Funeral Details

I met Irwin at a Cinecon festival in LA. I was coming from France, didn't know anyone and he was the first person to talk to me at the opening of the festival. Knowing I was french, he spoke to me in length about his passion for my country, his visits to Paris and his love for the french language he was trying to learn (without making too much efforts by his own words). I attended a few Cinecon even Syracuse festivals with him and he presented me all his Chicago friends (also some others like James Hollander who passed away some years ago). He traveled many times to Europe in summer and always came to visit us in Paris, most of the times with Charlene. We were having some good food at home but never eating fish,because he hated it (we learn that the first meal we organised with him offering fish as a starter and main course!). He saw our kids grow up and he was always asking about them (calling them "les petits"). We were exchanging programs of films : Cinémathèque program was a way to work his french with his dear friend Mort. The Langendorff's family will miss him. He joins now the cinephiles' paradise where probably he can watch movies that are considered lost on earth but exist there that he always dreamt to see.
Au revoir mon ami!

Cyrille LANGENDORFF

Sending condolences to his sister and family. Irwin was a wonderful teacher and good friend from Niles West High School. He inspired so many young people to be good and kind. We all admired him. May he rest in peace.

Coach Pat Savage

Rest in peace Irwin. I always enjoyed speaking with you. You were always so kind.
Glenn Anderson

Glenn Anderson

How do you describe a memorable person? Irwin,his colleagues and friends called him Irv,was a mensch of a man.His students respected the knowledge he conveyed which was accompanied by his buoyant,joyful,enthusiastic personality.Whether it was a discussion of historical or current events,a movie he recommended,a walk we shared,a luncheon we experienced among friends, the man I am honoring was a pleasure to behold.
I am saddened by his passing.
Ron Albiani

Ronald Albiani

Irv was a teaching colleague of mine at Niles East and when it closed, he went West and I went North. I always enjoyed the few opportunities we had to visit about films and theatre we had seen. He was friendly, a respectful listener and pleasant to be around. Recently, he and I drove together to a Niles Township retirees luncheon. We both expressed our appreciation about having been teachers and how lucky we were to have a comfortable retirement.

Jerry Proffit

Irwin was a kind and gentle man. He loved and cared about family. His passing is unexpected, tragic, too soon and he is sorely missed. To dear Charlene, may the void you now feel be soon supplanted by sweet memories of Irwin and time shared with one another.

Kenneth & Joyce Wayne

Irv was a dear friend and played a pivotal role at an important time in my life. I was a young filmmaking student and fortunate to be selected by the American Film Institute to be a participant in their amazing 3 week academic seminar on Film Noir. There I met Irv and we became friends immediately. His enthusiastic knowledge of film was so extensive and I learned much from him. Over those years, we went to many films together and our discussions afterwards were so rewarding. I cast Irv as the lead in my student film (a Film Noir, of course). He would make time for the shooting of the film, no matter where or when. Nights in a crumbling deserted train station, sketchy locales all over the south side, anywhere and everywhere. I will always be deeply indebted to him. He loved to travel to London many summers, often to study film there. He had a wonderful group of friends who were serious film lovers and held film screenings in various apartments, getting hard-to-find 16mm prints of films - in an era before the ease of VHS, DVD, cable and streaming. Thank you Irv, for being the perfect friend at a time when I needed a friend just like you.

Michael Puccini

Irwin was like a brother to me. He was my first cousin, four years younger, and our fathers were brothers and our mothers were sisters, so we were very close.
I often visited him and his sister Charlene at Lunt Avenue and later on Oakley Avenue, and we went to many places together like the the zoos and museums,
and visited great vacation spots like Starved Rock State Park and Wisconsin Dells. Summers were in a rented cottage in South Haven, Michigan where we went to the
beach and swam in Lake Michigan. Our favorite place was Bezark's Corner with its pinball machines, and I will never forget our joy when we played the Oh Johnny
machine together and won 20 free games with our first ball. Irwin had a very successful career as a teacher, and travelled the world. He will be missed by all.

EARL RODNEY

Mr. Drobny taught me in two European History classes at Niles West High School and made a tremendous impression. He made a comment about the silliness of wearing a tie that I have never forgotten. I was thrilled to meet him again on Facebook and sorry we never met again in person. I was hoping he'd be at our 50 th High School reunion last week. He was a good teacher. I think of him every time I read Phillipa Gregory it anything related to European philosophy. May his memory remain for a blessing and inspire deeds of charity and lovingkindness.

Jeffrey Rabin

Although, I did not personally have a class with Mr.
Drobny, he was known throughout the school as a great teacher. I did get to interact with him outside of a classroom setting through an extracurricular activity and he was a very kind and also intelligent man. Condolences to his family and friends. May his memory always be for a blessing!

Bruce Slivnick

I can’t remember if I met Irv in 1974 or 1975, but it was while I was working as an administrator for the City Colleges of Chicago and living on Cornelia Street on the North Side. I was walking down Broadway when he approached me and asked, “Didn’t I see you at a Facets screening yesterday?” (This was when Facets was using a storefront on Halsted with a projection screen not much larger than a letter size sheet of paper. ) At that moment, we began a conversation about film—domestic and international—which went on for almost 50 years. Many brunches, dinners, and coffee meetings (at Lutz’s) followed.

Irv was truly devoted to the seventh art. We spent many hours at the Art Institute’s Film programs, but other events stick in my mind: there were times we’d begin at Doc Cinema at the University of Chicago, then Irv would drive us to Northwestern so we could see a silent film and early sound film. I have no idea how we were able to do this in one evening.

There were film conferences—academic and film buff types—in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and New York—and summer courses we took at Northwestern. But much more than me, Irv traveled to Europe to festivals and educational opportunities as well as to see his many friends abroad. He loved the theatre too.

Irv had the most amazing memory for motion picture narratives. Weeks after each event he attended he would recount to me each of the movies he’d seen, generally with background production information.

What I will always remember is Irv’s sense of humor; he was always so much fun to be with.

I’ll miss you, my good friend, and think of you often.

Joel Kanoff

Mr. Drobny was my teacher for AP European history at Niles West High School 50 years ago. He was a wonderful teacher and a kind and caring person. I learned a lot from his class that I was able to use much later in graduate school, too. It seems strange to say you'll miss someone you haven't seen in 50 years, but I will. I've also just learned we shared an interest in film. He was definitely an inspiration to me and so many other students.

Laura Ellin Handlin

I think of the pleasure Irv took in his many trips --especially all those walks in the Paris he knew so well --because they speak to the breath of his interests in history and art and natural beauty --the knowledge ,appreciation and wit he brought to experiencing these places. What a fine mind. A great colleague and teacher who always continued to explore, in retirement taking courses (Proust!] and working on his French. No wonder, reading something interesting or puzzling I think I want Irv's insight on this. I think also of his great and sustained courage. So enrichment and deeply felt absence. I'm sure despite his innate modesty he knew how well he was loved. My heart goes out to his good sister Charlene and all who grieve and treasure so much gained from his friendship.
Sally

Sally Van Dorpe

I first met Irwin when I sold him a movie ticket at Facets Multimedia and then met him again years later at an Amnesty International meeting. I loved doing letter writing at his flat. We all sat on chairs with large art books on our laps, writing our letters, and snacking on popcorn and pizza. Irwin and I could always talk film. He will be missed by us all. My condolences to his family.

Pat Mikos

My condolences to the Drobny Family, Mr. Drobny was my history teacher at Niles East.

James Doumouras

It has been a long time (30 years) since I was a Guidance Counselor in the Niles Township High School System. I..first worked at Niles East (until it closed), then at West. I cannot recall at which School I had the PLEASURE of working with "Mr. Drobny," As a Counselor, I always had to be concerned about WHICH teacher my students would have. While I couldn't always "orchestrate" who he/she might be, I always had a sigh of relief if a student with "problems" had Mr. Drobny. I knew he would be kind. I knew he would be fair. I knew he would work with all students to help them reach their potential. I have no doubt Mr. Drobny was a "gem" in his personal life as well. Simply put, he was a "nice man." "Nice" IS nice. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace, knowing he made a difference in the young lives he taught and earned the respect of colleagues with whom he worked. Hatladies@aol.com 843-762-6679

Barbara Handler/Burkel

Charlene and family: sorry to hear about Irv, always enjoyed traveling with him to our film festivals, including the time you came with us I will keep him in my memory.

Mike Gebert

I am doing the alz walk sept 21

Polly Pancoe Kortlander

Charlene,

My sincere condolences on the loss of your brother. I knew him through Amnesty International and stayed in touch with him over the past 30 plus years. He was a wonderful man and will be terribly missed.

Karen Nolan

Karen Nolan

I had the privilege of meeting Irwin over 30 years ago at an Amnesty International group in Chicago. From the very start, his warmth, kindness, and incredible curiosity about the world around him drew me in. Irwin was a wonderful storyteller, with a gift for bringing his love of history, art, and film to life in the most captivating ways. Our conversations were always rich with his insights and filled with laughter.

Irwin had an innate ability to make everyone around him feel seen and valued. His passion for learning and exploring new ideas never waned, and I admired that deeply in him. I will forever cherish the memories we created together.

Rest in peace, my dear friend. Your spirit, your stories, and your kindness will remain with me always.

Cheryl Mathieu

I have had the great privilege of knowing Irv since 1978. We were neighbors on Sheffield for 30 years and have remained friends since then. I can only add to the messages of so many about what a wonderful human being Irv was: invariably kind and with a great sense of humor.as well. Blessings to you, Charlene. ~ George Kruto

George Kruto

Irv was a gentleman and a scholar. He was a wonderful conversationalist because of his intelligence, his curiosity, and his ability to listen. Of course when we spoke it did eventually turn to the topic of film. He will be missed, but I will carry him in my heart. May his memory be a blessing to us all.

David Klingenberger

He was my AP european history teacher and to this day I'll never forget his humor and the passion he shared with the class. I'm glad he lived a full life and may his memory be eternal.

George Sotiropoulos

Our deepest condolences. Mr. Drobny was an awesome history teacher. He inspired me and so many others. He is indelibly bound to the living through you, his beloved family, as well as his friends, his colleagues, and his students. May his memory always be for a blessing.
Barry Goldberg
Former Student
Niles West

Barry Goldberg