Richard “Dick” Baum

Richard “Dick” Baum, age 78, of LaGrange Park, formerly of Cary, IL. Beloved husband of Geraldine "Skip" Baum, nee Valek; loving father of Joseph (Lisa) Baum and Mary-Elizabeth (Douglas) Beavers; grandfather of Dr. Amanda (Dr. Thomas Wagner) Baum-Wagner; son of the late Edward and Ruth Baum; brother of the late Nancy Smith; fond uncle of Debbie (James) Alletto, Susan (Joseph) Funkey and Leigh (James) Knibbs and their children; cousin and friend to many. Dick was an optics engineer with Bell & Howell and Singer-Link (a flight simulation company) and a project manager with Northrup and Motorola. Between 2002 and 2005, he was the Associate Director before becoming the Director of the Archdiocese of Chicago Diaconate Formation Program. He ended his post-retirement career as a high school substitute teacher. His spare time interests included amateur radio, golf, cosmology (search for the Divine in the Universe), tracing family genealogy, flight simulation and model railroading. He enjoyed time with family organizing the annual Super Bowl betting pool, playing poker, fishing, camping, and RV-ing. Above all, he was an ardent Cubs fan. A Mass will be celebrated in his memory on February 3, 11:15 am, at St. John of the Cross, 5005 S. Wolf Rd., Western Springs. Interment Private. Contributions in his memory can be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, VA 22215. Arrangements by Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513. Information: 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com