Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1990 [PAGE 417]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1991]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

405

never greater than that he displayed at the time of the search for a chancellor for the Chicago campus, when he had to put the University before one of his deepest friendships.'' She commented that for Chas this was a true test of his devotion to the University, "for he was one who always tried to stand by his friends, but the good of the University was weighed and he chose this over friendship." Dr. Bacon stated that she will carry this memory of Mr. Wolff's sacrifice with her and that she was very gratified that Mr. Wolff and this very good friend were reunited before his passing. Mr. Lamont said he had just one brief comment to make. He told the board that this past summer he met with Chas alone to discuss a problem he had in understanding his father's illness. Mr. Lamont said: "it will be to Chas' everlasting credit that he took time for me and talked about my father's illness, that was similar to his, at a time when his own burden was so great. My father and Chas died just three weeks apart. I will remember what he did to help me when he was so ill." Ms. Reese spoke next and remembered for the board Mr. Wolff's handling of the meeting of March 1989 when matters of the future of the University Hospital were under discussion. She recalled the fairness and thoroughness with which Mr. Wolff conducted that meeting, knowing that he faced the first of several operations for cancer as he did so. She noted that "he never let on that he had any problems but was calm in the midst of a crisis for the University; he was truly an example of grace under pressure." Mrs. Calder said that she and Chas were kindred spirits as they came to the board in the same year and came to serve the University at a time of great challenges as two young people. She remembered that he was always patient with her and that he never asked her to do anything she did not want to do. She said that even when they differed on policy, their private conversations were always positive. She observed that Chas assumed the presidency of the board "with dignity and a wisdom I was in awe of." She concluded by saying, "I will miss him; I mourn our differences and the things I think I could have done differently and I rejoice in the things that I think we did right together." Mr. Grabowski commented on the remarks of other board members as very fitting and said that he would remember Chas as a good friend, a good counsel who was wise beyond his years and "gave us direction and brought us onto the right path in so many issues." He stated that he would miss Mr. Wolff as a dear friend and would always respect him highly.

RESOLUTION TO HONOR TRUSTEE CHARLES P. WOLFF

Mr. Grabowski read the following resolution to honor the memory of Trustee Charles P. Wolff.

Whereas, Charles P. "Chas" Wolff spent his adult life serving the University of Illinois and the general public good; and