Dr. Richard "Dick" A. Pacholski, born February 23, 1938 in Milwaukee, WI passed away on October 14, 2023 in Port Charlotte, FL with his family by his side.
Dick received his bachelor's degree from St. Francis Seminary and his master's degree from Marquette University (both Milwaukee, WI). He earned his PhD in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught at Marquette University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Millikin University (Decatur, IL).
During his 31 years as Millikin, Dick taught Shakespeare, Death and Dying, Literary Approaches to Death, Literature of the Holocaust, and others. He was named Warren F. Hardy Distinguished Professor of English in 1994 and Distinguished Faculty Lecturer at the 1994 Honors Convocation. Also in 1994, he was Millikin's Professor of the Year in a competition sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. In 2003, Dr. Pacholski was named to Millikin's Medallion Society, a group of 100 living alumni/faculty who have "had the greatest impact on the institution" during its first 100 years.
Dick loved photography, travel, music, and reading. He enjoyed quizzing his children (all eventual college English majors) about Shakespeare plays at the dinner table and welcoming Millikin students to his home for viewings/discussions of Shakespeare plays. He and his beloved "Duck" Phyllis traveled the world and treated their grandchildren to plays in Chicago and beach trips to Isle of Palms, SC and Boca Grande, FL. In his final days, he was blessed to spend time with his cherished great-grandchildren.
Dick requested no visitation or services. Memorials may be made to Millikin University Alumni & Development Office, 1184 W. Main St., Decatur, IL 62522.
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep." William Shakespeare. The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1.
To view the complete obituary, visit
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/herald-review/name/richard-pacholski-obituary?id=53398109
