Gerald Paetsch Obituary

He was a great advisor for me while I was a student at DePaul University.

Thanks to Gerry's expertise, Mary Carol Suchsland will receive her Bachelor's Degree from DePaul University on 06-11-06. She was one of "Gerry's Kids" and he was a great motivator for her; he also was one of her heroes, and he will never be forgotten by a young woman who was extremely fortunate to have met him. Thanks, Gerry, you were the best -- from Mary's mom

Dear Paetsch Family,



I was sorry to hear of your loss. Gerry was one of the first persons I met at Mt. Carmel in 1962. We shared a locker for our first two years there. Although we never crossed paths after graduation, I was not surprised to read on the internet how he touched others. He was a gentleman even back then. My condolences.

I just found out today about Gerry's passing. He is someone I have thought of often over the years and am now even more sorry that I didn't keep in better touch. I graduated from DePaul 20 years ago but that would have never happened without him. I was definitely one of "Gerry's Kids". In fact I remember seeing him at my graduation and you could tell that he was just so thrilled for me. I just had to send him flowers after that!!!! Heaven definitely inherited another angel. It is now the eve of Thanksgiving - Gerry was someone that I have always definitely been thankful for. God bless you Gerry. Kerry

Dear Family of Jerry:

My condolences on your loss. I just found out and am heartbroken and shocked.Jerry was so full of life. Jerry and friends and I spent many a time at De Paul games and the Blue Demon Room. He was a great guy and so much fun. I know he is in heaven helping us all.

Dorothy Chmielowski Holden

I worked with Gerry when I was a student at /Depaul and he was an excellent mentor. He will truly be missed.

I was sorry to learn of Gerry's death. A great help to me, and so many DePaul students through the years. Thanks, Gerry. I'll remember the beers at Kelly's and the diploma you helped me acheive.

I send my deepest condolences to all of Gerry's friends and family members upon receiving this terrible news. Gerry was my academic advisor for 4 years at DePaul University, and I learned of his passing during my graduation ceremony June 12, 2005. He was a wonderful, helpful man that i could always count on. God bless you.

It's easy to not think about a person, or persons, who weren't important in my life. But that can't be said about Gerry. He will always be remembered for the jokes he told. He'll always be remembered for the stories he shared with so many of us. I've never known Gerry to concern himself with worries. If he did, I never knew. He spoke with much wisdom. I will miss the "happy-go-lucky" Gerry. It's not often I've met an individual who's made me feel warm and cared for. I know God has another good soul.

Gerry's gone. How can that be? He's the quintessential DePaul guy. Still is, always will be. His spirit's younger than any freshman that ever entered SAC or LC or any of those new places that have become DePaul. I'll still expect to run into him the next time I visit. God bless us all for having known him. Special condolences to you, Tom and Mary. And thanks, Jeff Carlson, for a most eloquent commemoration.

I am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Paetsch was my academic advisor at DePaul. He was my advisor when my mom passed away suddenly, and he was my advisor when I came back to school after taking a couple years off to deal with my loss. Gerry was so supportive and encouraging to me, and got me back on the right track when I decided to come back to school. I will always remember him and be thankful for his help and guidance. He will always be missed.

TO TOM,MARY & FAMILY OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF GERRY. HE WAS A SPECIAL GUY WITH A KIND HEART, WHO HELPED ME IN ACHEIVING MY GOALS. (LA&S 83) HE WILL BE MISSED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. JIM & PAM MCCORMICK

I got to work with Gerry when I was a faculty member, department chair and eventually associate dean at DePaul University from 1989-2002. I just liked him so much. I liked how I felt when I was around him. He was the consummate professional, a real gentleman, and also a guy with a terrific sense of humor. To he honest, his actual jokes and puns stunk — and he knew it. But his ironic sensibility, his capacity to see the humor in a situation, that was amazing and somehow uplifting. He broke me in as associate dean and from him I learned so much about how a university works. I guess most of all I learned that universities are about people — good people who do their best, who respect and trust each other, who aren’t afraid to lift up one another. A lesson that applies to any community, really. Gerry’s performance appraisals of his co-workers were fair and honest and fiercely loyal to colleagues he believed in and, in his own way, loved. Gerry could laugh about and sometimes at DePaul University and its decisions as an institution but he was always committed to it, committed so deeply. If Gerry said something you could take it to the bank. You could trust him, count on his integrity and good judgment. He was one of those people you wanted to be around, to laugh with, to talk and argue politics inside and outside the university, to hear the stories, deep and textured stories of the best days of DePaul's past, of the people, those good people who did their best. Gerry knew so many of them. He was one of them. I haven’t had the privilege and honor of working with Mr. Gerald Paetsch for three years now. I’ve missed him and now I just know this son of Mount Carmel and DePaul will pray for us, and as he’d probably say with his own wry smile, “we’ll need it.”

Dear Paetsch Family and Friends,



I was very saddened to hear of Gerry's sudden passing. Please accept my deepest sympathy. As many have already said he was and remains a generous and good humored man.

My sincere and deepest condolences to Gerry's family. Gerry was a great guy and he will truly be missed.

Gerry has been my advisor at DePaul University for five years. While we got off on a rocky start, he was always so helpful, trying to make sure I graduted. I am finally graduating this year because of his caring nature and guidance. He will always have a special place in my heart

Tom & Mary

My sincere condolences on Gerald's passing. My thoughts are with you.