Portraits, memories will grace Mundelein

Faculty, retirees and family members honored the memory of two well-loved instructors Saturday with artwork that will grace Mundelein High School's community room and faculty workroom.

Both instructors, Joe Arrigo and Diane Venckus, died while they were employed as Mundelein High teachers. Arrigo, a social science instructor, died in September 1999, while Venckus, a special education instructor, died in August 2001.

"This is a nice way to remember them," said math teacher Lynn Dowell.

Texas artist Randall Johnson painted three murals, one depicting each teacher and a third of Mundelein, showing vignettes of the high school, library, Mundelein Days and the village sign. The high school is featured prominently in the center.

"The message is that the high school is at the center of the community," Dowell said.

Johnson previously had painted two large murals in the school's main lobby that have been well received, she said. Using canvas so that the murals could be moved, the artist pictured Arrigo in a bright red tie and Venckus in a striped blouse and blue jacket, both teaching.

Arrigo, 48, taught 23 years at the school and died of a heart attack. A class adviser, he was popular with students and teachers.

"We called him 'Uncle Joey'. He was the gel that kept us together," said longtime colleague Dianna Napolski.

Venckus, 60, also suffered a fatal heart attack. The Northbrook resident had taught at Mundelein since 1987. Before coming to the school, she was a teacher with the Special Education District of Lake County.

Venckus was a compassionate teacher who had a gift for dealing with teens with special needs, faculty member Margie McMillon said. "She was awesome with her students. She was always calm and had a dry sense of humor."

Napolski recalled an alumnus who had returned after 10 years to thank Venckus. "He paid her the ultimate compliment. She really touched the people she worked with," Napolski said.

The murals were the brainstorm of Interim Superintendent Linda Hanson, who also had served as the superintendent when Arrigo was teaching.

"A school is so much like a family. We truly do care about each other. The caring comes through today," Hanson said.

Family members came from as far as Florida and Colorado to attend the unveiling.

"This is wonderful to attend. It gives the family a very good feeling and some closure. We're honored to be here," said Mary Moore, Arrigo's sister.