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Joseph Kromelis, pictured here in the late 1970s when he was in his early 30s, often hung out with a group of other Rush Street-area street peddlers and artists at the Bagel Nosh Deli in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.
Joseph Kromelis, pictured here in the late 1970s when he was in his early 30s, often hung out with a group of other Rush Street-area street peddlers and artists at the Bagel Nosh Deli in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood.
Jami Harbottle poses with Joseph Kromelis, her uncle, at his mother’s home in southwest Michigan, around 1974. “He just loved the streets of Chicago,” Harbottle said.
Amateur street photographer Dean Golemis captured this photo of Joseph Kromelis on May 27, 2011, on Washington Street near the Chicago Cultural Center. “He had this dignity about the way he walked,” Golemis said. “He was never in a hurry, just taking it all in.”
Joseph Kromelis, known as the Walking Man, was a popular subject for street photographers in Chicago. He was photographed on the DuSable Bridge on Michigan Avenue in 1994 by Randy Martens.
Joseph Kromelis, known as the Walking Man, was a popular subject for street photographers in Chicago. He was photographed on the DuSable Bridge on Michigan Avenue in 1994 by Randy Martens.
Joseph Kromelis holds up a “Walk On, Dude” T-shirt created as a fundraiser by Scott Marvel, right, after Kromelis suffered a brutal beating in summer 2016. Kromelis died in late 2022; all future proceeds from sales of the shirt will go to support StreetWise.
Sister Paul Wilson, below, and volunteer Susan Pistorius, shown in May after serving dinner at St. Mary's Home in Chicago, befriended Joseph Kromelis in 2022 before he succumbed to his burn injuries.
Sister Paul Wilson, below, and volunteer Susan Pistorius, shown in May after serving dinner at St. Mary’s Home in Chicago, befriended Joseph Kromelis in 2022 before he succumbed to his burn injuries.
Sister Paul Wilson serves dinner to residents on May 3 at St. Mary's Home in Chicago. The 76-year-old nun, who got to know Joseph Kromelis in the final months of his life, serves through Little Sisters of the Poor.
Sister Paul Wilson serves dinner to residents on May 3 at St. Mary’s Home in Chicago. The 76-year-old nun, who got to know Joseph Kromelis in the final months of his life, serves through Little Sisters of the Poor.
A depiction of Joseph Kromelis, center, by the artist Dont Fret appears alongside portraits of fellow Chicago-area residents on the Riverwalk near North Wells Street.
A depiction of Joseph Kromelis, center, by the artist Dont Fret appears alongside portraits of fellow Chicago-area residents on the Riverwalk near North Wells Street.
Police at the scene where Joseph Kromelis was attacked on May 25, 2022. Someone set him on fire while he was sleeping outdoors on Lower Wabash Avenue in Chicago.
Police at the scene where Joseph Kromelis was attacked on May 25, 2022. Someone set him on fire while he was sleeping outdoors on Lower Wabash Avenue in Chicago.
Lights illuminate a parking garage exit in the 400 block of North Lower Wabash Avenue in early May, nearly a year after Joseph Kromelis was attacked at this location.
Lights illuminate a parking garage exit in the 400 block of North Lower Wabash Avenue in early May, nearly a year after Joseph Kromelis was attacked at this location.
Afternoon sunlight illuminates the marker of Joseph Kromelis in a columbarium at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Chicago. Kromelis died Dec. 11, 2022, almost seven months after he was set on fire while sleeping.
Afternoon sunlight illuminates the marker of Joseph Kromelis in a columbarium at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Chicago. Kromelis died Dec. 11, 2022, almost seven months after he was set on fire while sleeping.
A bouquet rests at the base of a columbarium holding the cremated remains of Joseph Kromelis at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Chicago.
A bouquet rests at the base of a columbarium holding the cremated remains of Joseph Kromelis at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Chicago.
Joseph Kromelis' dark mane of hair had turned gray by 2019, when Tribune photographer John J. Kim captured him walking through the intersection of Dearborn and Randolph streets.
Joseph Kromelis’ dark mane of hair had turned gray by 2019, when Tribune photographer John J. Kim captured him walking through the intersection of Dearborn and Randolph streets.
Joseph Kromelis rests in the seating area of a lobby in the Loop on March 13, 2020.
Joseph Kromelis rests in the seating area of a lobby in the Loop on March 13, 2020.
Joseph Kromelis, then 69, makes his way south on State Street near Madison Street on Aug. 8, 2016. He was hospitalized earlier that year after being attacked on Wacker Drive.
Joseph Kromelis, then 69, makes his way south on State Street near Madison Street on Aug. 8, 2016. He was hospitalized earlier that year after being attacked on Wacker Drive.
Joseph Kromelis, photographed in Chicago in 2018 by Steve McKenzie, was a popular subject for street photographers with his distinctive look.
Joseph Kromelis, photographed in Chicago in 2018 by Steve McKenzie, was a popular subject for street photographers with his distinctive look.
Joseph Kromelis walks along State Street in the Loop on Aug. 8, 2016.
Joseph Kromelis walks along State Street in the Loop on Aug. 8, 2016.
Joe Kromelis, second from left, with his brothers John, Peter and Bruno and his sister Irene. All have since died; the lone surviving sibling, Erika “Ricky” Singree, lives in Alaska.