Fredrick MacLaren, 71, an educator who taught reading to students and future teachers, died of cancer Wednesday, March 20, in his Oak Park home.. Mr. MacLaren, a native of Malone, N.Y., received a doctorate in education from the University of Oklahoma. He moved to Charleston, Ill., in 1961 to teach 5th grade at the Eastern Illinois University Laboratory School, said his wife, Libby. He joined EIU’s education department, where he taught graduate students how to teach children to read. The couple kept a home there and in Oak Park. “He made [his students] make some sort of a pledge that they’d get their kids to read books, not worksheets,” Libby MacLaren said. A member of several national educational organizations, Mr. MacLaren often conducted reading education seminars. Before he retired in 1991, Mr. MacLaren supervised student teachers at EIU who were placed at Chicago-area schools. Besides teaching, Mr. MacLaren enjoyed traveling and hosting dinner parties. “He knew how to have a fun life and yet he was very dignified,” his wife said. He visited Scotland many times to research his family heritage and visit relatives. In addition to his wife, Mr. MacLaren is survived by a daughter, Gretchen Saries; four sisters; Stella Addabbo, Dorrice Sacco , Dellice McGee and Ann Dotte ; and a brother, Irwin. A memorial service will be held later.
