A performance is planned in the former teacher's honor, with 30 plays in 60 minutes.
ELMHURST, IL – John Randle retired a quarter-century ago as a York High School art teacher. But he still relishes the memories of his 27 years there.
Neither of his children, Emily and Vince Randle, took his courses.
"They were in fairly advanced classes, so their schedule didn't have a lot of elective courses, which would allow them to take art," Randle said in a Zoom interview Thursday.
He remembers teaching an independent study-type art class called "Art Staff," in which the students took on projects that focused on school events, such as creating posters.
"There was a good bit of humor in there," Emily said in the interview.
"A lot of goofing around," Randle jokingly added.
These days, Randle is suffering from ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It affects the nervous system, causing a loss of muscle control.
A coming event is being held in Randle's honor. Health permitting, he will attend.
At 1 p.m. July 26 at Oak Park's Comedy Plex, alumni of the Chicago-based ensemble of Neo-Futurists plan to come together for one show to perform classic short plays from the group's "Too Much Light." It's 30 plays in 60 minutes.
The event's proceeds over operating costs will go toward ALS United Greater Chicago.
Randle, who lives in Oak Park, was long a Neo-Futurist board member and set designer. Some of his fellow Neo-Futurists from years ago are expected to perform at the event.
Randle's involvement at York was not limited to art. He remembers being a sponsor of York High art staff's intramural sports, in which some team names were not suitable for polite company. For instance, the floor hockey team was called "Mother Puckers," he said.
"We always had to say it wasn't a York-sponsored activity," Randle said.
His 2000 retirement party was at Enchanted Castle in Lombard, where many activities took place. Randle joked that he got to shoot a lot of students in laser tag during the party.
About her father's condition, Emily Randle, a professional violinist, said ALS comes with its limitations.
The greatest misconception, she said, is that all ALS sufferers experience dementia. Only a small minority do.
"He's still the smartest guy in the room," she said.
The fatal disease has no known cure.
"It presents uniquely in any family," Emily said. "It's like whack a mole."
For information and tickets to the Neo-Futurist Alumni benefit for ALS United Greater Chicago, go to www.comedyplex.com.