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LINCOLNSHIRE – Franz Schulze, a prolific Chicago art critic and educator who chronicled the lives and work of two of the 20th century's most consequential architects, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, died Dec. 9, 2019, at the Radford Green assisted living facility in north suburban Lincolnshire.
Schulze, who previously lived in Lake Forest, was 92. The cause of death was complications due to infections, according to his sons Matthew and Luke. In addition to his work on Mies and Johnson, Schulze was highly regarded for his book on the Imagist artists who dominated Chicago's art scene after World War II.
As a freelance art critic for the Chicago Daily News and Chicago Sun-Times from the 1960s to the 1980s –and as a contributor to the nationally circulated magazines ARTNews and Art in America – Schulze reached a broad audience. He also shaped the views of hundreds of students as a professor of art at Lake Forest College, where he began teaching in 1952. Officially retired in 1991, he continued to teach as an emeritus professor. In recent years, alumni of the school endowed a scholarship in his honor.
"His writing and thinking was, at its best, sparkling," said Edward Windhorst, who co-authored a revised edition of Schulze's Mies biography that was published in 2012. "He really dazzled you with his skill at observation and his love of language and the use of it to convey what he thought."
Tall, mustachioed and dapper, with a penetrating voice that added weight to his observations, Schulze cut a distinctive figure.
"He told me many times he loved strutting on the stage of the lecture hall," Windhorst said. Schulze was born in 1927 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, about 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. His family moved to downstate Pekin, then in 1942 to Chicago's North Side, near Wrigley Field. A year later, Schulze entered the University of Chicago at age 16.
The degrees that followed – a bachelor of philosophy from the University of Chicago (1945), and a bachelor and master of fine arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1949 and 1950) – laid the foundation for Schulze's career as an artist, art historian and art critic. His 1972 book "Fantastic Images: Chicago Art since 1945," examined the work of Chicago artists like Leon Golub, whose paintings conveyed emotional intensity through grotesque representations of the human figure.
In a nod to this tendency, the artists, who departed from the abstract expressionism that then prevailed in New York, were dubbed the "Monster Roster." Schulze wrote that their work should be recognized as "an activity of some essential and serious existential import" even though it was "anti-rational to the point of perversity" - and, thus, a sharp departure from Chicago's tradition of logic, clarity and reason in modern art and architecture.
In 1985, Schulze grappled with the legacy of the architect who personified that tradition - the German-born emigre Mies van der Rohe, whose credits included such masterworks as New York's Seagram Building and Chicago's 860880 Lake Shore Drive high-rises. Appearing 16 years after Mies' death and at a time when postmodern architects were assaulting Mies' approach to architecture, Schulze's "Mies van der Rohe: A Critical Biography" etched a sharply defined portrait of Mies, the man, and Mies, the architect. Tribune architecture critic Paul Gapp called it "the most comprehensive book ever written about the master designer and, by any measure, the best. … Mies is drawn as the immensely talented giant he was, but also as a man of excesses, selfishness and the kind of single-mindedness that seems always to be freighted with arrogance."
Mies' grandson, Chicago architect Dirk Lohan, credited the author with meticulous research and the ability to put Mies into the context of early 20th century Europe and its other leading modernists, like the Swiss-born Le Corbusier.
"He knew some things that I didn't even know," Lohan said. Schulze's 1994 biography, "Philip Johnson: Life and Work," charted the ever-shifting aesthetic preferences of its subject, who did much to popularize modernist architecture with the landmark "International Style" show of 1932, then championed a revolt against it in the 1970s.
Schulze also was the first biographer to recount in detail Johnson's nearly decade-long foray into right-wing politics, including his fascination with Nazi spectacle. "It is much to Franz Schulze's credit that he does not duck this great unpleasantness – the persistently ugly yin to the celebrated yang of Johnson's reputation," author Ross Miller wrote in a Tribune review of the book. Johnson, who died in 2005, reportedly disliked the book, leading to a rift between author and subject.
"Philip Johnson does not remember me in his prayers," Schulze once told the Tribune.
Schulze wrote or edited more than 10 books, including a guide to Mies' Farnsworth House, a history of Lake Forest College titled "Thirty Miles North" and "Chicago's Famous Buildings," a guide to landmark structures that he co-authored with Illinois Institute of Technology professor Kevin Harrington.
Besides his two sons, he is survived by two grandchildren. Marriages to Marianne Gaw Schulze and Stephanie Mora ended in divorce. His companion of 25 years, Manya Schaff, died in 2015.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2026 Media Contact Information: Aunt Millie's Bakeries Melissa Koeneman, director of marketing (260) 417-2581 mkoeneman@auntmillies.com
John F. Popp, President of Aunt Millie’s Bakeries
FORT WAYNE, Indiana — Aunt Millie’s Bakeries is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its President John F. Popp, who died on Friday, July 31, at the age of 94. A third-generation member of the family business, John’s leadership, optimism, faith, and unwavering commitment to people helped shape the company and its culture for more than four decades. John Franke Popp was born March 2, 1932, to Lucile and Les Sr. Popp. He grew up with his older brother, Les Jr., on Forest Park Boulevard in Fort Wayne and graduated from Northside High School in 1950. He went on to attend the University of Michigan, graduating in 1954, and entered the U.S. Army that same year. He served as a second lieutenant before returning home following his military service. John was offered an opportunity to begin a career as an analyst with T. Rowe Price, but his path ultimately led him back to Fort Wayne and the family bakery. At his mother’s urging, he returned home to join the business — a decision that would shape not only his own life, but the future of generations of the Popp family and Aunt Millie’s employees. Long before his career in baking, John developed a love for Lake Wawasee and water skiing, eventually becoming the Indiana state slalom water ski champion. It was at the lake that he met Esther Rolene, the love of his life. They married on June 19, 1960, and spent the next decades building a life together, raising two sons and creating countless memories with family and friends. Even with the demands of running a growing company, John made time for what mattered most, including cheering his sons on from the sidelines at their baseball and football games.
John F. Popp and his wife, Esther Rolene Popp
In 1967, John stepped away from the family bakery to pursue a career in real estate, where he developed the subdivisions of Devil’s Hollow, Manitou, Lakewood, West Hamilton Estates, White Loon, and Winding Brook. In 1980, he returned to Perfection Bakeries, where he helped guide the company through a period of significant growth and expansion. The company that would become known as Aunt Millie’s grew under his leadership into one of the largest family-owned baking companies in the United States. John viewed the people around him as an important part of that success. He loved being part of the team and was known for his optimism, encouragement, and genuine care for employees. His leadership was not simply about growing a business; it was about building an organization where people could grow, contribute, and feel that they were part of something bigger than themselves. A third-generation leader of the family-owned bakery founded in 1901, John was deeply committed to protecting and building upon the legacy established by his grandfather, John B. Franke. His influence also reached beyond Aunt Millie’s. He was a passionate advocate for independent bakeries across the country, working with industry organizations to strengthen and protect family-owned businesses. He believed in the importance of education and workforce development and encouraged lifelong learning within the company while supporting the next generation of leaders in the baking industry. In recognition of his contributions to the baking industry, John was inducted into the Baking Hall of Fame by the American Society of Bakers and Engineers in 2021. He also served the state of Indiana after being appointed by Governor Mike Pence to serve on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. While John’s professional accomplishments were many, those closest to him knew that his faith and family were at the center of his life. He cherished Bible Study Fellowship and worshiped at The Chapel and Wawasee Lakeside Chapel. He was quietly generous and found joy in serving others through organizations including the Euell Wilson Center, Women’s Care Center, and Ratio Christi. John enjoyed spring breaks in Florida, trips to Maine, his ’61 Corvette, and working on projects at the lake. He appreciated the simple pleasures of life, but most of all, he loved his family. His greatest legacy will not be measured solely by the company he helped build, but by the family he loved, the people he encouraged, the lives he touched, and the values he carried with him throughout his life. “John Popp believed that success was built on people,” said Rick Brown, Chief Customer Officer. “He cared deeply about our employees, our customers, our communities, and the generations of families who have made Aunt Millie’s a trusted name. His leadership was defined by humility, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to doing what was right.” John’s passing leaves a tremendous loss for the Popp family, the Aunt Millie’s family, and the many people and organizations whose lives he touched. While the company mourns his loss, Aunt Millie’s leadership team remains committed to carrying forward the mission, values, and legacy John championed throughout his life. Daily operations will continue uninterrupted as the company moves forward under its established leadership plan. The Popp family extends its heartfelt appreciation for the many expressions of sympathy and support received during this difficult time. Memorial service information will be shared at a later date. About Aunt Millie’s Bakeries Founded in 1901 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Aunt Millie’s Bakeries is one of the largest family-owned bakeries in the Midwest, serving customers across six states with fresh bread, buns, rolls, bagels, and other baked goods. For more than a century, the company has remained committed to quality, innovation, and serving the communities it calls home.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2026 Media Contact Information: Michael Korman, highway commissioner North Township Road District (847) 728-7055 mike.korman@northfieldtownship.com
Northfield Township Road District’s Phase II project placed in Group 1, the top tier, of MWRD’s 2026 Stormwater Partnership Program; construction could begin as early as 2027
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