Director of Theater at Lake Forest College, Retired
August 1, 2022
I believe we all have a calling in life. A calling to do what we were meant to do with our lives. Bob’s calling is storytelling. He tells stories – and you will find between these beautiful covers a wealth of fine storytelling.
Now this was not made clear to him quickly or easily; but it came to him at a young age – when he opened BOB’S NEWSSTAND. He became a purveyor of stories. Stories told in newspapers, magazines and other periodicals. Bob valued words: whether written or spoken or told with a glance or a glare, the shake of a hand or the tuck of your newspaper under your arm as you rushed to or from work. Bob communicated – connected with his customers.
He learned their stories and sometimes shared some of his own reflections on life. Real life, human life with all the glory and angst, the passion and terror, the fear, the violence, trying to make sense out of it all. Bob is a practical man and his efforts were often set aside to earn a living and raise a family.
But Bob tells stories. Wonderful stories, spiritual stories, funny stories, quirky stories about living, about life. Besides being practical, Bob is persistent. He is not a quitter by any means – when you read his stories you will understand why.
One afternoon my office phone rang, and when I answered Bob introduced himself. He asked me questions, some oblique, some obvious – did I mention he is sly and wildly creative?
He had written some of his stories and published them himself and wanted to find a way to bring them to our attention. I thought perhaps he meant to call the English Department rather than the Theater Department, but he quickly doused my suspicions with a bucket of cold words explaining he wanted to tell his stories out loud, in-person – in clubs and coffee-houses. Well, he had me hooked!
Theater is telling stories. He figured this out already and asked if I could help him. I invited him to campus to meet and discuss this face-to-face because I needed to look into his eyes to see what I feared might be a crank, or a loon, a provocateur, or a self-involved egomaniac.
We set a date, and he brought me his book – he was charming, he was gentle, and he was on a mission!
We worked together that semester and he read his stories to my class for feedback to see if his stories could work on stage. It has been one of the greatest gifts in my life to meet and to work with this man and to hear his stories. No, he was not a Meryl Streep, nor even a mildly gifted actor; but he was genuine. He had what we used to say was HEART. His stories had soul. Over the decades since that first meeting, I have NEVER tired of his stories – and somehow there are always MORE!
What you hold in your hand is a gift. A gift of heart and soul; memories of near-forgotten times and places and people, none of which should be forgotten. Bob has captured my heart and his soul has become entwined with mine through his stories.
He has become my brother. Perhaps we share some life experiences – hard ones – or a world view; or just love humanity so much it overflows us, and we tell stories. So, take the time. Sit, slow down, read and think because a journey lies before you, an adventure, and you can’t rush it.
Relish it! Bob has even more stories to tell… and you will want more!
Dennis Mae
About My Friend, Dennis Mae
by Robert M. Katzman
About 2002, I asked my Rabbi how he could read emotional material without getting emotional himself. He answered succinctly: “Repetition.” I found Lake Forest College not too far away and met Dennis Mae, who ran the small theater department.
I asked if I could sit in his class and maybe he could help me become more effective when I was hired to read my own material.
He agreed and this went on for quite a long time. He was a warm, amiable man who made it easier for me to understand how to say what I wanted to convey. As a result of his help, the first story I ever read in public was “The Mystery of Peter Levy” at the Chopin Theater in Chicago on Division and Dame streets. I made it all the way through it and the applause was quite loud at the end.
Dennis Mae never charged me a dime and transmitted technique which will last me a lifetime. Our friendship has continued two decades later. I am a big fan of Dennis Mae, like real friends are.
He was there when I needed him.
Bob Katzman