Biography
Rory (www.rorygilbert.net) went to graduate school at the University of Chicago-School of Social Service Administration where he graduated in 1979. His concentration was on counseling individual, families, and groups. Upon graduation he worked at Metropolitan Family Services for four years. At Metropolitan Family Services he received advanced training in Structural Family Therapy.
In 1983 Rory became the supervisor for the Chicago Police Department’s employee assistance program. By 1987 Rory and his partner the late Police Officer Gerald Bolger had determined that the police should, in fact, receive counseling in a setting exclusively for them, but this facility should be independent and not part of any department. With this in mind they founded The Police Assistance Center (TPAC) which evolved into St. Michael’s House which remained open until shortly after Jerry’s death in 2006.
Rory has taught classes on alcoholism at the University of Chicago-SSA’s Professional Development Program and Harold Washington College. He has presented papers on domestic violence and published on alcoholism and the police. He has been on the radio and television numerous times including appearances on ABC’s 20/20, the Studs Terkl Show, and Common Ground (not to mention Jenny Jones and Jerry Springer!)
Rory is an avid golfer and lives in the northern suburbs with his wife of over twenty-five years. They have two sons, a recent college graduate and the other a college student.�