Dirk Mol

URBANA - Dirk Vermeer Mol was born on Sept. 27, 1946. He was named Norman James by his parents, a name that, in later years, didn't strike him as Dutch. He changed it at age 50 to Dirk Vermeer.

He died on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in the Meadowbrook facility at ClarkLindsey.

He is survived by Jerald (Jerry) Wray, his partner for the last 24 years; son Andrew (Radhika Dingra) and grandson Rohan; son Greg Russo (Michelle) and granddaughters Faye and Sasha; and his brother, Ken.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents, Neil and Lydia Mol; and sister, Connie Kamer.

He graduated from high school in Hamilton, Mich., and from Hope College in Holland, Mich., in 1969, and went on to earn master's degrees from both Union (1973) and General (1990) Theological Seminaries in New York, and a pastoral counseling certificate (2001) from Loyola of Maryland.

He was ordained as an episcopal priest in 1976 and served in various parishes in New England and was the director of a church camp (Camp DeWolf) for a little over a year.

He left the church after 20 years to take up psychotherapy, serving as intake person for a group practice in Maryland for a few years, and opened a private practice when he moved to Champaign to be with the love of his life, Jerry Wray. They were married in Iowa City, Iowa, in October 2009.

In addition to his professional life, he worked with many others in the Champaign County Design and Conservation Foundation to establish the Kickapoo Rail Trail, worked with others in Heartland Pathways to preserve rail corridors and establish bike paths west of Champaign and then continued when HP merged with Friends of the Kickapoo Trail to become Trails of the Grand Prairie. That work is being carried on by others.

He and Jerry spent many hours in canoes, on bikes and hiking in places near and far, and went on small boat cruises where snorkeling was possible.

They were passionate supporters of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, of Dance at Illinois, and spearheaded an effort with Krannert Art Museum to buy a portfolio of prints by a transgender artist from St. Louis.

There will be a celebratory memorial party in late spring or early summer.

Memorial contributions may be made to Krannert Center for the Performing Arts or to Dance at Illinois through the University of Illinois Foundation, or to Trails of the Grand Prairie. Condolences may be offered at owensfuneralhomes.com.