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Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Chicago Tribune
From the Farm: Chef-turned-food columnist Barbara Rolek dead at age 75
In my 35 years (and plus) writing about recipes, I've shared the same newspaper page as a number of various food columnists, some of whom were desk neighbors beside me in the newsroom. Barbara Rolek, a trained and certified chef, worked as a columnist for The Post-Tribune and a three-year history timeline from 2004 to 2007 as the 'Restaurant Scene' columnist and food writer for The Times of Northwest Indiana. Barb, a longtime resident of Crown Point, died earlier this month on May 14 at age 75. She was born in Chicago and attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and was a graduate of Chicago's Washburne Culinary Institute. She worked as an executive chef and pastry chef for more than 15 years at fine dining restaurants and even some time at the commissary of a grocery store chain where she developed a customized home meal replacement program. She won awards as a food writer for the Chicago Tribune Media Company and her tenure at The Times of Northwest Indiana, including a 2007 win from the Hoosier State Press Association Award for a story on the Ketogenic diet in the treatment of childhood epilepsy. In 2008, as newspapers began one of the lagging economy-inspired downsizing chapters, Barb shifted to writing as a guide for heading her own website covering Eastern European foods and showcasing recipes, photos and cultural information connected with highlighted countries. She pivoted and accepted a new adventure as the lead writer and head creative force with an upscale online company 'Ann's Fabulous Finds.' 'Beyond her ace writing skills, Barb was an exceptional colleague and friend. She was compassionate, kind and always ready to offer support,' said the company's owner Troy Babcock and echoed by co-owner Ann Wzacny. Barb co-authored 'Tell Me How Long You Want to Live and I'll Tell You What to Eat to Get There' with writer Dr. William D. Stimack (2002 Authorhouse $19.95). Like myself, Barb was one of the food personalities to host cooking classes, including her homemade pastas and 'how to build a gingerbread house' at La Cucina Cooking School in Highland owned by Susan Dedelow. Barb, like so many chefs, was a hard worker and kitchen competitive, the latter of which fired her spirit and a heart of gold always willing to help others. I first met Barb long before we shared a newspaper page and newsroom desk landscape. For two brief years in 1998 and 1999, when I began working for the features section of The Times of Northwest Indiana, I rented a newly built duplex home in Crown Point where Barb and her mother Mary happened to live on the other side of the shared wall in the adjoining unit. Barb would often bring elaborate recipe sampling spreads to the newsroom for all to enjoy. Her recipe for 'Beer and Cheese Potato Soup' was so scrumptious, I was able to persuade her to allow me to publish her recipe in my second cookbook 'More From the Farm' (2007 Pediment Press $29.95). While we were neighbors, Barb and her mom would often compliment or fuss over our family's pet purebred Maine Coon cat Tracker, especially if he was spotted on our paired patios in the back of the homes. One funny story that I never revealed to Barb (or her mom) has to do with the front yard of our adjoined homes. The landscaping included a rather wide stretch of green lawn which served as the divide of the driveways to our attached garages. We each mowed, watered and manicured our own half using an imaginary 'line border' to represent each renter's grassy half. In the summer of 1998, I was leaving my home to attend a picnic, and my menu carry-in contribution was a large bowl of vinegar-based three-bean salad, a recipe specialty of a previous food editor, Sharon Rocchio, and also published in my 2007 cookbook. The large round bowl slipped from my hands, the plastic wrap blew off, and the contents fell into the middle of this aforementioned grassy knoll strip, landing face down with the salad submerged into the grass. I scooped up the mess and hosed away the strong scent of vinegar. The next day, I discovered (as did Barb and her mom) a large yellow nearly perfect circle shape burned into the grass from the strength of the acidic vinegar. I felt silly about my clumsiness so when Barb suggested I must have spilled fertilizer to cause the marred lawn, I simply agreed, and she insisted I buy a square of sod grass to cut to size and patch the gaffe. Barb was preceded in death by both her parents Walter Rolek and Mary Durski Rolek; and brother Wally Rolek. She is survived by her sister Janet Rolek, sister-in-law Camille Podalski Rolek, and many cousins in the area. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 12, 2025, at St Mary's Catholic Church, 321 E. Joliet St, Crown Point with Rev. Peter Muha officiating. Burial is private at Holy Cross Cemetery, Calumet City. Barb also adored her cats Stella, Ruby and Maggie, a trio she would refer to as 'her primary recipe tasters.' In lieu of flowers, Barb's wishes are for donations to be made to any favorite charity, with funeral arrangements being led by Burns Funeral Home. One of Barb's most recent planned projects was a German recipe cookbook, a project which never came to be as she explained in her social media post in September 2022. 'The publishing industry has really taken a hit over the past 10 years,' Barb wrote. 'As reading materials increasingly become digitized and more reliance is placed on trends, the printed word, i.e., books and newspapers, is feeling the death knell. And, in its infinite wisdom, my publisher has decided to put a hold on my German baking book because computer data show it's 'not the right time.' Fifty of my recipes will disappear into the ether (contractually, I can't publish on my own even though they are my intellectual property), but I would like to share my recipe for German Black Forest cake with you. By the way, I still get paid, so I know you will be delighted to hear I'm crying all the way to the bank. The real pity of it is the phenomenal tasting experiences and touchstones to their omas (grandmas) so many people could have had. I can't let that happen.' One of Barb's prized Polish recipes is her kolaczki. 'There is some debate as to who invented kolaczki (plural for kolaczek),' Barb wrote in 2008. 'Poles claim it and call it 'kolachy,' but the Croatians claim it too, as do Czechs and others. Kolaczki can be round, square or diamond shaped, and the dough can be flaky or yeast-risen, and the spelling varies widely. My family always preferred the flaky kind made with a cream cheese dough, and apricot, raspberry, prune and sweet cheese were our fillings of choice. Nowadays, anything goes — almond, poppyseed, strawberry, blueberry, even pineapple. This is a great kids project.' 1 (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened 2 ounces (3 sticks) butter, softened 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 (14-ounce) cans fillings of choice (apricot, prune, raspberry, etc.) Confectioners' sugar Directions: Mix cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add flour 1 cup at a time and mix well. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough 1/4-inch on a surface that has been dusted with equal parts confectioners' and granulated sugars (not flour). Cut into 2-inch squares. Place 1/2 to 1 teaspoon filling on center of each square. Overlap opposite corners of dough to the center over filling. Bake for 15 minutes or when corners start to brown. Cool and dust with confectioners' sugar. These tend to become soggy if held for several days, so store them tightly covered (or freeze) without the confectioners' sugar. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
Newsroom
11-05-2025
- Newsroom
The bra-stealing rascals of Aquinas
In 1956 Aquinas students raided Knox College and stole the cutlery and cooking utensils before dumping them at Selwyn and Arana halls. The police were called and the culprits eventually confessed. James Ng, a resident from 1954 to 1958, described a recurring prank that involved fishing line to pull the chapel bell in the middle of the night; and in the winter of 1955 the students poured water on the flat roof to create a skating rink. Dominican Friar, Father Tom Fitzgerald, arrived at Aquinas in December 1957. He came to Dunedin to take over as superior at Aquinas and parish priest at Sacred Heart. He worked hard to create a spiritually uplifting atmosphere at Aquinas and to foster the hall's reputation as a 'house of study'. The residents were not always obliging He had little tolerance for disorderly behaviour. In conference with the dean of students and committee of the Students Association at the start of the 1958 academic year, he announced: 'Aquinas Hall is the property of the Dominican Fathers. Inmates of the Hall may do only those things which they are permitted to do by the owners of the Hall.' His warning fell on deaf ears. Just a few weeks later students from Aquinas raided Dominican Hall. Fitzgerald interviewed every member of the hall personally to find out who was responsible. He charged the Students' Committee with the bill for damage and wrote a furious letter to the ring leaders: 'Be good enough to present yourself at my office today, to show cause why [you] should not be dismissed from residence at Aquinas Hall, in view of the fact that, being responsible for the behaviour of students on the premises of Dominican Hall, 44 Park St, Dunedin on the 18th inst., you did allow them to enter by night the private apartments including bathrooms and dormitories, of the women proprietors and residents there, in the course of which entering, roof tiles and windows were broken, accessory soiling and inconvenience were caused, and later the building was exteriorly bespattered with mud, the ornamental pond was flooded, and metalwork and flower pots in the same were broken…' Really great photograph of Dominican Brother Martin Keogh wearing the traditional black scapular of a co-operator brother, taken from the newly published Preachers, Pastors, Prophets: The Dominican Friars of Aotearoa New Zealand by Susannah Grant * He was succeeded by Father Paul Jackson, dean of students at Aquinas from 1960 to 1975. Jackson, known variously as 'Jacko', set the tone. He ran the hostel with a light hand but was serious about study and spirituality and considered Aquinas 'a university community of scholars and Christian gentlemen'. The students at Aquinas enjoyed an active social life. The initiation of freshers usually involved early morning wake-ups; in 1968, freshmen were woken at 5:30am and mustered on the grass beside the chapel for a 'vigorous drill' of press-ups and knees-ups in their pyjamas. The day's initiation ended with a party in the television room. In 1970 the wake-up came at 4am. Freshers started the day 'very cold, very wet and very dirty, not the best time for a bath in flour and mud in the bush above the convent'. The students usually marked April Fools' Day, too. In 1966 they tied a goat to the chapel bell, which delivered a solitary mournful toll every time the animal reached the end of its tether. Aquinas entered some memorably shocking floats in the university capping processions. That of 1967 took the form of a church with a flaming cross and an effigy of Martin Luther King being hanged. The students dressed as Klu Klux Klansmen under a banner that read 'The Clueless Clots'. In 1969, despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that the police objected to and banned many of their signs, Aquinas won a prize for their float titled 'Piggy Muldoon Smothers Otago University'. Hostel raids were still common in the sixties. In 1964 the Dominican Hall girls penetrated as far as Jacko's bedroom, tossing confetti everywhere and pasting newspaper on the windows. The Aquinas boys stole bras from Dominican Hall and strung them up like flags. A month or two later, when the residents at Aquinas had let their guard down, the girls broke in and put molasses on the stair rails and black nugget on the toilet seats. * By the end of the 1970s Aquinas was in serious financial difficulty. In 1978 a Board of Governors was established to assist the Dominicans with the administration of Aquinas. They needed a radical plan to get the college out of debt. In August 1978 the board voted to accept female students for the coming year. But even with more students paying higher fees (up 20 percent from 1978) the college still struggled. Food and power costs had increased, and the college had to borrow more for urgent repairs. In February 1980, with support from the College Board of Governors, it was recommended that Aquinas be closed at the end of the first term. The existing debt combined with rising running costs was insurmountable. With support from Otago University Chancellor Jack Somerville and ex-Aquinas residents they managed to battle on until the end of the year, but on October 5, 1980 the college celebrated its last formal dinner. Within a few weeks exams were over and the college began to empty out. The house chronicle recorded 'emotional scenes as some of our lady students left today. Tears and hugs for our lucky members of the community who were home.' Aquinas was sold to the Elim Church, who sold it on to the university. In 1988 the university reopened a student hostel on the site under the name Dalmore House, and later restored the original name. At time of writing, Aquinas College houses 152 students; the chapel has become a gymnasium. A mildly abbreviated chapter taken from the newly published history Preachers, Pastors, Prophets: The Dominican Friars of Aotearoa New Zealand by Susannah Grant (Otago University Press, $60) is available in bookstores nationwide. As heirs to a spiritual tradition dating back to the early thirteenth century, the friars have served in New Zealand as university and hospital chaplains, parish priests, liturgists, itinerant retreat leaders and theologians. Although no longer involved in active ministry the New Zealand friars continue to fund and facilitate Aaiotanga – the Peace Place – a community space in downtown Auckland focused on peace and social justice issues.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Knox College names new provost, dean of faculty
Knox College has a new provost and dean of the faculty. Professor Melissa J. Glenn will join the college as provost and dean of the faculty on July 1 and will also be a tenured professor in the Department of Psychology. Glenn comes to Knox from Colby College, where she has served as the associate provost for academic programs since 2021 and as professor in the psychology department since 2007. She will be joined by her family, husband Owen and daughter Alexa, a sophomore at Smith College in Galesburg. 'Melissa's passion for liberal arts education and her dedication to the academic enterprise, whether as a faculty member or as an administrator, was evident from her first meeting with the Search Committee,' said Knox College President C. Andrew McGadney. 'Throughout her academic career, she has pursued excellence in teaching and research, while also developing an outstanding track record of leadership, innovation, and collaboration. Her dedication to student and faculty success and extensive experience supporting Colby's faculty, working across the college to tackle challenges and build new programs, and enduring commitment to student success make her an ideal choice to help make Knox an even better institution than it is today.' Glenn, a first-generation college student, received her bachelor of science degree in psychology from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1994 and her master's and doctorate degrees in experimental psychology from Concordia University in 1997 and 2003, respectively. Between 2003 and 2007, she held a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University, studying the neural and behavioral mechanisms mediating a lifelong enhancement in cognition. The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging. She joined the psychology department at Colby College in August 2007 and received tenure in 2014. She continued her study of brain and behavior at Colby, focusing on the role early life nutrition has on disease outcomes later in life, including depression, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. She established The Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, where she worked with undergraduate student researchers pursuing original research. She held several leadership roles as a faculty member, including chair of both the Department of Psychology and the Division of Social Sciences. She served on several college committees, including the Committee on Promotion and Tenure and the Faculty Steering Committee. During her time as associate provost, Glenn cultivated talented faculty who were passionate about student success and oversaw many areas and programs at Colby, including the college's curricular and academic mission, liberal arts advising, faculty committee elections, research assistant programs, faculty course evaluations, the January Plan exploratory program, including global experiences, and academic centers and labs. 'I have bumped and banged my way through the academy as a first-generation college student turned faculty member turned academic leader,' Glenn said during the interview process. 'I am unwavering in my commitment to excellence in all realms and am confident that my leadership style and extensive background in serving all areas of the college aligns with what Knox needs. I am honored to serve as Knox's next provost and eager to help shape the vision for the College's future.' Glenn will serve as chief academic officer at Knox, overseeing all academic affairs and operations of the college. She will direct long-range strategic planning, including implementing, reviewing and assessing academic programs; lead the recruitment and development of faculty; manage the academic affairs staff; coordinate and monitor all academic budgets; and ensure that the college meets or exceeds its educational mission and accreditation standards. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
