Jeanine E. Mellinger

Jeanine E. Mellinger, a native of Freeport, died September 1st 2012 at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge. At 59, she lost her two year battle with cancer, worrying about how her friends and family, were dealing with her illness. Jeanine was born July 13th 1953. The first child of John E. and June L. Mellinger, she grew up in the rural Freeport area. Jeanine tried, in the early years, to convince her three younger brothers to play house. She lost that battle too, when the Bicksler boys moved in next door. Still, she was a great help to her mother in dealing with three siblings. Long before Jeanine graduated from Freeport High in 1971, she showed her love and talent for art. Duane Smith in grade school and Rosalyn Rockman in high school recognized and encouraged her talent. She studied art and science at Highland Comm. Coll., and Mesa College in San Diego. Her Dad thought art was an iffy way to make a living, so she worked at nursing at the same time. Art had her heart though, and Jeanine got a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the U. of Calf. San Diego(78), and Masters of Fine Arts from the School of Art Institute Chicago.(82). While at the Art Institute she met John Manning, her partner and soul mate from then on. She enjoyed her teaching and mentoring her students, many of which became friends. Friends and family became scattered, but she tried her hardest to stay connected to all. Jeanine loved gardening, at their place in Spring Green Wis., where she, John, and Wilson her dog, all hoped to retire some day not to distant. One added sadness for us is, all though the place at Spring Green was still a work in progress, a lot of was accomplished this year. She so looked forward to living there. Jeanine was an associate professor of the Interdisciplinary Arts Department since 2006. She went to Columbia College Chicago in 1994 and was originally a tenured faculty member in the Television Department, where she played a key role in redesigning the curriculum. In 2001, She created the Interdisciplinary Arts and Media MFA while working only part-time in the department. She ran the MFA program, almost single-handedly, for four years, until the fall of 2006, when her position moved from Television to Interdisciplinary Arts. Jeanine was actively engaged as a video artist for many years. Prior to 1994, she was the program director of the Center for New Television and taught at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as at The Community TV Network. Her connections in the realm of video art brought such distinguished artists as Bill Viola and Mary Lucier to Columbia. Her work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art; The Kitchen; MIT; Anthology Film Archive; Image Union, WTTW, Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago); Walker Art Center; Artists Space (New York); Kunst Video (Norway); Boston Film Video Foundation; Festival Des Files Des Vues (Quebec); Galleri 33 (Norway); Women'™s Video Festival (Montreal); Video Biennale; World Wide Video Festival (Holland); and Women in the Director Chair. Jeanine'™s awards included the Provost Humanities and Arts Grant and Faculty Development Grant from Columbia College Chicago, the AFI/NEA Regional Fellowship, and the Illinois Arts Council'™s Artist Fellowship. She has also received recognition from the Jerome Foundation for Film in the Cities, the Videowall Project, the Intermedia Arts/Dayton Foundation, the neighborhood Arts Project, and the Chicago Council of Fine Art. 'She leaves behind a community of people who were richer from her presence and are made poorer by her absence.' Charles Castle dean of the School of Media Arts. In addition to Mr. Manning, she is survived by her mother; June Mellinger of Freeport, three brothers; William Mellinger of Cetra, Fla., Timothy Mellinger of Mt. Prospect, IL. and Thomas (Barbara) Mellinger of Freeport. She was preceded in death by father and grandparents. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 15, 11:00 A.M. at Trinity United Methodist Church, Freeport. Rev. Julie Bunt, pastor will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until time of service at Trinity. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Freeport. A memorial has been established in her name. Please sign the guestbook at www.burketubbs.com.