Obituaries
Memorializing notable Chicagoans and people from around the world who have recently died.
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.
As executive chef at the old Chicago Stadium and the United Center in the early 1990s, he cooked for athletes and their families as well as team owners. He later headed the kitchen for Smith & Wollensky and also worked at Chicago Cut Steakhouse.
The couple had been married for 61 years at the time of her passing.
MacNeil first gained prominence for his coverage of the Senate Watergate hearings for PBS and began his half-hour “Robert MacNeil Report” on PBS in 1975 with his friend Jim Lehrer as Washington correspondent.
A message posted Thursday on Simpson’s official X account — formerly Twitter — said he died after battling cancer.
The Chicagoan quit a career in sales to pursue his dream of being a chef.
A two-time All-Star, Grote played 16 seasons in the majors and batted .252 with 39 home runs and 404 RBI.
Karen Yarbrough was the first Black person and first woman to serve as Cook County clerk. Mayor Brandon Johnson said Yarbrough “forged a path for officials like myself and others” as a pioneer and tireless legislator.
Mr. Phillips was always the first on stage warming up before performances at Orchestra Hall.
City’s Black entrepreneurs recall Dale’s generosity and support.
He offered Chicago’s Korean community information on the American justice system, politics and education, as well as a way to stay connected to local news and each other.
Lucchino hired 28-year-old Theo Epstein as general manager of the Red Sox.
On ‘SCTV’ he was known as station owner Guy Caballero and monster movie host Count Floyd.
Lou Conter was on the main deck of the Arizona as Japanese planes flew overhead at 7:55 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941. About 87,000 military personnel were on Oahu that day, and about 19 survivors of the attack are estimated to still be alive.
Davis infamously retired during halftime of a game in 2018.
Chance Perdomo, star of 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' and 'Gen V,' dies in motorcycle crash at 27
Perdomo, who was Black and Latino, was born in Los Angeles and raised in England. Perdomo also acted in several of the ‘After’ movies and is credited in the upcoming ‘Bad Man’ alongside Seann William Scott and Rob Riggle.
A Roman Catholic, Mr. Phelan used his executive powers as board president to restore abortion services to the county’s health care provider. Planned Parenthood Illinois Action created the yearly Richard J. Phelan Profile in Courage Award in his honor.
In 1983, Gossett became the third Black Oscar nominee in the supporting actor category. He won for his performance as the intimidating Marine drill instructor in “An Officer and a Gentleman” opposite Richard Gere and Debra Winger.
He launched a campaign against a proposed neo-Nazis march at a time the suburb was home to many Holocaust survivors. His rabbi at Skokie Central Congregation urged Jews to ignore the Nazis. “I jumped up and said, ‘No, Rabbi. We will not stay home and close the windows.’ ”
Joe Lieberman was a Democrat who ran for vice president with Al Gore in 2000 and became an independent and nearly joined the GOP ticket eight years later with Sen. John McCain.
Richard Serra was considered one of his generation’s most preeminent sculptors,known for his large-scale steel structures that he shaped into many forms.
David van Dyck was one of the most respected sportswriters in Chicago. He had a gift of getting to know behind-the-scenes people who tipped him to scoops and gave his reporting depth. He later worked for the Baseball Hall of Fame.