Dr. Mead

Donald T. Mead, age 90 passed away on Friday, July 20, 2012 at Faith Living Center in Sun Prairie. He resided at the Lighthouse Retirement Home in Sun Prairie for the past 9years.
Dr. Mead was born in Mattoon, Illinois on December 9, 1921. He was the son on Thomas and Clara Mead, but was raised on the farm of Grandparents Elizabeth and John Mead. He attended Oak Grove grade school in Matton and graduated from TC High School in Charleston, Illinois. He then went on to Eastern Illinois University where he was the co-editor of the college prize-winning newspaper and was a member of the Phi Sigma Epsilon social fraternity. Don graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1945.
He taught business education and coached the basketball team at Tower Hill High School in Tower Hill, Illinois and then resigned to complete his master's degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, Champaign. From there he served three years as superintendent of Schools in the Town of St. Mary's , Missouri located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains.
After the death of his grandparents, he taught for a short while at St. Anne High School in St. Anne, Illinois and in 1950 he moved to Kankakee, Illinois. He was the Director of MacCormack College until the school was sold in 1967.
Don studied for his doctorate degree at Manteno State Hospital in a special program for Clinical Psychology. This program was coordinated by Southern Illinois University Medical School; University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin. There were many lectures by the famous Dr. Carl Rogers during his period of study.
In 1959 he was chosen as clinical psychologist for Lake County Sanatorium Chest Diseases. The program was under the administration of the nationally famous chest specialist, Dr. Charles K. Petter and surgeon Kenneth Morris (both of the Mayo Clinic). He served 20 years at his position along with private practice in Chicago with the hospital resident surgeon, Dr. Emmanuel S. Anawis.
Don married Patti Sue Morris and they had a son, James, who died shortly after birth. The losses of the two important people in his life, caused Don to resign from the Medical Hospital and purchase the Waukegan Business College. After ten years as President of this private college located on a main street in downtown Waukegan, health problems became quite demanding and created a need for a change.
In 1976, he received a phone call from President Otto Madden with an invitation to join the Madison Business College. Don joined the staff and taught psychology from 1976-1990. In 1990 Don retired to spend his remaining years with his loving dogs. Don had eleven wonderful St. Bernard's and Golden Retrievers in his lifetime.
Don was a member of the Rotary Club in Kankakee, Waukegan, Illinois; Chamber of Commerce; Madison South Coalition for Elderly; Delta Pi epsilon honorary fraternity; Knights of Columbus; National Rehabilitation Association; Wisconsin Rehabilitation Association at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.
He is survived by his work colleagues and many friends. Don is preceded in death by his son, James, parents, grandparents and brothers Tom Mead and Bill Mead; cousins Jack Hennessey, Mary Hennessey and Dick Hennessey.
A Mass of Christian of Burial will be held at ST. PETER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., on Wednesday, July 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Roger Nilles officiating. A visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. Burial will be held at Sun Prairie Memory Gardens, Wednesday following service at 12:30 pm.