Obituaries
Memorializing notable Chicagoans and people from around the world who have recently died.
The Chicago musicmaker was the sound engineer behind albums for thousands of bands and singers, including Nirvana’s “In Utero,” the last studio album recorded by Kurt Cobain and company.
As Théoden, King of Rohan, in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,’ he delivered a rousing cry before leading his forces into battle.
Eddy and producer Lee Hazlewood helped create the “Twang” sound in the 1950s, a sound Hazlewood later adapt to his production of Nancy Sinatra’s 1960s smash “These Boots Are Made for Walkin.’”
Avellini’s miraculous 37-yard touchdown pass to Greg Latta with three seconds left beat the Chiefs 28-27 in 1977 and sparked a six-game winning streak that put the Bears in the playoffs for the first time since 1963.
He fed hungry steelworkers from the nearby U.S. Steel South Works plant, taking off just two days a year — Christmas and Thanksgiving. But his kids would join him and help out at the restaurant.
He was known for his books on crime and cinema that fed the interests of buffs before the age of Wikipedia and IMDb.
Pinder, the last original member of the band, sang and played keyboards, as well as organ, piano and harpsichord. He founded the British band in 1964 with Laine, Ray Thomas, Clint Warwick and Graeme Edge.
“In some ways, he helped pave the way for the rising tide of documentary production that we see today,” said colleague Thea Flaum.
Terry Anderson was chief Middle East correspondent for the AP when he was kidnapped in Beirut in 1985 by the militant group Hezbollah, who suspected he was a spy. His 1991 best-seller ‘Den of Lions’ chronicles his torture and time in captivity.
British conductor, who led nearly 700 Lyric performances of 62 operas, died in Chicago from leukemia.
Mandisa, whose full name is Mandisa Lynn Hundley, was born near Sacramento, California, and grew up singing in church.
Tobin was a longtime Bears executive who served as the team’s de facto general manager from 1986 to 1992.
As a child, Betts changed schools often because his father worked construction, and those memories later inspired him to write “Ramblin’ Man,” the band’s biggest hit.
Mr. Mhoon toured with the gospel group and was “just as cute as he could be,” says singer Mavis Staples. The experience paved the way for his success in the music industry.
Mr. Coleman led countless demonstrations in his six decades as an activist. “Slim believed the real power was in organization, putting people in the streets and packing people into government meetings,” said friend Michael Klonsky.
Among the last survivors from the celebrated Brooklyn teams of the 1950s, Erskine spent his entire major-league career with the Dodgers from 1948 to 1959, helping them win five National League pennants. He threw a no-hitter against the Cubs in 1952.
Herzog guided St. Louis to three pennants and a World Series title in the 1980s and perfected an intricate, nail-biting strategy known as “Whiteyball.”
Mr. Grossman was the principal writer of the 1967 Illinois Housing Development Act, which established the Illinois Housing Development Authority to finance affordable housing across Illinois. He also hosted an early coffee at his Hyde Park home for Barack Obama when he was running for state Senate.
The company said Chris Crane will be remembered for his “transformational milestones” on safety and equity, specifically related to his work in the nuclear energy field.
Holtzman played 15 seasons in the majors from 1965 to 1979, beginning and ending his career with the Cubs.
As a photographer for the Associated Press, Gene Herrick photographed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and the men accused of killing Emmett Till. He also covered Major League Baseball, Elvis Presley and five U.S. presidents.
A founder in 1971 of the Where We At artists collective for Black women, Ringgold became a social activist, frequently protesting the lack of representation of Black and female artists in American museums.