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29 July 2016 - I regret to inform you of the death earlier today of Marci Hermanson,  wife of Cliff ("Maj") Hermanson. Marci was 84 and had suffered a broken hip during a recent fall. In addition to Maj, she is survived by five of her six children (Bob, Julie, Tom, Mike, and Mary), and by 13 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kate Liberio. The wake will be on Sunday 7 August at Lauterburg-Oehler Funeral Home in Arlington  Heights, IL, and a funeral mass will be said at St. Cecilia's Parish in Mt Prospect on Monday 8 August, which would have been Marci & Maj's 63rd wedding anniversary.

6 Feb 2015 - I regret to inform you of the recent death of our cousin, Fred Heidemann, in Florida. Fred was 85 had suffered from cancer for some time. He is survived by his wife, Gloria, and sons Fred IV (Marie) and Dave (Jennifer). Fred was a retired sergeant for the Chicago Police Department. Services will be private, and Fred's ashes will be scattered in the Gulf of Mexico.

1 Oct 2014 - I am pleased to pass along the news that our cousin, Brittany Heidemann, is engaged to be married to Alex "AC" Zukoski. Wedding plans are underway. Brittany is the daughter of Patrick and Liz Heidemann, and the granddaughter of Paul and the late Pauline Heidemann.

26 July 2014 - The 2014 Reunion is history! Go to the Reunion News page for more details.

3 July 2014 - I regret to inform you of the death in Florida on 29 June 2014 of our cousin, Steve DeChant. Steve was 61 and had recently returned from visits to Tahiti and Austria with his wife, Genny. Steve was the youngest son of Dorothy Marie Dore and William Balthasar DeChant. Steve was a retired corporate pilot and had business interests around the world.

11 Feb 2014 - The Reunion Planning Committee announces logistic arrangements for the 2014 Dore Family Reunion on 25-26-27 July 2014 in Mundelein IL. Please visit the Reunion News page for more details.

24 May 2013 - Bob Hermanson and wife Ellen Duff had lunch in Chicago with Ed and Sharon Dore from Hamilton, Ontario. Ed, a dentist, and Sharon, a PhD nurse, are long-time genealogical researchers, and have done extensive work on the Dore clan of Ballybunion. They passed along their learnings regarding our ancestor, Cornelius Dore, and I have incorporated that information into the Family History page. Ed believes he is related to our family, but has been unable as yet to prove it.

7 March 2013 - I regret to inform you of the sudden death on 9 February of our cousin, Justin Dore, in Colorado Springs. Justin was 29, and leaves behind his wife, Amber, and daughter Kiara, 2. Justin was the son of Brady Dore and Terri Gilman.

30 July 12 - I regret to inform you of the death on 21 July of our cousin, Frank P. Venturini, widower of the late Betty Dore Venturini. Frank was 89 and had suffered from kidney failure. He leaves behind their son Ronald (Debbie) and daughter Joanne (Michael) O'Donnell, his brother Herman (Joann), and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. The wake was held on 25 July in Mt Prospect, and the funeral was held on 26 July at St. Emily, also in Mt Prospect. Frank was a WWII veteran and a long-time member of the American Legion.

30 June 12 - I regret to inform you of the death on 18 May 2012 of our cousin, Michael Cornelius Dore, son of Lou and Bob Dore. Mike was 57 and leaves behind his wife DiAnna, mother Lou, sister Megan, brothers Matt, Mark, and Neil, and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.. Services were held near his home in Hollywood Beach FL in May, and a memorial was held on 16 June in Flossmoor IL

4 July 09 - I regret to inform you of the death of our cousin, Elizabeth "Betty" Mary Dore Venturini. Betty was 83 and had been in ill health for some time. She is survived by her husband, Frank, son Ronald (Debby), daughter Joanne (Michael) O'Donnell, and sister, Jeanne Dore Johnson, along with several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Betty and Frank had resided in Arlington Heights IL for the past several years. Betty will be waked on Weds 8 July from 3pm to 9pm at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arl Hgts (847-253-0168). Services will continue with prayers at 8:45am Thursday 9 July at the funeral home, then Mass will be celebrated Thursday 9:30am at Our Lady of the Wayside Church, 440 S. Mitchell Ave., Arl Hgts.

7 June 09 - A large number of family were present at Rev. Tom Dore's retirement party at the White Eagle Restaurant in Niles, IL,  hosted by the members of the six parishes he worked at over the course of his 48-year career. Sighted were: Jeanne Dore Johnson, Maj & Marci Hermanson, Sharon Mertes, Alanna Dore Johnson, Dan Delanty, Paul Delanty, Steve Delanty, Lou Dore, Paul Heidemann, Steve & Gennie DeChant, Judy (Hermanson) & Mike Dearham. 4th generation faces included: Brian Mertes, Farrol Mertes, Dave Heidemann, Fred & Marie Heidemann, Julie Hermanson, Vince Liberio, Bob Hermanson & Ellen Duff, Mark Dore, Neil Dore, and Matt & Judy Dore. A few from the 5th generation were there as well: Peter and Paige Dore, Vince, Matt, and Claire Liberio.

24 May 09 - I regret to inform you of the death of our cousin, Kate Liberio, in Schaumburg IL. She is the daughter of Maj and Marci Hermanson, and leaves behind her husband Vince, sons Vince (10) and Matthew (8), and daughter Claire (6). Kate was 46, and had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January. The wake was held 27 May, and Rev. Tom Dore celebrated funeral Mass on 28 May. Kate is buried at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, IL.

13 May 09 - Arrangements have been set for Rev. Tom Dore's retirement party on Sunday 7 June 2009 between 1pm and 5pm at the White Eagle Restaurant in Niles, IL. Click here for more information, or contact Alanna Dore Johnson at shamrock2 (at) frontiernet (dot) net.

4 January 09 - I very much regret reporting the death today of our cousin, Don Hermanson, from cancer. Don was a life-long resident of Rogers Park, and that rarest of breeds, a literate cab driver. He is survived by his sister Judy, brother Cliff, brother-in-law Mike Dearham, sister-in-law Marci Hermanson, sister-in-law Mary (Huppert) Hermanson, and 13 nieces and nephews. Don was 74 and had been battling cancer for over a year. Arrangements are pending. You can read his Chicago Tribune obituary here.

25 Dec 08 - HOLD THE DATE! The 48-year priesthood of Rev. Tom Dore will be celebrated at a retirement gala in his honor on Sunday 7 Jun 09. More details to follow.

3 July 08 - The Reunion is completed! About 60 family members spent parts of 5 days in beautiful weather in the Rockies enjoying each other and exploring the area. More to come as time permits.

26 June 08 - The Reunion is two days away. For last-minute information and changes, contact Julie Hermanson at dore-reunion (at) comcast (dot) net.

2 May 08 - With mixed joy and sadness, the family of our cousin Philip Heidemann watched as he was posthumously awarded his Master's Degree in Biological Science from Florida Atlantic University. The diploma was accepted by Phil's father Paul Heidemann and Phil's longtime partner Pia Christensen. After the ceremony, the family scattered Phil's ashes over the Everglades he hiked, boated, and flew over as he studied the nesting habits of wading birds.

27 Mar 08 - A Chicago television station picked up the story that Maj and Marci Hermanson planned to participate in their third "Bike the Drive," an annual bike ride up and down Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. WLS-TV accurately noted they would perhaps be the oldest couple to ride that day, so they figured they were "Someone You Should Know" and filmed a short feature about them. Watch the local news clip here (you may have to scroll through the clips to find the correct one).

13 Mar 08 - I very much regret to report the death of our cousin Philip Michael Heidemann, the son of Paul and the late Pauline Heidemann, in a school-related small-plane crash today in western Martin County, FL, near Lake Okeechobee. Phil was on a research trip as a master's degree candidate at Florida Atlantic University, where he was investigating wood storks and white ibis. An archive of articles about the incident can be found here.  He is survived by his father, brother Patrick (Liz), sisters Phyllis (Tim Banks) and Pam (Todd Albanese), and eight nieces. Phil would have turned 44 on 31 March.

10 Feb 08 - I very much regret reporting the death of Travis R. Godbehere, husband of our cousin Glennys. Travis had just turned 79.

22 Jan 08 - I'm pleased to report the birth of the newest Dore, Alexandra Rose Cline, at 11am on Thursday 17 Jan 08, to Mary (Hermanson, daughter of Cliff and Marci Hermanson) and Jason Cline. This makes 13 grandchildren for Maj & Marci Hermanson. All are excited, including big sister Natalie.

11 Jan 08 - Our cousin Paul Heidemann was accepted by the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity as an "affiliate" of the Congregation, also known as the Vincentians. This honor was given at the General Curia of the Congregation in Rome on May 18, 2007, and awarded at St. Louis in September. Paul now shares in the many spiritual blessings, prayers and good works of the Vincentian Spiritual Family.

3 Jan 08 - REUNION NEWS: You should have received an email from Julie Hermanson invoicing you for room and meal charges for the reunion. Please send a check to Julie by 4 January 08. Contact Julie if you have not been invoiced and are planning to attend.

2 Dec 07 - REUNION NEWS: Information about the next reunion has been posted at this site. Click on the "Reunion News" link at left to view. Checks for rooms and meals are due by 4 January 08.

28 Oct 07 - I regret to report the death of our cousin, Dorothy Dore DeChant Russell, 86, at her home in Drummond, Wisconsin. Funeral services were held on 2 Nov at St. Ann's in Cable WI, and she was buried at Drummond Cemetery.

26 Aug 07 - Our cousin Brian Mertes and his wife Melissa Keivman (along with their daughter Tria Leal) are featured in a charming New York Times article which is half about their 200-year-old house on Lake Lucille in New City, NY, and half about their custom of annually turning their neighborhood into a Chekhov workshop. (Note: registration may be required to view the article.)

16 Dec 06 - Cliff & Marci Hermanson celebrated their combined 155th birthday at a party in Mt. Prospect.  In addition to their children and grandchildren, attendees included Rev. Tom Dore, Marci's sister Frances Lyons of Atlanta and brother Walter "Mike" Smith of Denver, and a half-dozen of Cliff & Marci's childhood friends from Evanston and Rogers Park.

1 Dec 06 - REUNION NEWS: The ad-hoc reunion committee placed a deposit on 37 rooms at the YMCA of the Rockies for the dates 28 June - 2 July 2008.

16 Apr 06 - Bob Hermanson reports he has moved to a townhouse in Chicago located about 200 feet from 1120 W Adams St., the location of the greystone building where James and Mary Dore lived in 1910.

25 Dec 05 - Rev. Tom Dore was appointed by Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, to a third  6-year term as pastor of St. Giles parish in Oak Park, IL. As he has already served 12 years as pastor, the third term is considered a distinction.

2 Dec 05 - REUNION NEWS: The ad-hoc reunion committee (Cliff & Marci Hermanson, Rev. Tom Dore, Alana Dore Johnson, Steve and Barbara Delanty, Bob Hermanson & Ellen Duff, and Julie Hermanson)  met at Steve and Barbara Delanty's home in Evanston IL to rough out ideas for the next reunion. Pending input from the family, the committee recommends that the next reunion be held in Summer of 2008. Probable location is the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO.

30 Sept 05 - I regret to report the death of our cousin, Leal Anne Mertes, after a decade-long fight with breast cancer. She is survived by her husband, Jim Wells, and son, Zachary, as well as dozens of Dore cousins. She was a Professor of Geology at UC Santa Barbara, where she specialized in wetlands and floodplains of large river systems. Read a colleague's tribute to Leal here.

© 2008-2015 Bob Hermanson - webmaster@dorefamily.org