Leola White dies, her home was 1st stop for many on ‘Great Migration’
For many who left the South’s cotton fields and farms for factories in Chicago, Leola White’s home was the first stop on the way to a better life.
Maureen O'Donnell
I write obituary stories for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Philip C. Chinn dies; ran Sears Tower and lobbied for open housing
In the 1960s, Phil Chinn didn’t care that his work for fair housing in DuPage County made him “extremely unpopular,” Bernard Kleina said.
Pilsen activist Inez Loredo, dead at 95, pushed for Juarez Academy
Inez Loredo — “central to the campaign to win Benito Juarez” Community Academy and a longtime community activist in Pilsen — has died at 95.
Pioneering Federal Reserve Bank economist Anne Marie Gonczy dies
“Anne Marie was an excellent economist with a tremendous amount of integrity,” said Dan Sullivan, research director at the Chicago Fed.
Jeanne Marie Uzdawinis dies; started Lincoln Square’s Cafe Selmarie
Jeanne Uzdawinis said she started Cafe Selmarie because “I want to open a cafe in my neighborhood for my neighbors and my friends.”
74 years after WWII death, Marine’s remains come home for burial
Daughter who never knew WWII Marine from the North Side looking forward to being close to him for the first time — and wishes she knew more about him.
Skip Haynes, who wrote Chicago anthem ‘Lake Shore Drive,’ dead at 71
Skip Haynes, who wrote the Chicago anthem “Lake Shore Drive,” died of cancer Monday in California. He was 71.
Henry Anderson III dies; piercing artist modified bodies of thousands
“After meeting Hank, I wouldn’t let anyone else pierce me,” said House music legend Jamie Principle, who’s on the “Humanz” world tour with Gorillaz.
Adele Bernstein dies at 103; once gave speech to Civil War vets
“If God gives you the years,” Adele Bernstein used to say, “You live.”
Robert Vaughn, dead at 82, with wife formed a formidable ‘labor team’
Chicago union leader Robert Vaughn has died at 82. The former meat-cutter rose to be president of Local 546 of the United Food and Commercial Workers.
Modernist architect William P. Pavlecic dies at 95
He designed 27 churches. Two of his striking projects include St. Gall’s, 5511 S. Sawyer, and the Citibank building at 9009 Ogden Ave. in Brookfield.
DePaul’s M. Cherif Bassiouni, global ‘champion of justice,’ dead at 79
“Cherif Bassiouni was one of the most consistent, courageous and knowledgeable people I have ever met,” said human rights activist Bianca Jagger.
Fox Lake marina’s Norman Bauske dies; had role in U.S. rose industry
Norman Bauske trained for D-Day, but then mumps sidelined him. “The entire group he trained with, not a single soul survived,” said his son Brooks.
Deadlines never rattled Sun-Times editor Frank Sugano; dead at 73
“If it was up to his standards, he approved it. If it wasn’t, he fixed it,” said former Sun-Times editor Mark Jacob, now metro editor at the Tribune.
Rolf Weil, Roosevelt U’s longest-serving president, dies at 95
Rolf Weil used to say, “In what other country could you arrive with no money, and with hard work and commitment, become a university president?’’
