Robert Dulak Obituary

Bob Dulak was the best eighth grade teacher I ever met in fifteen years of working with public schools. He inspired many kids to think for themselves including Meg and Donnan Steele (my children). Meg has been a first grade teacher and a school administrator for 15+ years. She heads Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest. Bob Dulak was one of the two best grade school teachers she ever had. We are sorry he is gone.

he was a grt teacher

Mr. Dulak,

You got me through grade school, most of high school and even some college/university.

I never got to say thank you for so much...

You are one hell of a teacher and sooo many could learn from your methods.

I can't believe you're gone. I don't want to believe it...

Class of '94 and many more oh you sooo much.

Thank you for being you, thank you for being awesome.

Thank you for never giving up hope on me, when so many others had already written me off as a lost cause.

Thank you for showing me that I was worth something.

Thinking of you today. Everything written here is true. You were a fantastic teacher at a very influential time in our lives. Tough but fair and thoughtful - the best type of authority figure as we transitioned from kids in grammar school to young adults in high school.

Mr. Dulak was undoubtedly one of the best teachers I have ever had. He taught us to think outside the box and see things in different perspectives. He opened my mind to new ways of thinking and helped to shape me into the person I am today. I thought about him often and had hoped to be able to reconnect but he appeared to live "off the grid!" :-) I will always remember him fondly.
Miriam Correa (Gutierrez), Bell School Class of 1988

My Dear Godfather I am so proud to carry your name as my middle name. I so often think of you and can picture you shopping for the doll collection you sent me through the years. I often tease my mom to this day when I look at them that yes-I am playing with them in my fifties and am so glad she only let me look at them as a child. I have always cherished them and you as My Godfather and the great teacher you were to my sister and all your children through the years Rest in peace with the lord. Love always Peggy Caboose or as my husband calls me Peggy Bob.

I remember him kindly. (Sue Hertel-Bell class of 1970)

I was introduced to Mr. Dulak by Mrs. Bessie Henry when i was in 8th grade at Bell. Although i do not have class with him but when i see him, He is the man of his words. He knows what he talking about. I have a huge respect of him. I heard kids talked highly of him. I would have class with him but i did graduated with his class so that is enough for me.

Mr. Dulak, from all of us Bell School Class of 1994, you will be missed and thanks for what you have done in our lives.

My daughter has often spoken of Mr. Dulak as being her best teacher at Bell School. She explained how he not only brought each subject to life but also how he taught important lessons in ethical behavior--based upon what happened in the classroom, not just in abstract.

Jeanie Child

He inspired me to read literature with a story and history combined also! He was one of the best!!!! I most remember him for helping me be admitted to Lane Tech HS.!! He had his way to get students to achieve!! Gary Loboyko

There are not many who can motivate 8th graders the way Mr. Dulak did. He gracefully balanced holding his students to sky-high expectations while fiercely insisting that we enjoy the last breaths of childhood. I learned to work hard, take notes, research, take pride in my work, and countless other things from him. He is often quoted in my family (still--almost 30 years later) and has profoundly influenced my work in education. My condolences to Mr. Dulak's family and friends. He was certainly loved.

Bob was a wonderful cousin, more like a brother. When our August grandparents died, his mother Wanda raised my mother. When dear Aunt Wanda died, Bob came to live with us for a period of time.
Bob has been a part of my life since I was born, and I cannot imagine a more caring, creative,and loving cousin. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched--family members, friends and students-- and he always will be in our family's thoughts and prayers. We will never forget you, dear cousin, and we know you will have a great reunion with family members who passed before you.
Your loving cousin,
Paula Wanda Sunderman

We will miss our cousin Bob who was a true "classic" in his time.
He touched the hearts of many and leaves behind wonderful memories for all who knew him.
Laura (Roszkowski) Heleniak

Mr. Dulak was not only an incredible teacher of literature, algebra, and art history... he was a great example to his students. Mr. Dulak- you are one of the main reasons I became a middle school teacher... I hope you realize how much you impacted so many of us... you will be missed.

Mr. Dulak was more than just an incredible teacher of literature, algebra, art history... He was a great example to his students... He was patient, kind, and understanding. He is one of the main reasons I became a teacher. Mr. Dulak- I hope you realize how much you impacted so many of us, and pushed us to become better students and people. You will be missed.

By far my most influential teacher at Bell School. You will be missed and remembered Mr. Dulak.

So very grateful to have had such a caring, challenging, and inspiring teacher. He pushed us to think and make connections and broaden our minds. He was tough, yet gentle. I was able to correspond with him for many years and appreciated each time he wrote to me. I regret letting the chaos and challenges of parenthood the last 6 years keep me from continuing our regular correspondence. I will miss him. There has not been a week since I graduated in 1987 that I have not had something in my life that reminded me of him or a lesson I learned in his class. As he so wisely told us during a discussion about death...the tears we cry at funerals are selfish tears. I will be crying very selfish tears this week knowing that he is gone.

Remembering my favorite teacher of all time. It was a privilege to be your student and I am forever grateful. Class of 1980.

Miss him dearly and rest in peace. God bless him.

He was my 6th grade teacher at Alexander Bell School. He was my greatest mentor and taught me to appreciate fine arts, acting and music. I will sorely miss him and his wonderful way of reaching students and preparing them for life!!!
style!!!

Condolences to All in Mr. Dulak's Many Circles ~

How touching to read so many heartfelt entries in this Guest Book. Mr. Dulak grew to be a legend at Bell, our renowned school. In his wisdom and long before any special education laws were enacted, he judiciously and effectively included deaf students in his options classroom for activities....Rest in Peace, Mr. Dulak. Thank you for the vast legacy you left us through such a high example as friend, teacher, and colleague. May your memory be eternal.

Mr Dulak was a wonderful and innovative teacher, bringing to life the full spectrum of subjects from literature to history to algebra. More than that, he was kind and generous with his students and enjoyed the middle schoolers even when we were trying. I am grateful to have had him as a teacher. May he rest in peace.

Bob Dulak was the best 8th grade teacher I ever met. Both my children had him at Bell School and for one child he was the best elementary teacher she had ever. He understood the 13 year old mind and heart in a way that few adults do. It is sad that he is gone.

Mr. Dulak was a great teacher, and I will always remember his great history notebooks that we created with him. I still have art pieces that we created as well. RIP!

Bob Dulak was a wonderful mentor to his fellow teachers, at Bell School, encouraging them in so many ways. I was blessed to know him in the '70's and have never forgotten his kind and gentle ways. An absolutely outstanding educator who delighted in his career choice as an outstanding caring teacher. Rest in peace.
Charlotte L.Gilmore
Burr Ridge, IL

My favorite and most influential teacher has passed. May he rest in peace. Class of 1979, Bell School.

I'll always remember Robert from St. Sylvester School in the 1930's. Also, from De Paul University, class of 1951. He was a wonderful friend.

I will always remember you as the teacher who made art easy and sensible. Thank you for all of your lessons, may you rest in peace Mr. Dulak.

Rest In Peace, Sir. Thank you for being the best teacher I have ever had to this day. You influenced myself and many others over the years and we all thank you. Condolences to his loved ones.

Edwin B. Esmenda
SSG/USA

My mentor and my friend. Always kind, and a man of great integrity. Love and miss you Bob.

Many years ago, Bob, Joan Smith, Jerry, and I enjoyed the opera season in Chicago. Those were happy days.
Kathleen and Jerry Milks

Mr Dulak, thanks for teaching me what is important and beautiful about the world. Rest in Peace. Condolences to his family and other fellow students of his.

May he rest in peace. Mr. Dulak was well respected in the deaf community. He will be missed by many. My mother told me, he traveled the world and shared many of his experiences with her and my sister, Gerry Diederich- Biesboer. My parents loved him so much that he became god-father to our youngest sister, Peggy.

It is no doubt he left his mark in the world. Thank you dear teacher!

Written on behalf of the Diederich Sisters. Mary Ann Diederich-Peterson

Mr. Dulak was a wonderful teacher. He was patient in explaining what we learned at St. Gregory's School (Chicago's north side). He checked that all of us children understood what was said. It made us all ask a lot more questions and we learned so much. He was the world's favorite teacher!

Rest in Peace Mr. Dulak. Hands down my favorite teacher at Bell School. Seriously, I did my best to emulate YOU when I taught. Remembering when you sang "Three Little Fishies" to the class will always be a special memory. God Bless.

R.I.P. Mr. Dulak. You instilled in me the desire to teach. Gabriele Romanowsky Williams, class of 1966

I miss Mr.Dulak very much .He was very good teacher and friend He was influenced me about everything .God bless him.
8th grade (Hearing Impairing )

I miss Mr Dulak very much . He was very good teacher and friend .He was influenced me about everything .God bless him
8th grade (Hearing Impairing )

Dear Dulak family we are so sorry for your loss. Stay strong and know that God will never leave you or abandon you.(Hebrews 13:5)

It was sad to hear of Mr. Dulak's passing as he had such a positive influence on so many. I believe his influence, knowledge and compassion had a positive impact on my personal and professional life. Such a kind man who walked his talk and instilled confidence in his students. I have thought of him often in my life but unfortunately never had the opportunity to see him again. Mr Dulak's influence will live on in the hearts and minds of the many lives he has positively touched. Mr Dulak was the best of the best. God bless you Mr Dulak and rest with the knowledge that you live on in our thoughts forever!

Sad to hear of the passing of Mr. Dulak. I remember him as a well liked Teacher. Rich Brown

We were too young to fully appreciate him as a teacher back in 8th grade, but I have thought of him of often since. He was a remarkable teacher and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to be his student.

A wonderful neighbor and friend to our mother Ruth Schultz for over 60 years. We grew up with Bob as a member of our family, at Thanksgiving, Passover Seders (as the honored Gentile), and many, many family events.
He will be missed.
Allan, Jack, and Howard Schultz (and our spouses and children as well)

Mr. Dulak helped us become who we are today. In my family, it's not not what you learned in kindergarten as Robert Fulghum wrote, but "All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Bob Dulak."

Mr. Dulak taught us so many things that didn't seem valuable at the time, but now that I'm grown up, I realize that what we learned in those two years was PRICELESS!

I feel so blessed to have had him as a teacher for two years. He will be missed greatly!!!