Ingrid Graf 1969 - 2009

Ingrid Susan Graf, a remarkably bright and engaging young woman, much loved by friends and family, died on March 29th at the age of 40.

A graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep and Oberlin College, Ingrid continued her pursuit of useful knowledge by completing two masters degrees: Masters of Social Work at Loyola University, and an M.B.A. at the University of Illinois. Ingrid applied her great intellect to helping people, working first at the Department of Children and Family Services, and then for 11 years at the University of Illinois Survey Research Lab, where her colleagues appreciated her energy and imagination, and her skill at planning and directing their important social science projects and coordinating their efforts.

She is survived by her boyfriend Chris Williams and her immediate family--cousins Cindy Paulauskas, Terri Lydon and Tom Lydon, uncles John Radner and John Reque, Aunt Barbara Radner, and mother Mary Ann Pike--as well as by hundreds of friends. Her family is deeply thankful for the great efforts of the Chicago Fire Department and the extraordinary care of the doctors, nurses and staff at Northwestern Hospital, and for the many kindnesses of Father Paulson and Ingrid's friends during this time of loss. There was a private burial on March 31st, and there will be a Memorial Service on May 16th where her hundreds of friends can celebrate her life and enduring friendship. "In a chaotic world, friendship is the most elegant, the most lasting way to be useful. We are, each of us, a living testament to our friends' compassion and tolerance, humor and wisdom, patience and grit." (Lonely Planet, Steven Dietz, 1992.)

The family has established a scholarship fund at St. Ignatius to honor Ingrid. For information, contact Tom Ramsden: 312.432.8346, tom.ramsden@ignatius.org.