Phyllis Stern, 75, founder of Guide Dog Users Inc.
Phyllis Stern, 75, founding member and president of Guide Dog Users Inc. and an Oak Park resident for 41 years, died June 28, 2005 at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village.
Mrs. Stern was born with cataracts and went blind when she was 14. She was raised in Berwyn and graduated from Morton High School. She moved to Forest Park in 1948 and to Oak Park in 1964.
“She was raised by a very independent woman,” said her daughter Ruth Ann Stern. “Her parents were very determined that she be capable of looking after herself if it were necessary.”
Guide Dog Users, Inc. worked toward the same goals, promoting acceptance and easing travel restrictions for guide dogs and their owners. Mrs. Stern also became a member of the American Council for the Blind.
She was active in the community and school of St. Bernardine parish and was part of the parish for almost 50 years, holding office in the Altar and Rosary Society.
“While we were in school, she was active in everything we were active in,” Ruth Ann said. “She was a homemaker by profession, but she was pretty good at it, I’d say. She was an involved and caring person by nature.”
Mrs. Stern is survived by her children, Ruth Ann and John.
Visitation was held June 30 at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park. Services took place on July 1, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
Memorial donations can be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Rd., Yorktown Heights, N.Y. 10598.
William Richter, 68, OPRF grad, class of 1954
William H. Richter, 68, an Oak Park resident, died June 25, 2005 at West Suburban Medical Center.
Mr. Richter graduated from Irving Elementary School in Oak Park and was a member of the OPRF High School class of 1954. He later attended Northern Illinois University.
Mr. Richter was the son of Muriel of Oak Park; the brother of Robert, Judy (George) Lyon, and Gayle (Daniel) Dunn; the uncle of Christine (Mark) Boren and Stephen (Tiffany) Lyon; and the great-uncle of Justin and Brittany. He was preceded in death by his father, George.
A memorial service was held on July 2 at New Spirit Community Church in Oak Park.
?#34;Compiled by Diana Oleszczuk
