Roger Schmith, founder of suburban food pantry, dies at 75
In the late 1970s, Roger Schmith and his wife wanted to provide emergency food to needy families at their parish church in Woodridge. They set up a small food pantry....
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John Murray, who started private weather forecasting firm, dies at 94
John Murray was clearly on to something when, with a partner, he started a small weather forecasting business after serving as a military meteorologist during World War II. The firm...
Mary Pazdur, nurse known for compassionate care, dies at age 63
Mary Pazdur's mother was her grade school nurse, so it seemed a fait accompli that with her interest in medicine she would go down that same path. "She won academic...
Ron Durbin, founder of transitional housing organization, dies at 77
Ron Durbin, an activist in the civil rights movement and an advocate for social, economic and environmental justice, co-founded Daybreak of Lisle Transitional Housing with his wife more than 25...
Sean Morris, linguist and bicycling advocate, dies at 79
Sean Morris was a doctoral student in linguistics who needed a way to get around campus while attending the University of Wisconsin at Madison in the 1960s. The Brooklyn native...
Bernie Allen, former WLS radio host, dies at 86
Working at WLS-AM 890 in the 1960s, Bernie Allen spun the hits during the golden era of the then-powerhouse rock-and-pop music station known as "The Bright Sound of Chicago Radio."...
Susan Gustafson, fueled group that provided housing for disabled
In the mid-1970s, Susan Gustafson and her husband became frustrated with services available to their teenage son, Robert, who was born with cerebral palsy and other severe health issues that...
Leon Hendricks, Chicago educator, dies at 74
An educator at Chicago area schools for more than four decades, Leon Hendricks championed the cause of underserved, at-risk youth and advocated for equality in education. While working as a...
Thomas H. Williams, longtime funeral director, dies at 94
A longtime funeral director in the western suburbs, Tom Williams was known not only for his mastery of the technical skills of his profession but also for the care and...
Paul Bachman, juggler and collector, dies at 80
Paul Bachman learned to juggle as a teenager in the 1950s, when variety shows still drew crowds and a juggler could headline at the Chicago Theatre. To hone his craft,...