Theodore Vom Brack III, 58, America’s Dream Realty owner
Theodore (Ted) R. Vom Brack III, 58, a longtime resident of Oak Park and River Forest and recently of Oak Brook, died May 8, 2007 of liver cancer. Born on May 17, 1948 to parents Ted and Mary (nee Melchiorre), he attended Bishop Quarter Military Academy and Oak Park and River Forest High School.
Vom Brack learned about the real estate business from his uncles and also developed an appreciation for architecture.
“He had a good eye for design and things like that,” his son, Ralph Vom Brack, said.
Vom Brack opened America’s Dream Realty in 1993 in Chicago. He moved to the present location in River Forest eight years ago.
“That was his baby,” his son said. “He was very happy that he opened his own office and was very proud of it.”
Vom Brack was very involved with his business and its projects, taking a “hands-on” approach.
He was very detail-oriented and liked to “be there for every nail that was put in the wall,” Ralph said.
“The measurement had to be as far down the tape measure as you can get,”.
“He was pretty demanding,” he added. The projects were time consuming, but worth it in the end, he said.
Mr. Vom Brack also loved to share his expertise with the neighborhood. “He always enjoyed meeting and talking to people and was always glad to bring his experience and ways to improve things,” Ralph said. “Once you met him you never forgot him.”
Once, Ralph said, he and his father were out for coffee and ran into an old friend of Ted’s whom he hadn’t seen since high school.
“The last thing [the friend] said to us before leaving was, ‘T.V.B.–The Very Best.'”
Ted Vom Brack was the husband of Kathy (nee Conti); the father of Ralph and Nicholas; the brother-in-law of Mario Jr., Ron and Mary Beth; the uncle of Christopher, Sean, Dan, Michael, Megan, and Patrick; and a great friend to many. He was preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Audrey and Mario Conti.
Memorials can be made to McDermott Foundation, 932 W. Washington St. in Chicago.
George Osborne, 66, Pioneering audiologist
George S. Osborne, Ph.D., D.D.S., 66, died unexpectedly on June 14, 2007. Born in Freeport, he and Joan raised their children in Oak Park, moved to Berwyn, Penn. in 1993, and spent precious time with friends and family at Lake Elora in Canyon, Minn.
An optimist, visionary, experienced professional, and dedicated educator, his contributions to the profession of audiology were historic and many. He was one of the nation’s first private practitioners of audiology and remained involved in both clinical service and training throughout his career.
In 2000, Dr. Osborne founded the School of Audiology at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO), creating a curriculum that combined high academic standards and a strong biomedical component. As dean, he created AuDonline, a robust and comprehensive program designed specifically as a bridge for licensed, practicing audiologists. Graduating 960 students to date, the program will have awarded more than 2,000 Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degrees when its last class graduates in 2010. In May of this year, Osborne presided over the graduation of the school’s first class of residential students, a day of celebration enjoyed by more than 800 people and an accomplishment reflecting Osborne’s lifelong vision and professional tenacity.
Dr. Osborne was founder and past president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology; co-founder and past chair of the Audiology Foundation of America; co-founder and director of the American Academy of Audiology; and co-founder and director of the Accreditation Commission for Audiology Education. He worked steadfastly to promote the profession and to ensure that audiologists would achieve recognition and parity with other health care professionals, such as dentists, optometrists, and podiatrists.
A playful man with a taste for adventure, a veteran boat driver and inventor of countless water-ski tricks, he also went sky-diving for the first time on his 65th birthday. An avid and accomplished pilot, he built an experimental seaplane, the Seawind, a project that took three years. His plane, embossed with the logo of a loon (the fastest amphibious bird and a frequent sight on Lake Elora), won the prestigious Lindy Award in Oshkosh in 2004. In 2006, he and his wife won a cross-country race commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers.
George Osborne was the husband and tireless cheerleader of Joan Osborne; the father and grandfather of Brian and Karen Osborne and their daughters, Amelia and Nina, and Tonya and Jason Delborne and their daughters, Olivia and Ramona; and the sister of Mary Casford.
A memorial service was held June 22 at Paoli Presbyterian Church, Paoli, Penn. A second service will take place on July 13 at the French Club in Canyon, Minn. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the George S. Osborne Scholarship Fund at the PCO School of Audiology, attn: Paula Kane, 8360 Old York Rd., Elkins Park, Penn. 19027; or www.pco.edu/alumni/donate_online.htm.
Maureen Prah, 69, Literacy and homework volunteer
Maureen Prah, 69, a longtime resident of Oak Park, died at her home on June 21, 2007. Born in Chicago on July 7, 1937 to Michael and Mary Burke, she was a graduate of St. Mel-Holy Ghost Elementary School and Providence High School. Mrs. Prah was a volunteer for Grandma Please Homework Assistance and with the Triton College Literacy Program. She was also a scout leader and devoted her life to raising her 7 children.
She is survived by her husband, James; her children, Mary (Tim) Cozzens, Kathy (Perry) Smith, Colleen (Ray) Siegel, James V. Jr. (Diane), Michael (Ellen), Amy Prah, and Robert Byerley; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation was held June 25 at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was celebrated June 26 at St. Giles Church, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Giles School (memo field: The Margaret Stewart Scholarship Fund), 1030 N. Linden Ave., Oak Park 60302, are appreciated.
Mario Reda, 66, Sociology professor, soccer coach
Mario Reda, 66, of River Forest, formerly of Oak Park, died of cancer on June 19, 2007 at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood. Born on Sept. 24, 1940, in Chicago, he was one of the first faculty members of the newly created College of DuPage in 1969. He taught sociology there for 38 years and coached the men’s soccer team from 1985 to 1996 and the women’s team from 1997 to 2001.
Avidly interested in politics, he was a delegate at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago and in 1980, challenged longtime Cong. Henry Hyde in the 6th District. According to a Chicago Tribune obituary, though he lost, he tallied a higher percentage of the vote than any of Hyde’s later opponents.
In the 1970s, he wrote an opinion column for the News-Journal-World newspaper, which covered Oak Park, River Forest and the West Side. He also published several textbooks, including Views from the Left: Fresh Sociological Insights and Public Sociologies: A Looking Glass for What Could Be.
Mario Reda is survived by his wife, Lisa; his children, Salvatore, Becket, Maria Brissette, Trinity Reich, and Connie Reda; his brothers, Frank and Robert; and four grandchildren.
Visitation was held June 24 at Rago Brothers Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was celebrated on June 25 at St. Giles Catholic Church in Oak Park.
–Compiled by Erica Magda and Ken Trainor