Rev. James Bass preached over 90 years, championed Martin Luther King Jr.
The church the Rev. James Bass founded birthed “more than 15 churches . . . and more than 30 preachers, ministers and pastors,” said his son Vincent.
I write obituary stories for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Lake Shore Drive sentry Kermit Campbell, ‘so much more than’ a doorman, has died
Kermit Campbell “was that big brother, always watching,” said Reggie Stewart, a coworker at 840 N. Lake Shore Drive.
Francis J. Higgins, lawyer with a ‘dominant, overpowering intellect,’ dead at 81
Frank Higgins had “an encyclopedic knowledge of the law and a photographic memory. And he was driven. He never liked to lose.”
Adelaide Morgan, postal worker who came north for a better life, dead at 80
At 19, she’d moved to Chicago from Alabama. She became a mentor to African-Americans who moved up from the South during the Great Migration.
Our Lady of Angels fire ‘was a day of infamy,’ says mother whose son perished
Constance Piscopo’s son Frank was one of 95 people who died in the fire 60 years ago this weekend. The victims were remembered at a cemetery service.
Service ‘was like going back 50 years’ — Mass honors victims, heroes of tragedy
The victims of the fire were remembered at a mass on Dec. 1, 2008, the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.
Survivors, alumni gather to remember victims of Our Lady of the Angels fire
The 50th anniversary of the fire at Our Lady of the Angels School was remembered with a mass in 2008.
Website, books help Our Lady of the Angels fire survivors cope, connect
The survivors’ voices come across loud and clear on a website that bristles with emotion.
Syd Jerome founder Sidney Shapiro, dead at 86, dressed lawyers, traders, stars
Whether he was meeting presidents, prime ministers or titans of industry, “In every instance,” Leo Melamed said, “I was wearing a Syd Jerome suit.”
Aimee Johnson-Kilman, massage therapist, wife of radio newsman, dead at 53
Aimee Johnson-Kilman “was my dream girl,” said radio newsman Buzz Kilman, her husband of 22 years. She died after a recurrence of breast cancer.
Courtenay Wright, University of Chicago physicist, witness to D-Day, dead at 95
Courtenay Wright, U. of C. physicist who in WWII decoded a message that made him one of the first to know about the launch of D-Day, has died.
After 34 years investigating deaths, Rudy Rios had 14 months of love
After both sons died, “I was at the point where I didn’t want to be here anymore,” said Grace Rios. “Rudy helped me. . .he never gave up.”
Riccardo Levi-Setti, famed physicist, fossil-hunting ‘rock star,’ dead at 91
Retired U. of C. physicist Riccardo Levi-Setti was also a rock star — a renowned authority on trilobite fossils,. He died Nov. 8 in Hyde Park at 91.
Zenon Mazurkevich, architect of landmark Ukrainian church on NW Side, dead at 79
Zenon Mazurkevich-designed Chicago church “is this gigantic, shiny, imposing yet quirky spaceship-like object” in an unusual Northwest Side spot.
Frank Rotondo, longtime bartender at L. Woods, Bones, Kenilworth Inn, dead at 83
Bartender Frank Rotondo was “part therapist, part bartender, part friend,” says Rich Melman, founder of Lettuce Entertain You restaurants.
