Carol Lambesis, 70, nurse and professor
Carol Lambesis, 70, of Oak Park, died Thursday, June 4, 2009, at Loyola University Medical Center with her children and close friends at her side.
Born to Walter and Marion (Meagher) Colstad on Sept. 2, 1938, she grew up in Chicago and attended high school at Loretto Academy. She graduated from St. Anne’s School of Nursing and worked as a registered nurse for several years. After receiving a master’s degree in nurse midwifery at the University of Illinois at Chicago, she practiced and taught at the university as a Clinical Instructor of Nurse Midwifery until her retirement in 1987.
She raised five children in Oak Park. After retiring from the University of Illinois, she worked part time at Lange Florist and Carriage Flower Shop in Oak Park. However, most of her time was spent caring for her beloved grandchildren.
She was a music lover and especially loved opera. She was an avid reader. She also enjoyed live theatre and discussing current events.
She is survived by her children Peter (Jane), Christopher (Gabriela), Jane, George (Tina) Lambesis and Mary Eileen (Paul Kungl). She was “Nana” to Annie, Susie, Peter, Christopher, Jessica, Rebecca, Henry, Georgie, Gabby, Charlie, Rosie and Betsy; sister to the late Walter Colstad, Eileen Daly and James Colfer; and a great friend to many.
Visitation was held at Drechsler, Brown and Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park on June 8. Funeral mass was celebrated June 9 at Ascension Church. Interment was private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the charity of your choice are appreciated.
Michael T. Williams, 68, Architect and civic leader
Accomplished architect and Oak Park native, Michael T. Williams, 68, died on Thursday, May 28, in his vacation home in Walworth, Wisc., from complications of a struggle with pneumonia.
He was living in Glen Ellyn at the time of his death, but Mr. Williams had graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School. While in Oak Park in his younger days, he became smitten with the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. This inspired him to study architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, where he earned a bachelor’s degree with honors. He then pursued and received a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.
Prior to co-founding Williams-Pollocks Associates, a Wheaton-based architecture firm, Mr. Williams worked for a number of architecture firms in Philadelphia and Chicago, when his career began in the mid-1960s.
In 1994, he formed Williams Architects, and Williams Construction Management followed soon after. The Lisle Village Hall and Police Station, the Lisle Sea Lion Pool, Cypress Grove Water Park in Woodridge and Wheaton Park District’s Park Services Center are among buildings that were designed by his architectural firm.
His firm has been honored with several architectural awards. The most memorable awards came in 2003 with the American Public Works Association’s Facility of the Year Award for designing the Centre of Elgin – an award in the category of more than $20 million – and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association’s Outstanding Facility and Parks Award.
While living in Wheaton, Mr. Williams was always actively involved in the community. He was a president of the Wheaton Lions Club and a member of Wheaton’s Public Building Commission and School District 200 board. For over 20 years, Mr. Williams also served as board president of the Cosley Zoo Foundation. While there he helped to raise $4 million that went to improving the park, family members told The Chicago Tribune.
He is survived by his wife, Jan; his two sons, Donald Williams and Neil Schmeider; his four daughters, Joanna Williams-Angelos, Amy Englehardt, Michelle Fiore and Bradny Oostman; his sister, Mary Landreth; and 11 grandchildren.
A memorial service for Michael is scheduled for 11 a.m. July 17, at Gary Memorial United Methodist Church, 224 N. Main St., Wheaton, Ill.
