Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 27

MC NW SW Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, May 23, 2000 Section 2 9 Prolific, versatile John Gielgud, 96; won Oscar in role as 'Arthur' butler By Richard Christiansen TRIBUNE CHIEF CRITIC John Gielgud was the last, and the most durable, of the three great English actors whose work defined an era and whose careers in theater, film and television made them classic and popular performers of international fame. Along with his two contemporaries, Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson, he epitomized high style in the production of classic and contemporary theater; late in his career, his Academy Award-winning role as the endearingly butler in the 1981 film comedy "Arthur" gave him mass appeal as well. "His life," said Sheridan Morley, Mr. Gielgud's official biographer, "was exactly the history of British theater in the last century." Mr. Gielgud, born in London and a working a actor well into his 90s, died Sunday in his country home near Aylesbury, northwest of London.

He was 96. His career spanned eight decades and every performing arts medium. A great Shakespearean actor, he also directed and starred in many contemporary dramas. Besides "Arthur," his film work ranged from Shakespeare to Agatha Christie on the Orient On stage and film, most notably in the 1955 movie "Richard III," he was sometimes joined by those two other titans of English theater, Olivier and Richardson, who died in 1989 and 1983, respectively. Short and wiry, Mr.

Gielgud did not have the matinee-idol looks that made Olivier a Hollywood star in "Wuthering nor did he possess the physical presence of Richardson in his character acting in such films as "Dr. Zhivago" and "Long Day's Journey into Night." But he did have a golden voice, an aura of innate nobility and, delightfully, an elfin sense of humor. He began his life in the theater with an appearance as a herald in a 1921 production of "Henry in London. He had only one line in the performance, but as the years went by, his magnificently mellifluous stage voice was heard in most ofthe major Shakespeare plays, from "Hamlet" and "Macbeth" to "The Tempest" and "King Lear." He had set out to be a stage designer, he once said, but went into acting "only to please my parents." A scholarship to London's Royal A- cademy of Dramatic Art sent him on his way. In 1929, at 25, he played SHIGLEY Catherine M.

Shigley, nee Buedel, beloved wife of the late Francis: loving mother of Francis (Elizabeth) Shigley Jr. and Elaine C. Shigley: dearest grandmother of Francis M. (Ann) Shigley Ill: dear sister of the late Dorothy M. (the late John) Dundas and the late Fred (the late Elizabeth) Buedel; devoted aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Member of N.A.R.F., the Sacred Heart A.C.C.W., and former grandmother's club. Funeral 10201 S. Roberts Rd. Palos Hills. to Thursday 9.30 a.m.

from Hills Funeral Home, Sacred Heart Church. Mass 10 a.m. Entombment St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation Wednesday 3 p.m.

until 9 p.m. Donations to Maryknoll Missionaries. 3600 S. Seeley. IL 60609 and Catholic Relief Services, Archdiocese of Chicago.

151 E. Superior, P.O. Box 1979, Chicago, IL. 60611 would be appreciated. Info: 708-598-5880.

SHORTLIDGE Shortlidge, loving Thomas A. (Carole) and Neil R. beloved grandmother of A. Adam C. and Erin E.

Shortlidge, of Linn G. (late Joseph) Cannon and Robert (Doris) Gravdahl. Active choir various Lutheran Churches. Former assistant at Lester B. Knight.

Service 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Lutheran Church, 616 Lake Street, Interment private. In lieu of flowers. made to Hospice of the North Shore, Street, Evanston. IL 60201, in her appreciated.

Arrangements by Wm. H. Home. 847-251-8200 Gravdahl of Evanston, Olga mother of (Renee); (Tony) Juvinall, dear sister the late member at administrative Memorial Immanuel Evanston. memorials 2821 Central name are Scott Funeral SIMMONS Harold J.

Simmons III, 59, o1 Redondo Beach, CA, formerly of Northbrook and Naperville, IL, died May 18. 2000 following a courageous 3 year battle with kidney cancer. Beloved husband to Diana; loving father to Harold J. (Kathrin) Simmons IV of Long Beach, CA, Eileen (James) Hansen of Libertyville, IL, Cynthia (Alex) Barkalow of FL, and Maureen (Paul) Santi of Libertyville, IL; dear grandfather of Phillip and Patrick Santi and J. Joseph Simmons also survived by his mother, Lillian of Tarpon Springs, FL; brother, Charles (Peggy) of CA; sister, Suzanne (Frank) of NJ: one niece and three nephews.

He lived in Northbrook, IL for several years where he served on the Northbrook Civic and later lived in Naperville, IL where he had his own manufacturers representative agency. H. Simmons Company. For the past 20 years, he worked for the U.S. Subsidiary of Rothenberger Werkzeuge AG of Frankfurt, Germany, and held the position of Chairman of the Board and CEO of Rothenberger USA, in Monterey Park, CA.

Final interment will be at Cycadia Cemetery Mausoleum in Tarpon Springs, FL on Thursday, May 25, 2000 under the direction of Dobies Funeral Homes, 727-937-7555. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the UCLA Kidney Cancer Program in Los Angeles, CA, 310-825-5788. SLATTERY Patricia Slattery, devoted daughter of Marie and the late loving sister of John J. Il (Cecile), James M. (Joyce); dear aunt of John J.

Ill. Michael Katherine and Kellie. Visitation Wednesday, 3 to 8 p.m. at Peterson Funeral Home, 6938 W. North Ave.

Funeral Mass Thursday, 10:30 at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, Lathrop and North River Forest (please meet at Church). Interment Queen of Heaven. In lieu of flowers, contributions to your favorite charity appreciated. 773-637-4441 or 708-848-6661 William H.

Smith May 22, age 78. late of Hazel Crest, dearest husband and friend of Helen Jean Smith, nee Clancy: loving Daddy of Joanne S. (Police Chief Peter Fee of HazelCrest, also the late William H. Smith most loved Papa of Joanna Frances Fee, William H. (Marcy) Smith Ill, Brian and Kevin Smith; fond brother of Thomas (Dolores) Smith of Chicago and the late Frank J.

(Loretta) Smith of Crestwood. Member of the 303rd Bomb Group of the 8th U.S. Army Air Corps. and received the distinguished Flying Cross and the air medal for service in WWII. Resting at the Tews Funeral Home, 18230 S.

Dixie Hwy, Homewood Wednesday from Funeral Thursday to Infant Jesus of Prague Church, Mass 10 a.m. Entombment Private. Memorials to The American Cancer Society or the Salvation Army would be appreciated. 708-798-5300 or www.legacy.com To place your Fraternal Notice, Call: (312) 222-2222 Commitment to you John Gielgud in 1995 his first "Hamlet," a role he would repeat more than 500 times in several productions. For many theater buffs, Mr.

Gielgud's role in popularizing Shakespeare's plays was crucial. "One of the reasons I fell in love with Shakespeare," said Barbara Gaines, artistic director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, "was that I listened to Gielgud's recordings of the plays." "The Ages of Man," his one-man recital of readings from the canon, was a hit in London and on tour in the 1950s and '60s and became a best-selling record. He was not limited to the classics, however. As the English theater changed from the suave boulevard comedies and romantic dramas of his youth to the grittier, more realistic works of post-World War II England, so did Mr. Gielgud.

He appeared with distinction in plays by Alan Bennett Years David Storey and Harold Pinter, appearing opposite his old friend Richardson as a seedy, downat-the-heels poet in Pinter's 1975 "No Man's Land." Nor were his skills confined to London theater. He took many of his London successes to New York, and, although he later said he didn't understand the play at all, he starred in the first production of Edward Albee's "Tiny Alice" on Broadway in 1964. That same year, he directed Richard Burton in "Hamlet" in a production famous for being staged at the peak of Burton's turbulent romance with Elizabeth Taylor. His film work began in the silent era, but with the advent of sound, he was able to use that superbly husky voice in such English talkies as Alfred Hitchcock's 1936 "Secret SORENSEN SORENSEN Margaret Sorensen, nee Mueller, age 94, at Peace with Christ May 21, 2000. beloved wife of the late Holger Sorensen and the late Emil G.

Giese dear mother of Emil George (Bernadette) Giese, Eleanor Reitz and the late Robert Giese: fun loving grandma of 51 (15 grandchildren. 31 great- and six great-greatgrandchildren): loving daughter of the late Anton and Catherine Mueller: dear sister of the late Edward. Catherine, Lawrence, Nicholas and George Mueller; fond aunt and friend to many. Retired employee of Norwegian American Hospital where she worked in the admitting office for 26 years. A resident of Friendship Village of Schaumburg since 1992.

Funeral Thursday 10 a.m. from Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N. Cicero to St. Gregory Church, 1634 W. Gregory St.

Interment Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation Wednesday 3 to 9 p.m. Kindly omit flowers, memorials to Misericordia Heart of Mercy, 6300 N. Ridge Chicago, IL 60660 would be appreciated. 773-736-3833 SORENSEN Patricia A.

Sorensen, age 68, of Glen Ellyn, loving wife of Richard; beloved mother of Paul (Teresa), Sandra and David (Diane); cherished grandmother of Elizabeth and Thomas. Visitation Tuesday 4 to 8 p.m. at Leonard Memorial Home, 565 Duane Glen Ellyn. Funeral Service Wednesday 10 a.m. at The First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn, Forest and Anthony Streets.

Interment Mount Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst. Contributions to the American Cancer Society (Breast Cancer Research). 999 N. Main Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. Info.

630-469-0032 SOVCIK Eileen D. Sovcik, nee O'Brien. of Hanover Park, beloved wife of Bob loving mother of Robert Jr. (Christine) and Peggy (David) Cichon; cherished grandmother of Lynsey, Sarah, Steven, Kelly and Stephanie; dear sister of Betty, Kathleen, Geraldine and the late Rose; many nieces and nephews. Visitation Wednesday 3 to 9 p.m.

at Countryside Funeral Home, 1640 Greenmeadows Blvd. (at Barrington Funeral Services Thursday 11 a.m. Interment Our Lady of Sorrows. or www.legacy.com STEMPIEN Irene L. Stempien, nee Kowalski, wife of the late Anthony: loving sister of Isadore, George (Audrey), Clementine (late Henry) Smentek, Richard (Veronika) and the late Milton dear aunt of many nieces and nephews Funeral Thursday, May 25, 2000, at 9:30 a.m., from Poterek Funeral Home, 5253 W.

Fullerton near Lockwood. to St. Stanislaus Church. Mass 10 a.m. Interment St.

Adalbert Cemetery, Visitation Wednesday, May 3 to 9 p.m. 773-237-6400. STOEWSAND Richard J. Stoewsand, loving brother of Bernice Melberg, Elaine Schellenberger and Edwin (Jane): fond uncle: and great-uncle of many nieces and nephews. Funeral Service Thursday, May 25, 2000.

12 p.m. at Matz Funeral Home, 3440 N. Central. Interment Concordia Cemetery Visitation Wednesday, 3 to 9 p.m. 773-545-5420 SUBEIKA Anne "Nan" Subeika, nee McGivney, beloved wife of Bill Subeika; loving mother of Mary Anne (Sam) Shapiro; cherished grandmother of Bill, Steve and Tracy, dear sister of Mary (the late George) Jacob, Pat (Alice), the late Andy (Dot), Jim (the late Sis).

Tom (the late Rita), and Bob McGivney; fond aunt of many nieces and nephews. Visitation Wednesday 3 to 9 p.m. Funeral Thursday 10 a.m. from the Andrew J. McGann Son Funeral Home, 10727 S.

Pulaski Rd to St. Thomas More Church for mass at 11 a.m. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. 773-ST3-7700 or 708-423-5400 SULKIN William Sulkin, beloved husband of Kathryn, nee Stone. and the late Blanche, nee Fisher; loving father of Ronna (David) Mustain.

Linda (Robert) Danielson. Robert (Alayne), Michael (Betsi), James (Meg) and Judy (Rick) Jarvi: cherished grandfather of Jon. Jim, Sara, Matt. Bob. Tom, to Ari.

Eli. Jimmy, Mark, Steven and Julie; devoted stepfather of David Lottich, Marilyn Lottich, Sandra Lottich (John) Chevola, Alan Lottich, Mark (Mary) and Brian (Estrella) Lottich and stepgrandfather of Matthew, Melissa and Derrick: dear brother of Gertrude (William) Goldberg and Pearl Chamlin. Memorial Service Wednesday 6 p.m. at The Piser Chapel, 9200 N. Skokie Blvd.

(at Church Street), Skokie. In lieu of flowers. donations in his memory may be made to Multiple Myeloma Research Dr. Ann Traynor, Robert Lurie Cancer Center. Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

251 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611 For info. 847-679-4740 SUNAHARA Kay Sunahara, beloved husband of Tomoe: dear father of Keith (Janice) Sunahara: fond grandfather of Sarah; brother of Hatsuko Miura and Kikue Imura of Sacramento; dear uncle to many nieces and nephews. Memorial visitation Thursday 4 p.m. until a Memorial Service 7 p.m.

at Lake View Funeral Home. 1458 W. Belmont, Chicago. 773-472-6300 Agent." He did not grab handsome leading man roles but was outstanding as Cassius in the 1953 "Julius Caesar" in which he helped guide co-star Marlon Brando through the rigors of Shakespearean verse, and in his Oscar nated role as King Louis VII of France in "Becket" in 1964. The astounding movie success of "Arthur" surprised him, he said.

turned it down a couple of times," he admitted. "I thought was rather smutty, rather common." Nevertheless, Mr. Gielgud nailed the role of Hobson, the butler, perfectly. Dry and mordant, he was a great counterbalance to Dudley Moore's rascally performance in the title role. When Arthur, a drunken young millionaire, informs Hobson that he is going to take a bath, nobody but Mr.

Gielgud could have given such a hilariously droll twist to Hobson's response: "I shall alert the press." Mr. Gielgud, great-nephew of noted Victorian actress Ellen Terry, was "theatrically englamored by my family," he wrote in his memoir of "An Actor and His Time." He sealed his status as a theater aristocrat in 1953, when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Along with his Oscar, he owned a Tony for direction of the play "Big Fish, Little Fish" in 1961, and an Emmy for his performance in the '91 PBS drama "Summer's Lease." Beloved by professionals, Mr. Gielgud was an inveterate theatergoer and an indefatigable conversationalist, wittily spinning out anecdotes from his career in interviews and in several volumes of autobiography, which began in 1939 with "Early Stages" and ended in 1989 with "Backward Glances." Although he ended his stage career in 1988 with Hugh Whitemore's "The Best of Friends," Mr. Gielgud continued to work extensively in film and television.

In 1991, at 87, he starred in the movie "Prospero's Books," director Peter Greenaway's adaptation of "The as recently as 1998, with the historical film "Elizabeth," he made cameo appearances. In television, he scored a popular success as Jeremy Irons' eccentric father in the 1981 miniseries "Brideshead Revisited." It was an extraordinary career. Trevor Nunn, artistic director London's Royal National Theatre, where Mr. Gielgud often had worked, summed it up neatly: "As Shakespeare said, 'There's a great spirit TRELFORD John C. Trelford, 68.

of Niles, loving husband Thelma; cherished father of Kevin, Kim, Kelly. Karrie, Keith and Kristy; grandfather of 10; great-grandfather of one: and many nieces and nephews. Friends may call Wednesday, May 24, 4 to 9 p.m., at the Symonds Lakes Funeral Home, 111 W. Belvidere Grayslake, with interment to follow at a later date at Abraham National Cemetery. For further info 847-543-1080.

UENO James M. Ueno, 78, dear father of Malli Moran, Emi Kelsey, Rumi Ueno and Miki Ingraffia; fond grandfather of eight. Memorial Service pending. For info call 847-251-1678. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 30 North Michigan Chicago, IL 60602 UNGER Dorothy H.

Unger, nee Holberg. 79, devoted wife of Lloyd loving mother of Lloyd (Nancy), John (Janna), Margaret (Rich) Leabru, Jean (Tom) tine and Sarah Baugh; dear sister of the late Leesa Unger, Elizabeth and Mary Leabru, ChrisBaugh and the late Elizabeth Unger; dearest a grandmother of Kevin. Kimberly, Robert and Frank Holberg. Family and friends to gather at Ivins Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington Riverside, Wednesday from 9:30 a.m.

until 10:45 a.m. for Prayers. Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 126 Herrick Riverside.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Riverside Public Library. 708-447-2261 USTER Glenn W. Uster, 81, of Elmhurst, beloved husband of Ethel fond father of Susan Christon; grandfather of Glenn (Kerry) Christon and Paul (Valerie) Christon; great-grandfather of Connor and Cole Christon; brother of Alma Goodell. Blanche Sanders, Colleen Erickson and the late Ruth Smith, Raymond and Robert Uster. Visitation at The Ahlgrim Funeral Home, 567 S.

Spring Elmhurst, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday. Services 10 a.m.. Thursday, May 25th. Interment Arlington Cemetery.

Info. 630-834-3515 WILSON Harry Melbourne Wilson, age 78, of Reedsburg, WI, former longtime resident of LaGrange, IL, died on Sunday, May 21, 2000 at his home. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Leah of Reedsburg: children, Jeffrey (Janet) Wilson of Winnetka, IL. Lynne Wilson of Phoenix, AZ. Melanie Wilson of Reedsburg and Scott (Patricia) Wilson of Atlanta.

GA: grandchildren, Anne, Jennifer, Marcus, Andrew, Timothy, Lia. Kathleen and Thomas; brother, Dale (Helen) Wilson of San Diego, CA; nephew, Roger Wilson of Glendale. CA: close friend. Leon Kosiec of Reedsburg. Harry had a wide circle of friends whom he valued greatly.

Funeral Service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2000 at the Farber Funeral Home in Reedsburg, WI, with Rev. Raymond Harms officiating. Friends may call on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of Service at the funeral home.

Memorials of remembrance may be made to the American Diabetes Association, in lieu of flowers. WINKLER Georgia Winkler, nee Basile, beloved wife of the late Joseph; dear mother of Deborah WinklerWeller, Susan (Scot) Winkler-Orsic and Joann Winkler; grandmother of Corey, Nicholas and Natalie; sister of David (Joyce) Basile. In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations to St. Thomas Hospice of Hinsdale. Funeral Service Wednesday 11 a.m.

at Lack Sons Funeral Home, 9236 S. Roberts Rd. Hickory Hills. Interment Chapel Hill Gardens South. Visitation Tuesday 4 to 9 p.m.

708-430-5700 Remember loved ones with an In Memoriam ad. To place your ad, Call (312) 222-2222 Joel Wm. Weinstein Robert Sheck For four generations over 108 years the Weinstein family has provided funeral services to Chicagoland's Jewish community. Dedicated to service, responsive to your needs and Mark Weinstein continuing a time-honored family tradition Weinstein is a valued part of the life cycle. Irwin Goldman WEINSTEIN Family Services Weinstein Brothers Memorial Chapels Robert A.

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and best friend to Thomas. He was born (An in Chicago on September 17th Funeral service Saturday. mo 10 1600 Grove elle a.m at Maple Park Funeral Home, gre tion Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. at St. Jude's Church, 1478 Locust and Public bunal service in lieu of flowers, send memorials to and Maple Park Funeral Home, Sebastian 1600 p.m Grove.

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