Edward John Wygonik PhD passed peacefully on the 28th of March 2025. He was born in Pittsburgh, to Edward Sylvester and Betty (nee Volk). He was the eldest brother to Billy, Rich, and Mary Beth. The family moved to Naperville, Illinois, where he attended St Procopius Academy. He received a bachelor's degree from Saint Louis University. He was awarded his doctorate in Psychology from Loyola University of Chicago.

He retired, associate professor emeritus of industrial-organizational psychology. In 1990, Ed was hired as the first full-time, tenure-track faculty member in Roosevelt's new MA program in I/O psychology. Ed's students valued his pragmatic courses that emphasized teamwork and applied projects, especially those in his specialty areas, employment testing and executive talent development. He served as the associate chairperson of both the School of Psychology and the Department of Psychology. Ed had a quiet presence but was a remarkably astute educator with a passion for social justice.

While his professional accomplishments were legion, nothing can more accurately describe Ed than his devotion to family. He married Mary Catherine Lowrey the singular love of his life on April 22, 1972. They raised five children Eddie (Vanessa), Meg (Peter), Benjamin, Nicolaus (Erin) and Jesse (Kerry). The open-door policy he had in teaching extended to their home at 707 N. Oak Park Ave. Almost every teenager in Oak Park knew where the keys to the house, (and the refrigerator) were hidden and they could access them at any time.

Nothing brought more joy to his life than the generational extension of grandchildren; Lucy, Lilly, Sydney, Vivian, and Ethan. One of his greatest delights was the publication of a book of short stories, Stories of Fairies, Gnomes, Sprites, and Dragons. The follow-up volume is now in press.

He will be fondly missed every Fourth of July for the amazing BBQ that he and Mary Cath hosted. His Christmas brunch was also a thing for the ages. If you want to think of him at his most peaceful, envision a chair on the beach in South Haven, Michigan, the shade of the umbrella having long since readjusted, no longer covering a man gently sleeping, an open book on his lap, his glasses perched on his nose, his mouth slightly open, and a gentle snoring in harmony with the breaking waves.

A wake will be held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Rd., Westchester on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. All to meet Friday April 4, 2025 at St Giles Church, 1045 Columbian, Oak Park for a 10:00 a.m. Funeral Mass. Interment private Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the Salvation Army in Ed's name. For funeral info 708-F-U-N-E-R-A-L