Sadly, we have learned of the death of John Singer, the father of Carrie Slad, Cloud Administrator-Associate in Information Services.  John passed away on August 26 at the age of 85.

John served in the U.S. Army in the 1960s, and then spent his professional career at First National Bank of Chicago and then LaSalle National Bank until his retirement in 1991.

John treasured time spent with family—especially holidays, celebrations, and outings with his nieces and nephew. He loved attending summer festivals and live performances, and he deeply enjoyed being part of a close-knit family.  John was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and college basketball, particularly the DePaul Blue Demons and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He also had a deep affection for dogs, especially Old English Sheepdogs.

John will be remembered for his kind heart, steadfast faith, and unwavering love for his family. His memory lives on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, daughter Carrie, two grandsons, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Services were held in New Mexico.  A full obituary and online condolences can be found at https://www.frenchfunerals.com/obituaries/john-singer

May he rest in peace.

We have learned of the death of Dr. Jeanne Panuncialman, former professor of the School of Nursing.  Jeanne passed away on August 19 at the age of 94.  A U.S. Navy veteran, Jeanne served as a Naval nurse, earned her Ph.D., and taught in DePaul’s nursing program in the 1980s.

Jeanne built her life around faith and family.  She was a true force of nature who served her country and became a role model for women in medicine, and so much more.  Until the very end of her life she found joy and humor and shared that with others.

She is survived by seven children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.  Services were held in August at Knollcrest funeral home.  Online condolences may be posted at https://www.knollcrest.net/obituaries/Jeanne-Venard-Panuncialman?obId=44365380#/obituaryInfo.

May she rest in peace.

Sadly, we have learned of the death of John J. Gasparic, the father of David Gasparic, Senior ERP Developer for Information Systems.  John passed away on August 30, at the age of 80, after a long battle with lung cancer.

John worked for 31 years selling IRD vibration instrumentation, services, and training for Rockwell Automation.  He enjoyed going on family vacations and attending Chicago Cubs and Bulls games with his son and daughter.

John is survived by his wife of 51 years, Judy, his daughter Carrie, his son David, two grandchildren, and many extended family and friends.  Services were held on September 5.  Online condolences may be posted at https://www.friedrichjones.com/obituaries/John-J-Gasparic?obId=44799214.

May he rest in peace.

It is with deep sorrow that we have learned of the death of Douglas Long, Director of the First-Year Program. Doug passed away on August 26, 2025 after battling Leukemia. He was 62.

Doug earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University, where he then served as Director of Audience Development before joining DePaul in 2000 as an instructor in the College of Communication. He then became director of the First-Year Program in 2009. The program is recognized as one of the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, a reflection of Doug’s leadership and vision. His work helped shape the experience of thousands of students and supported a great many faculty and staff across the university.

Doug’s passion for movies and their production was widely known. He was always ready for deep conversations about filmmaking and movie trivia with friends and colleagues. He also had a deep love for theatre and stage performance, for which he was a director. His love of family and faith gave him the support and courage to face the challenges of his illness with strength and spirit.

Most of all, Doug was known for his kindness and caring nature, his sense of humor, and his collaborative spirit that kept the First-Year Program thriving and exciting for first-year students. He consistently built dedicated teams of faculty and staff who valued his leadership and collegiality and motivated all to make DePaul’s first-year experience one of excellence. In his own words, “One benefit of working in the First-Year Program is interacting with other people who value education and the opportunity to make the beginning of the college experience as successful as possible.” He will be deeply missed and remembered by many.

Doug is survived by his wife, Kay, children Adam and Sarah, his parents, and three brothers. Visitation will take place on Saturday, August 30, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan Funeral Home, 4343 Main Street, Downers Grove, IL. A “Words of Remembrance” service will start at 2:00 p.m. A larger Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be submitted at Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan – Doug Long Obituary and Tribute

A university remembrance service will be held on Thursday, September 25, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in Cortelyou Commons.  RSVP HERE through DeHub

Patrick Donoghue, the father of Irish Studies Program director Mary McCain, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025, at the age of 80. An attorney and 78-year resident of Michigan City, Indiana, Pat practiced municipal and corporate law and was a member of the Indiana Bar for 56 years.

Pat graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1966, and received a Juris Doctor in 1969 from Indiana University in Bloomington. He served as a law clerk for the Hon. James E. Noland of the United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, from 1969 to 1971. He spoke often over the years of this clerkship not only as the honor that it was, but also as a formative experience that would influence his work throughout his career.

In Michigan City, he joined the firm Sweeney, Fox, Sweeney, Winski, and Dabagia, later becoming a partner. Pat was the Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board’s attorney for many years and served in similar roles for the Redevelopment Commission and other boards and councils. He recently received a Distinguished: Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards from Martindale-Hubbell.

An avid sailor, Pat participated in many races and served as the Judge Advocate for the Michigan City Yacht Club. He helped found the South Shore Sailing School and did volunteer legal work and was a longtime board member at the LaPorte County Historical Steam Society.

Pat maintained a lifelong connection to Ireland and Irish culture. He spent much of his time in retirement reading, particularly about American, Irish, and British history, rewatching classic Western movies, traveling, and supporting and taking pride in his children and grandchildren, who loved him deeply and will miss him terribly.

Pat is survived by his wife, Nancy, four children, nine grandchildren, and many extended family and friends.

With sadness, we have learned of the death of Chris Rone, who worked for 25 years in the Office of Financial Aid.  Chris passed away on June 24, 2025, at the age of 57.   

 After completing his undergraduate studies at National Louis University, Chris earned a Master of Arts in Public Policy from The George Washington University and a Doctorate of Education from DePaul University.  Throughout his career, Chris helped countless students stay in school and afford their education. His name continues to sound praises in the DePaul community: as one student wrote in the DePaul alumni board, “Chris was the man every student deserved to meet once.” In a world so defined by inequity, Chris fought tirelessly to level the playing field. His work was life-changing, not only for his students, but for those around him. Chris reminded us that there is value in work that helps others, and that we can all do our part in creating a better world.  

Outside of work, Chris enjoyed fishing and spending time with family and friends. He was an avid Liverpool fan and a long-suffering fan of Chicago sports teams. Chris’ wit and bitingly funny tongue brought joy into every activity–even the smallest errand with Chris is a memory to treasure. His legacy lives on with the laughter that surrounded him in life and the transformative optimism of his work.  He will be greatly  missed by all who knew him. 

He is survived by his wife, Robin, son, mother, two brothers, and many extended family and friends. 

Services will take place on Saturday, July 12 at 11 a.m. at A.A. Rayner and Sons Funeral Home, 318 E. 71st Street, Chicago.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are appreciated to the DePaul University Scholarship Fund. 

To view notes of appreciation shared by alumni, please go to Reddit – Alumni Notes for Chris Rone.