand in my doorway and say he hadn���t eaten in a week and ask where have I been? When we would go out to the local bistros, there were some of our homeless neighbors. Rarely if ever, did I see him walk past someone and not give something to a person who asked for help. Before we left the building, I think he would make sure he would put that money in the appropriate pocket so it could be at the ready. He had his usual customers, who could see him coming. Several times I saw him hand a ���monetary loan��� to an individual and then turn to me and say, again with the cock of his head and that ���finger,��� ���You never know, He might be the One.��� I would like to close with one more image of Richard. Richard Dolezal made it no secret that he loved the musical The Music Man. He told me a story ��� perhaps he also told many of you ��� that many years ago, while The Music Man was playing on Broadway, he and several friends hopped in a car and drove all the way to New York to see Robert Preston in person performing in the show. Immediately after the show they all hopped back in the car and drove right back. Such were his passions. [Teolis closed the September 23 celebration with a recording of Robert Preston���s rendition of ���Seventy-Six Trombones��� from The Music Man to accompany a photo slide show of images from Dr. Dolezal���s life at Latin.] ���To me, Richard was a scholar, a holy man, a lover of all things chocolate, a colleague, and sometimes a sounding board.��� ��� Mike Teolis, Music Department Chair Opposite page: Dr. Dolezal reunited with old friends; Dr. D in 1973. This page: Dr. D and Steve Sommers team taught American Civilization class. LATI N SCHOOL OF CHI CA GO 49

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