"Rose-Colored?" - LIFE
Glasses For Pope 'Made In Cicero'
If you wear glasses by Rosin Optometrists, 6130 Cermak Rd., you're in good company.
One of the most renowned men in the world, a spiritual leader of millions who lives more than 7,000 miles away from Cicero, wears glasses made by the Rosins.
As a true endeavor in ecumenism, Pope Paul VI recently received several pairs of glasses from Rosins, on the recommendation, apparently, of one of Cicero's most renowned cleric, Bishop Paul Marcinkus, who also wears Rosin spectacles.
A few months ago, before Bishop Marcinkus returned to the US after his elevation to his present position as Bishop of Orta, he sent a letter to the Rosins, along with a pair of Pope Paul's glasses and requested that the Rosins prepare a second pair.
"We analyzed the glasses, made a new pair and then sent them to Rome," Dr. Sorrel Rosin said. "After the Pope received his glasses, he was so pleased with them that he sent us an autographed picture of himself and a raised medallion with a picture of himself on one side and a picture symbolizing peace and brotherhood on the other," Dr. Joseph Rosin stated.
"Very few pictures of the Pope are autographed," he added.
The items of gratitude were brought to the optometrists by the Pope's secretary, Msgr. Pasquale Macchi, who now also owns a brand new pair of Rosin glasses.
Msgr. Macchi brought the picture and medallion when he came to the area for Bishop Marcinkus' reception and Mass in commemoration of his being elevated to bishop.
Dr. Joseph Rosin, who is a close friend of the bishop's was invited to Rome for Bishop Marcinkus' elevation ceremonies, however, he could not make it there at that time. He did, however, visit the bishop in Rome in 1963.
Asked if they had any other celebrities wearing their glasses, the optometrists replied, "Yes, most of the people in Cicero and Berwyn."
Other persons they mentioned were Donald O'Connor; Michael Arquette, Cliff (Charlie Weaver) Arquette's son, TV personality Lee Phillips' parents; Berwyn city attorney Robert Jerrick; former congressman Richard Hoffman; Cook County coroner Andrew Toman; State Senator James Soper and Berwyn Alderman Raymond G. Cox, to name a few.
Rosin Optometrist have also worked with the Marine Corps, the Bohemian Home for the Aged, the Park View Home and have also supplied glasses to the House of Correction in Chicago and the state dept. of mental health.
They also donated 60 pairs of "fun glasses," valued to $ 900, to the recent WTTW fund-raising auction.
- Marge Jachimowski
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