by Emily Clott, Class of 2012
It’s always tough to say goodbye to a valued friend and colleague. Hard as it is to imagine Holmes without Watson or Batman without Robin, it’s even harder to imagine The Bridge without Diane Wagner. Yet say goodbye we must, as Diane retires at the end of December from the CAC, the Communications Committee, and from her work on The Bridge.
Diane is a trained clinical psychologist and worked for years in the public sector. Seeking a change of focus, her new work involved executive development, educational policy, and human resources. As Education Manager for the Legal Services Corporation, she designed and managed training programs for lawyers in ten states. Heading her own consulting firm and working for IBM are among her other career highlights.
After returning to Chicago in the early 1980s and taking a position at IBM on the Chicago River, Diane frequented Riccardo’s, a watering hole near IBM and the Tribune Tower, a hangout for Tribune staffers. There, in 1987, she met Tribune reporter Ron Grossman. From the start, she noted he possessed two of the three qualities she looked for in a companion: a lively, curious, mind and a sense of humor and fun. The third quality, playing a musical instrument, completed the wish list when Ron celebrated his 80th birthday by learning to play the harmonica.
Diane is a quiet person who works behind the scenes as copy editor of all the stories docents and volunteers submit for publication on The Bridge. She has a warm and gentle approach to her work, never critical or heavy handed. She became a docent in 2005, joining CAF after retiring from IBM. Although born and raised in Chicago, Diane was at loose ends and felt the need to rediscover her hometown. She met Polly Sippy, a CAF docent who encouraged her to apply to join the docent corps. Diane says that discovering CAF gave her something she couldn’t possibly have found alone: a community of like-minded, intelligent peers, and an ability to represent the city she loves.
Diane was certified to give the Modern, Historic, Intersections, and Reliance Building tours. While waiting in the docent library at 224 S. Michigan one day, she noticed a woman working with large sheets of printed paper and learned that the docent was editing the monthly gift shop newsletter. Turns out, the woman was retiring from her job, and was happy to accept Diane’s offer to help. Diane began taking on more work, including editing Lynn Osmond’s Annual Report to the Board of Directors and Jen Masengarb’s Skylines to Schoolyards textbook.
Brent Hoffman, editor of Docent News, the monthly print newsletter that preceded the Bridge, was retiring from editorial duties, which interested Diane. Learning Brent spent some 30 hours weekly at this work, she stepped back. Docent News started to transition from paper to digital in 2007-08. Leslie Clark Lewis took over the monthly Docent E-News and Docent Quarterly in 2011, and she and Diane have been working together ever since. They have become a truly dynamic duo!
Today, Diane revels in being a grandmother and great-grandmother. Husband Ron celebrated his 90th birthday last month, and still produces Vintage Chicago and Op-ed columns for the Chicago Tribune’s Sunday edition. Assisting with research, tech support, and spelling—Ron is a notoriously poor speller—has taken priority over CAC obligations.
We are so sad to see you go, Diane! Thanks for all you have done and enjoy some well-deserved time with your dear Ron. You will be sorely missed!
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Oh Diane! You will be missed. You’ve been my editor numerous times, and you always made the work better but never messed with the tone or content. That takes a special talent! I’ll miss our docent library conversations. Enjoy your well deserved retirement.
Diane, you will be missed. Hope to see you in the neighborhood!
The work you’ve done for the CAC, not too mention your career, is indeed impressive. I had no idea, given your modesty at Comm Comm meetings. Wishing you a fulfilling next chapter, and I hope you pop in once in a while to say “hi!”
Lovely feature on a lovely and talented colleague. Enjoy a well-earned rest, Diane.
Diane, thank you so much for all you have done for CAC and us docents! The articles on “The Bridge” are so important for keeping us informed and reminding us that we are part of a wonderful community here at CAC.
Pris
Diane, I will miss the comfort of your confident, steady, precise, yet nonintrusive editing. Bobbi has that exactly right. At least we will still benefit from your talents as we read Ron Grossman’s wonderful articles.
Bob P.
Diane
you’ve help with my publications. You’ll be missed certainly by all but especially by myself.
Tom
I will miss you, Diane. You edited a number of pieces that I wrote, always kindly and professionally, and made them better. I will miss our conversations when we used to cross paths in the old docent library. Enjoy your family and well deserved time off!
Jill T.
We will all miss your wonderful writing skills, but even more, we will miss you as a friend.
Thank you for your years of delightful contributions. I’m sad to see you step aside, but retirement is well deserved. Enjoy!
Diane,
While everyone will miss you, I will miss you more than most. Your encouragement and gentle massage of my articles has made me want to search out stories that I want to tell. I will miss your enthusiastic greetings. Happy Trails!