Totten, Gilbert DeRyther, a ge 86, of Chicago, Illinois passed away March 31, 2017.  He was preceded by his parents, George DeRyther Totten and Carrie Hill Totten, brothers, Robert B. Totten, and James E. Totten, and his sister Carrie Elizabeth Lettsome.

As a young teenager Gil moved from Beverly, Illinois to Pasadena, California with his parents. There he attended Occidental College where he received his Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees in History and was awarded membership to Phi Beta Kappa.   His US Navy Reserve unit was called to active sea duty service in the Korean War.  Thereafter, he received a fellowship to Harvard University from the Ford Foundation. His Harvard Master of Arts degree was in History and Middle Eastern Studies.

For years Gil was an avid season subscriber to the Chicago Lyric Opera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he was a lifelong member of Lincoln Park Zoo, the Art Institute and the Field Museum. He was an avid traveler with the Oriental Institute, a prolific reader, hot air balloon aviator, book collector and gourmet cook.

He was also a charter member and longtime secretary of the Ft. Dearborn-Chicago Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He frequently volunteered at the Newberry Library.  His business career was focused on US Oil Industry Publications where he served as District Manager for the Petroleum Publishing Company in Chicago. A Memorial Service for Gil will be on Wednesday May 3, 2017 at 2:30 pm at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement at 5749 North Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60660.  A light reception will follow so that attendees can share their Memories of Life with Gilbert. Thereafter he will be memorialized at the US Veteran's Cemetery adjacent to Ft. Knox in Radcliff, Kentucky.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions would be appreciated by the Anatomical Gift Association, or the Newberry Library.