ROGER BENEDICT
I am a true “Midwesterner”-born and raised in Pekin, IL, graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, and lived and retired for nearly 50 years in Rockford.  During those years in Rockford I was employed with four Rockford manufacturing firms in engineering management capacities.  All my life I have been involved with creativity either as a kid carving miniature WWII airplanes, engineering product development, or woodworking & carving.  Through my professional work I was fortunate to have the travel opportunity for seeing many of the old masters’ art and architecture in Europe.  While there I was inspired to observe and study the workings of sculptured reliefs. This seriously influenced a wood carving passion to convert my vision of nature and spiritual ideas into wooden relief and round carvings.  With this background I find being a docent allows me to express my appreciation for art especially witnessed about nature’s organic form and color.  In retirement my life is filled with relief carving, gardening, friends, RAM, and shared time with my wife, Paula.

MARY CROSSON
I moved to Loves Park in April 2006. I got my degree in Art Education from Western Illinois University, 1974. I worked in the hospitality field in Allentown, Pennsylvania, until I had an auto accident in 1998. Unfortunately, as a result of the accident, I was not able to return to work and entered early retirement. Fortunately, I picked up my sketchbook, which I hadn't touched for the last 20 years. My favorite part of art is color. I prefer acrylics and watercolor. I describe my style as impressionist combined with my view of realism. My technique is similar to Peter Max's billboards in the 1970's. I like to use a sense of humor, which adds quirkiness to my pieces. Many artists, focusing on modern art, inspire me. I moved back to Illinois in 2005. I began painting terra cotta flowerpots as gifts for my friends and family. They suggested I sell my hand painted flowerpots online, which encouraged me to start my home business, "Folk Art by Mary". In 2010, I took a portrait class offered by Rock Valley Community College. The class was held in the lower level of the Riverfront Museum Park. It was during this art class that I became interested in volunteering at RAM. I am looking forward to volunteering as a docent and becoming involved with the art community.

JOHN GRADICK
I’ve been a Police Officer with the Rockford Police Department for over 21 years. I graduated from West High Class of 81 then attended Rock Valley College and received an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences/ Liberal Arts. I then received my Bachelor of Science and M.F.A. in Law Enforcement from Western Illinois University.Regarding art, I've always known what I liked even if I didn't know art. I like Old Masters paintings. Caravaggio is my favorite. I also am a big fan of Alex Ross, who is a comic book artist and highly regarded in that field. I own a signed print and an artists proof giclee painting both signed by him. I find a great similarity between Alex Ross and Caravaggio in that their paintings are like photos. My hobbies include reading, travel, swimming, tennis, food and drink. I’m a big James Bond fan. Ok. This is beginning to look like Match.com. I'm done. I lead a boring life, overall. Thanks.

GERRIE GUSTAFSON
I retired from a long (33 years) career as marketing and communications director for a local healthcare system.  I have always loved art and I collect the work of local artists.   My inspiration to be a docent came from a visit to the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.  There I encountered a docent who was so skilled, she made the art and Dali himself come alive.  I felt that being a docent would be a good goal to pursue in retirement.  In addition to art, I enjoy music – both classical and jazz—and I’m trying to become at least moderately proficient at the piano. I can be seen most days at the YMCA or on the river path. My true loves are my two daughters who provide many opportunities for fun and travel.

MICHELLE HALEY
From as long as I can remember I have loved art.  Every single year, from when I was about 5 years old, I received an art set for my birthday, the walls of my bedroom were always filled with Monet prints and I loved going to absolutely any museum.  It wasn’t until I went to college, though, that I found my true passion.  I graduated from the University of Miami in Florida with a Bachelor in Art History.  I love to read about art, study art, discuss art, and basically fill my life with art in any form (though my personal favorite art forms are Photography and Non-Western Art).  That is where my interest in becoming a docent stems from.  It allows me to share my love of art with others and stay active in the art world.  Apart from art, I was born and raised in Rockford, and I currently work for a local college.  I love to read, study astronomy, and spend time with family, friends, and my two cats.

RITA HUWE
I have been a docent at Rockford Art Museum for twelve years.  My adult life was busy: working as an R.N., as well as managing a home with three sons and a husband who worked long hours.  When opportunity knocked with an option for early retirement, I eagerly accepted.  A special "smell the roses" activity was becoming a docent for RAM. Other favorite activities include my large vegetable garden with twelve raised beds.  We have a rain garden and special water barrels to collect rainwater from the roof.  This is used to water the garden.  We also have raspberries and strawberries around the perimeter of the garden.  My great passion is cooking and it is such fun to use my own organic produce. I volunteer at a food pantry one morning every week.  As with many volunteer activities, I receive much more than I give with this endeavor. Our sons and their wives and especially our three grandchildren bring us great joy.

TOM LITTRELL
Being a docent at Rockford Art Museum allows me to continue my already lifelong love of the arts. I received a Bachelors and Masters degree in Art and Art Education from Eastern Illinois University, and continued my studies in painting at Northern Illinois University. I was the Art Program Director for Edgar County CUSD in Illinois working with students of all ages.  While practicing free-lance interior design, I also taught art at Freeport Senior High School and Continuing Education classes for Highland Community College. I left public school art education to further pursue my interest in interior design and my own art.  However, my passion for introducing all ages to the richness that art contributes to life has never faded.  Participating the in Rockford Art Museum Docent Program has allowed me to continue that passion while enriching my own life.

Tom Littrell presently maintains an interior design and art studio at 317 Market St., and his paintings are represented in various exhibits and private and corporate collections.

LOUISE MAYHALL
I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education at the University of
Wisconsin. I then went on to pursue my Master of Arts degree at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. I taught art in public schools in Illinois and Wisconsin for 30 years and was an Artist in Residence at Rockford Art Museum. I am a fiber artist, weaving being my favorite fiber medium. The landscapes, Native American Art, and artifacts of the South West including Arizona and New Mexico have particularly influenced me. My work employs tapestry techniques, using hand dyed woolen weaving yarns with designs brought together on a floor loom. I work out of my studio at home and exhibit at various galleries and art fairs. I have been involved in the Rockford Art Museum for many years and because I love art expression and enjoyed teaching, the docent's work fits perfectly into the mix.

LEW RILEY
 For over a decade I have had the privilege of working as a volunteer docent for Rockford Art Museum. Art is a great means of communication. For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed art in all forms. When making my own art, my preference is using wet oil on canvas. For many years I have been instructing adult art classes in portrait drawing. It seems that nearly all artists want to be able to include the human form in their own artwork. I also instruct children (6 – 12) in the fundamentals of drawing. These young artists are just starting to explore things that they can use for years to come. 

PAT SCHMITT
I went to University of Illinois majoring in Advertising Design. After college I worked for an Illustrating Company airbrushing industrial products until I retired to raise my family. I returned to airbrushing, apprenticing for a year before sharing a practice with my mentor. Eventually I became an independent contractor for various companies airbrushing corrections on their industrial products.  I converted from airbrushing to digital products corrections until companies went into their own in-house services and video. I became a docent because it was somewhat of a continuation of my daily art years. I love to see the different techniques people use. I often say to a group, "Tell me a story."   All art doesn't necessarily tell a story.  Good graphic principals help, to be simple is the most difficult and the biggest plus ever.