Edward John Wygonik, PhD, 76, peacefully on the March 28, 2025. Born on June 9, 1948 in Pittsburgh, to Edward Sylvester and Betty (nee Volk), he was the eldest brother. The family moved to Naperville, where he attended St. Procopius Academy. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University and was awarded his doctorate in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago.
In 1990, he was hired as the first full-time, tenure-track faculty member in Roosevelt’s new MA program in industrial-organizational psychology. His students valued his pragmatic courses, which emphasized teamwork and applied projects, especially those in his specialty areas, employment testing and executive talent development. He served as the associate chairperson of both the School of Psychology and the Department of Psychology. He retired as associate professor emeritus of I/O psychology. Ed had a quiet presence but had a passion for social justice.
He married Mary Catherine Lowrey, the love of his life, on April 22, 1972. They raised five children, Eddie (Vanessa), Meg (Peter), Benjamin, Nicolaus (Erin) and Jesse (Kerry). The open-door policy he had in teaching extended to their home at 707 N. Oak Park Ave. Almost every teenager in Oak Park knew where the keys to the house, (and the refrigerator) were hidden and they could access them at any time.
Nothing brought more joy to his life than his grandchildren: Lucy, Lilly, Sydney, Vivian, and Ethan. One of his greatest delights was the publication of a book of short stories, Stories of Fairies, Gnomes, Sprites, and Dragons. The follow-up volume is now in press.
Every Fourth of July he and Mary Cath hosted an amazing BBQ. His Christmas brunch was a thing for the ages. He was at his most peaceful in a chair on the beach in South Haven, Michigan, gently sleeping, an open book on his lap, his glasses perched on his nose, mouth slightly open, gentle snoring in harmony with the breaking waves.
Services will be held on Friday, April 4 at St Giles Church. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery is private.
In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the Salvation Army in Ed’s name. Arrangements were handled by Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home.