Percy Julian Jr., son of a famed scientist and civil rights advocate, confessed to not spending as much time with his father as he would have liked as a child. His dad was usually on the road giving lectures or at his laboratory developing the scientific breakthroughs that would make him famous.
The younger Julian, though, often recalled one moment with his father, shortly after the family’s Oak Park home was fire-bombed in 1950. The family was unharmed, but the elder Julian was so upset by the incident he sat in a tree near the house for several nights after the attack keeping watch. Percy Jr., would sit in the tree with his dad, a time he remembered later among his favorite memories as a child because the two were able to spend a little time together.
On Sunday Feb. 24, Julian, 67, died from complications of the stroke he suffered in his Madison, Wis. home the day before. He never regained consciousness.
Julian did break free of his father’s shadow, becoming a civil rights attorney, and as his dad did in the field of science, Percy Jr. would use his professional career as a means of addressing social injustice.
His sister, Faith, praised her older brother’s career, which included working to desegregate schools, fighting for fair housing and defending first amendment rights.
He was a “brilliant and gifted” photographer, Faith noted, teaching photojournalism at Indiana‘s DePauwUniversity in the early 1980s. His work has been featured in National Geographic, the Chicago Tribune and the Wisconsin State Journal.
He was also a skilled chef, studied aikido and even dabbled in music, playing the guitar in college. He developed his interest in photography as a teen, Faith recalled, building his own dark room in the basement.
“He put in everything. I was never allowed in it, but it was amazing that he was able to do that at such a young age,” she said. “He was a person of many talents.”
Oak ParkHousingCenter founder Roberta L. Raymond, who knew both Percy Sr. and Jr. said: “Even though the Julian children had some unpleasant experiences in Oak Park, they also are very much a product of this community-bright, creative, well-educated people. Percy Julian Sr. said to me that if he had it do over, he might not have made the move to Oak Park because his children had experienced some social problems when parties and dating began. Yet what he sought was a good education for his children, and I believe he achieved that.
“When I was a senior at OPRFHigh School, Percy Jr. was a freshman-very young looking and somewhat shy in those days. He was the only black student at the high school then. He often looked lonely. He went on to a career in law, became charming and sophisticated, and had many interests. But I often think of him as that vulnerable young man, wondering why he was often treated differently, wanting to be part of the world that teenagers occupy.”
Faith recalls Percy Jr. having a difficult time in high school. She later learned from her parents just how difficult it was for him. When Percy Jr. was a senior, he asked a white girl, a family friend and fellow student, to the high school prom. Once the school found out, the girl was called into the dean’s office and threatened with expulsion if she attended with him.
“He didn’t talk about a lot of things that happened to him,” Faith said. “Despite what he went through, he made something positive of his life and expanded his talents.”
Percy Lavon Julian Jr. was born in 1940 in Chicago. Graduating from Ohio‘s OberlinCollege in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, he went on to receive a doctorate in law from the University of Wisconsin in 1966. Julian had practiced law in Madison since 1967.
He was featured in the NOVA documentary about his father, Forgotten Genius, which premiered last year. He is survived by his wife, Jan Blackmon, and one daughter, Kathy Julian.
There will be a memorial service Friday, March 7, at , at Monona Terrace, the convention center in Madison, Wis. The family asks that any donations be made to the NAACP Legal and Educational Defense Fund, Inc.,
99 Hudson St., Suite 1600, New York, NY, 10013.
Terry Dean
Peter Skwerski, 34, Entertainment lighting specialist
Peter Skwerski, an Oak Park resident for 31 of his 34 years, died Jan. 27, 2008 at home. Educated in Oak Park schools, he became interested in theater at PercyJulianMiddle School where he was a member of CAST, then joined the stage crew at Oak Park and RiverForestHigh School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in theater technology from PurdueUniversity and a Master of Fine Arts degree in lighting design from Humboldt State University Arcata, Calif. He remained in Arcata for several years building a successful career in entertainment lighting.
He taught entertainment lighting at the California Institute of Arts at Ventura. He toured as lighting designer with Dark Star Orchestra, and designed lighting for the band Boston, Wheel of Fortune, and for such entertainment luminaries as Ray Charles and David Grisman, and Mary Carpenter. He returned to Oak Park in 2001 and designed lighting for Ballet Legere and was a founding member of Phoenix Worm, an improvisational dance troupe. He designed the outside lighting for UnityTemple‘s Frank Lloyd Wright gala. The White House issued a citation for the lighting he did at one of President Bush’s press conferences.
Peter Skwerski was the son of Art and Jackie Pledger-Skwerski, the grandson of the late Jack and Gladys Pledger, both of Oak Park, and the late Arthur E. and Lottie Skwerski of Chicago.
Funeral services were conducted by Dr. Harry Parker at First Baptist Church of Oak Park.
Cindy Zerfoss, 58, Pediatric home health nurse
Cindy J. Zerfoss, 58, of Downers Grove, formerly of Oak Park, died on Feb. 26, 2008.Born on March 11, 1949 to Guy and Mary Barbara (nee Gale) Zerfoss in Oak Park, she was a graduate of Holmes Elementary and Oak Park and RiverForestHigh School.She received her degree in nursing from PrenticeNursingSchool in Chicago.Ms. Zerfoss was a registered nurse for many years, specializing in pediatric home health.
She was the mother of Lisa (Jim) Cottrill; grandmother of Stephanie and Kristen; daughter of Mary Barbara nee Gale Zerfoss; sister of David (Jenny), Carol, Gary (Barbara), Randy, Scott, and Amy.She was preceded in death by her father Guy Zerfoss and her sister Gaye Zerfoss.
A memorial visitation will be held Tuesday, March 11, from until time of service, , at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home,
203 S. Marion St., Oak Park.Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Way Back Inn, 1915 W. Roosevelt Rd., Broadview60155 are appreciated.
C. Robert Cooper, 80, President of Cooper Marketing Group
C. Robert “Bob” Cooper, 80 of Oak Park, died on Jan. 30, 2008 at the University of Illinois Hospital. Born on June 6, 1927 in Oak Park, he worked for 28 years at Sears Roebuck & Co., then founded and was the president of The Cooper Marketing Group.
He is survived by his wife, Leah “Mimi” Cooper; his children, Nancy (James) Guerin, Pamela (Gint) Baukus, Dan (Noriko) Goroff, and Nancy (Glen) Whitney; his grandchildren, Graham, Evon and Claire Guerin, Lauren Baukus, Joshua Goroff , and Anna and Grace Whitney; and his sister, Catherine “Kay” (Robert) Jones.
The family will hold a memorial gathering on Saturday, March 8, from to at the Carleton of Oak Park,
1110 Pleasant St., Oak Park. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, Va.22203 and the Salvation Army, 8354 W. Foster Ave., Norridge60706 are appreciated. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.
Hermann Holm-Bertelsen, 79, Carpenter, accordion player
Hermann Holm-Bertelsen, 79, of Oak Park, died on March 2, 2008 at WestlakeResurrectionHospital in Melrose Park. Born on April 1, 1929 in Jiibick, West Germany, he left for Australia as a young man, then moved to Canada, where he was joined by his future wife, Lydia. They were married and settled in the U.S. in 1957. He worked as a carpenter for a division of White Cap, Chicago, loved music (especially the Big Band era and Boogie-Woogie) and played the accordion. He enjoyed fishing and was a member of Schillers, a German heritage social club.
In addition to his wife Lydia (nee Mommens) of 56 years, he was the father of Gary (Randi) Holm-Bertelsen and the grandfather of Benjamin Holm-Bertelsen.
Funeral services will take place March 6 at Kopicki’s Heritage Funeral Home. Call 788-7775 for more information.
