James J. Zalewski, Lyons Township Teacher, 61

[DGH]

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James Zalewski, of Chicago, Illinois, and Galena, Illinois, who was
creative in his own right, died in his Chicago home Sunday, November
27, 2005, of a brain tumor, at the age of 61.

When he taught at Lyons Township [Illinois] High School, James J.
Zalewski wasn't satisfied with simply writing on a chalkboard. Instead,
he sought creative ways to make his English classes lively.

With his cheerful demeanor and positive energy, Mr. Zalewski had an
enthusiasm that brought life to his classes, making him a popular
teacher who not only instructed children on the material at hand but
also taught them how to think, friends and former colleagues said.

"He was a delightful teacher, and the kids thoroughly enjoyed his
classes," said Lorana Gleason, former chairwoman of the high school's
English department and Mr. Zalewski's supervisor.

"He generated excitement about learning, about discovering the themes
of literature, and he made the subject matter fun as well as
challenging."

He and his longtime partner, Frederick Tuttle, rehabilitated lofts in
the West Loop and Wicker Park in the 1980s. After Mr. Zalewski took
early retirement from teaching in 1994, he and Tuttle focused on their
Galena business, Twigges, which sells home accessories, furniture and
gifts. With Tuttle, Mr. Zalewski also owned a children's version of the
store, Twigges on the Sunnyside in Galena. They also opened a Twigges
in Red Wing, Minn.

The two opened a bed and breakfast in Galena in 1994 called the DeZoya
House, where they also lived.

Mr. Zalewski and Tuttle also maintained a home in Chicago, where Mr.
Zalewski was born and raised. He grew up in Bridgeport and attended St.
Barbara Elementary School and St. Mary of Perpetual Help High School.

He graduated from what is now known as Chicago [Illinois] State
University and received a master's degree in English in 1968 and a
doctorate in speech in 1975 from Northwestern University.

In 1965, he went to work for Lyons Township High School, first teaching
freshmen and sophomores and later teaching mostly juniors and seniors,
Gleason said. Even after he retired, he kept in touch with former
students, some of whom would stop by Twigges to say hello, Tuttle said.

Mr. Zalewski and Tuttle became familiar with Galena after visiting
friends there and ultimately decided to open the store in the early
1990s. Mr. Zalewski primarily focused on purchasing.

"He had an instinct for it, an instinct for what would sell and what
wouldn't and how quickly it would," Tuttle said.

Today, the store has become so successful that it recently moved to a
larger building and expanded its inventory, said Galena Area Chamber of
Commerce Executive Director Nancy Lewis, who became acquainted with
Tuttle and Mr. Zalewski when she co-owned a store across the street
from Twigges.

"He was very concerned about Galena as a whole and keeping it a viable
tourist destination," Lewis said.

Mr. Zalewski also is survived by two brothers, Joseph Zale and Richard
Zalewski; and two sisters, Rita Davidson and Evelyn Zaleski.

Chicago Tribune