Elliot Lehman, former SSA Visiting Committee Life Member, died May 5, 2016 at age 97. Lehman joined the Business and Professional People for the Public Interest (BPI) Board in 1972 and served as its second president from 1972-77. Lehman was a prominent Chicago business leader as chairman of Fel-Pro Manufacturing for three decades, where he worked there for more than 50 years. Fel-Pro Manufacturing is widely recognized as one of the most employee-centered and progressive companies in the country—offering scholarship programs, onsite day care, and a summer day camp for employees’ children. He was also a founding board member of Winning Workplaces, a not-for-profit providing consulting, training, and information organization focused on helping small and midsize organizations create great work places. He is survived by his wife, Frances; a daughter, Kay Schlozman; his sons Ken and Paul; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. His son Paul Lehman, AM '75, daughter-inlaw Ronna Stamm, AM '76, and grand-daughter Betsy Lehman Levisay, AM '00, are all SSA alumni.
SSA has learned of the passing of Frederick Zverin, AM '53.
Wilma J. Pierson, AM '54, passed away on April 14, 2016. She was 87. She lived with her husband and family in Bismarck, ND; Long Beach, CA; Ethiopia, where her husband was a medical missionary; Seattle, WA; and finally settled in Minot, ND. She served as a social worker for Lutheran Social Services as well as the office manager of her husband's medical practice. She was a founding member of the Minot Commission on the Status of Women as well as an active board member of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.
Dorothy Lillian Butler McGill, AM '57, passed away on July 3, 2016 at the age of 98. She retired as a supervisor of protective services for the State of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. She also had worked at United Charities and Henry Booth House. She was a graduate of Talladega College in Talladega, AL. She volunteered for the Read to Me program at the South Shore Bible Baptist Day Care Center and assisted seniors at the Southeast Atlas Senior Center.
SSA has recently learned of the passing of Ruth Levine Beiersdorf, AM '65. She retired as a senior social worker from Child Protective Services in San Diego, CA.
SSA has recently learned of the passing of Donald J. Newbart, AM '66.
Kenneth E. Krause, PhD '70, passed away on December 18, 2015. He was 85. He retired as a Professor of Social Work at the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. During retirement, he volunteered for the Eau Claire, WI school system and was also known as Colorado Kenny, performer and songwriter of his own folk music. He sang at Chicago's Navy Pier and many state fairs.
Andrew Boyce Wallace, AM '99, passed away in Burlingame, CA on August 14, 2016. He was 56. Wallace was ordained to the counseling ministry in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and served as a mediator for families in crisis in the Illinois and California Superior courts.
Ian Foster-Harris, AM '15, passed away on November 9. They were developing an organization that serves young people with healing through arts and developing life skills. Through trainings, presentations, participatory-action research, and healing, Ian contributed to the work necessary to end homelessness. Ian came to this development work after years of direct practice clinical service using Theater of the Oppressed, harm-reduction, and motivational interviewing. For three years as the Family Ties Case Manager at Chicago House and Social Service Agency, they supported families transitioning off the streets into designated homes for folks who are positive or living with HIV/AIDS.