Nancy and Clark take leave

but maybe not forever

06/10/2010 3:09 PM

By Bonnie McGrath

No Comments - Add Your Comment


Trattoria Caterina



Rowe Building

A big group gathered at Trattoria Caterina in the Transportation Building on Printers Row last night for a going-away--but a possible coming back right away--party. Lots of salad and pizza and wine and brownies. But everyone knew it wasn’t yet time to be sad that neighborhood stalwarts Nancy and Clark Gilpin--he a teacher of divinity; she a student advisor at the University of Chicago--were leaving us for somewhere else.

The Gilpins knew they wanted to sell their huge full-floor condo/loft at the Rowe Building on Printers Rowe (where Sandmeyer’s is ensconced in the ground level) and downsize when he retires next year. What they were surprised about is that in spite of giving themselves plenty of time for the loft to be out there on the market, it sold right away. Oddly, to another U of C couple who they have never even seen, let alone known.

So they had to pack up and move quite recently--and in a flash--to their newly built (on long held land) summer home in Stevensville, Michigan. And now they have to make the decision they were going to give themselves a whole year to make. Will they get a smaller place in the South Loop--or go somewhere else entirely?

As the couple was toasted and roasted by their friends from the neighborhood (for being wonderful pals, neighbors, boosters of our organizations and activities), the question lingered. Are we saying good-by? Or not? There were no tears. No long trek down memory lane. And no closure. Because in a few weeks Nancy and Clark may be back. For good.

But knowing how much their neighbors do appreciate them. And probably sorry for the timing that made them nonresidents on book fair street during this year’s book fair weekend.


No Comments - Add Your Comment