(Editor's Note: The following two memorial pages were inadvertently left out of the braille, tape, CD-ROM and electronic versions of the 2008 convention program. We reprint them here for your convenience.)
Julian Siewierski received his master's degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. He also attended the Overbrook School for the Blind, in which he obtained training for becoming a rehab counselor. Subsequently he was employed by the state office for the blind and visually impaired. In addition to his employment, he attended Bryn Mawr College and received his master's degree in social work. This led to his final employment with the Philadelphia Office of Mental Health and Mental Retardation as supervisor. After his retirement, he served as president of the Associated Services for the Blind board. Then he presided as president of the Philadelphia Council of the Blind and later volunteered as executive director. People may remember him as one of the coordinators for the Philadelphia ACB convention of 1984. He was instrumental in having braille numbers placed in elevators of public buildings in Philadelphia. Also, he initiated the placement of audible traffic signals.
For almost a quarter of a century, many of us knew Dick as a good friend and a hard-working, considerate, committed member of the Iowa Council of the United Blind (ICUB). For almost as many years, Dick served as treasurer of the Des Moines chapter of ICUB, and for many years also served as the treasurer of ACB's Iowa state affiliate; the last few years serving as treasurer for both organizations at the same time. Dick was always enthusiastic about the organization as demonstrated by his thinking outside the box when it came to fund-raising and getting the most out of dollars spent. Dick moved with his wife and two children from Ohio to West Des Moines, being transferred by the Greyhound Company where he worked in their management division.
Dick attended the Iowa Department for the Blind's Orientation Center, after substantial vision loss due to adult-onset diabetes and macular degeneration. He then attended a local community college, and moved on to obtain a degree from Drake University in business administration. Dick then went into the Iowa Business Enterprise Program, where he managed a cafeteria for a number of years, and generously trained other persons interested in becoming vendors; also, assisting at locations whenever needed after his retirement.
He served as Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus and sang in the men's choir at church. A most generous man, a super advocate for the blind in local, state and national issues, and readily volunteered when called upon with organizational projects.
It's difficult to enumerate Dick's attributes, but suffice it to say that he will, indeed, be missed by ICUB members.