Obituaries

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka, who also was a player on the 1963 Bears NFL championship team, on Aug. 29, 2013, at Mike Ditka's Restaurant in Chicago. (Michael Tercha/baiduhai)

Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears Hall of Famer and Super Bowl-winning coach, dies at 86

By Don Pierson

October 9, 2026 at 3:53 p.m.

Nobody embodied Bears football more than Mike Ditka, who became the face of the franchise...

A young Mike Ditka, circa 1960s. (Laughead Photographers)

Mike Ditka through the years: From humble beginnings in Pennsylvania to legendary football career in Chicago

By Kori Rumore

October 9, 2026 at 10:29 a.m.

Here's a look back at Mike Ditka's extraordinary life, from his humble beginnings in Pennsylvania...

David Collins, former chairman of Johnson & Johnson's McNeil Consumer Products. (Pat Collins)

David E. Collins, chairman of Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Products during the Tylenol murders, dies

By Bob Goldsborough

October 8, 2026 at 4:55 p.m.

David E. Collins was the chairman of Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Products unit, the...

Kultida Woods, Tiger Woods' mother, watches as her son plays in the Honda Classic on Feb. 24, 2018, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Tiger Woods says his mother, Kultida — a ‘force of nature’ — has died at 80

By Doug Ferguson

February 4, 2025 at 5:52 p.m.

Kultida Woods, the Thai-born mother of Tiger Woods who instilled his dominant spirit and encouraged...

John Shumate of Notre Dame tries to drive against UCLA's Bill Walton in the opening portion of their re-match in Los Angeles, Jan. 26, 1974. At left are Dave Meyers (34) of UCLA and Gary Novak of Notre Dame. (AP)

John Shumate, who helped Notre Dame end UCLA’s 88-game win streak, dies at 72

By Associated Press

February 4, 2025 at 8:25 a.m.

John Shumate, who sparked Notre Dame to the 1974 upset of UCLA that snapped the...

Kellogg "Ked" Fairbank in an undated photo. (Mary Ann O'Rourke)

Kellogg Fairbank III, who took over at Chicago Maritime Museum after a business career, dies at 83

By Bob Goldsborough

February 3, 2025 at 3:32 p.m.

Kellogg Fairbank III, who became the Chicago Maritime Museum’s executive director after a career in...

This image provided by the U.S. Army shows Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, N.C. (U.S. Army via AP)

Friends say Army captain killed in midair collision was a ‘brilliant and fearless’ patriot

By Michael R. Sisak

February 2, 2025 at 4:23 p.m.

A U.S. Army captain who died in Wednesday’s midair collision of a Black Hawk helicopter...

Dick Button, Olympic great and voice of skating, dies at 95

By Barry Wilner

January 30, 2025 at 7:55 p.m.

Olympic figure skating great and authoritative commentator Dick Button has died at age 95.

Mary Ellen Christy (Lindsay Christy Amborski)

Mary Ellen Christy, headmistress at preschool she started at Gold Coast church, dies at 80

By Bob Goldsborough

January 30, 2025 at 6:20 p.m.

Mary Ellen Christy, who founded the St. Chrystostom’s Day School on the Gold Coast, has...

FILE – British actress and singer Marianne Faithfull poses during a photo-call for her movie ‘Irina Palm’ at the 57th International Film Festival Berlin ‘Berlinale’ in Berlin, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

Marianne Faithfull, singer and pop icon, dies at 78

By Hillel Italie

January 30, 2025 at 1:06 p.m.

Marianne Faithfull, the British pop star, muse, libertine and old soul who inspired and helped...

Northwestern University professor J. Fraser Stoddart, left, returns to work in his lab on Oct. 5, 2016, just after being awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. (Chris Walker/baiduhai)

J. Fraser Stoddart, Nobel winner for work in nanotechnology, dies at 82

By Bob Goldsborough

January 28, 2025 at 5:45 p.m.

J. Fraser Stoddart, a former Northwestern University professor who shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry...

A 1992 photograph from a Star Newspapers story displayed at Enzo’s & Carmelcorn in Chicago Heights shows Nita and Enzo Tribo cooking a batch of their signature popcorn treat. (Daily Southtown file photo)

Enzo Tribo leaves 75-year legacy of serving Italian beef in Chicago Heights

By Samantha Moilanen

January 27, 2025 at 4:15 p.m.

Enzo Tribo, founder of Enzo’s and CarmelCorn, died leaving a legacy for serving Italian beef...

Olivia Clarke, who started group aimed at helping cancer patients with humor, dies

By Bob Goldsborough

January 27, 2025 at 7:32 p.m.

Olivia Clarke, who started a nonprofit organization aimed at helping lift the spirits of cancer...

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