Claude Joseph Ehrenberg Jr. ’52

Joe Ehrenberg died of congestive heart failure in St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago, on May 31, 1995. Friends and colleagues celebrated his life at the Chicago City Theatre Co., which he cofounded in 1973. His ashes were scattered over Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, where he was born.

Joe found his niche in the performing arts, as actor, teacher, and producer. An honors graduate in English, he was active in the Glee Club, the Chapel Choir, Theatre Intime, and Triangle Show. While a doctoral candidate at the universities of Minnesota and Chicago, he was always drawn to new projects. After managing the FM radio station in Minneapolis, and directing the first national training programs for hardcore unemployed youth, he cofounded the Chicago City Theatre and the Joel Hill Dancers. The company mounted 30 productions of classic plays, and the jazz ballet group had 10 European tours. In acting, his first love, Joe gave more than 100 performances of his oneman show based on Carl Sandburg's The People, Yes.

In our 40th book, he noted the wonder of spending five minutes in the presence of Albert Einstein in MurrayDodge, when the Rabbi thought that Joe was Jewish.

Joe is survived by his mother, Mona, a brother Lyle, a sister Jane Glaser, and his partner in life, Joel Hall. We offer them our deepest sympathies.

The Class of 1952