Michelle L. Van Allen

Michelle L. Van Allen was the Principal of the Marcus Garvey Elementary School; she had been a student and then a teacher at the school. She was a proponent of social-emotional learning.

Alumni:
Marcus Garvey Elementary School

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Honorary Michelle L. Van Allen Way

South Morgan between 103rd and 104th

 

Approved: 2019

Ward: 34
Alderman: Austin

Near
Marcus Garvey Elementary School
10309 S Morgan St

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Source

Video Credit: YouTube, channel: Committee for Children, “What Keeps Michelle Motivated?”

Milton I. Shadur Way

The Honorable Milton Irving Shadur was a U.S. Federal Court judge for the Northern District of Illinois for thirty-seven years. When he retired he had been one of the longest serving Federal judges. He wrote more than 11,000 opinions while on the bench; he was appointed in 1980 by President Carter. Judge Shadur was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chicago Bar Association. Judge Shadur served on the Village Board for Glencoe and was a life trustee of the Ravinia Festival.

Photo: US Government, Public Domain

Alumni:
University of Chicago
University of Chicago Law School

Veteran: Navy, Lieutenant. WWII

Founding member of Congregation Am Shalom

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Honorary The Honorable Milton I. Shadur Way

West Adams Street, from South Dearborn Street to South Clark Street

 

Approved: July 2019

Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
Neighborhood: Loop/Federal Plaza

b. June 25, 1924, St Paul, Minnesota
d. January 15, 2018. Age 93. Glenview, Illinois

Near
Dirksen Courthouse Building
218 South Dearborn

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YouTube playlist: Milton Shadur. Honorary Chicago

Source

Photo credit

Joseph F. Ferguson Way

Patrolman Joseph Ferguson was shot while making an arrest in the last days of 1968.

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Honorary Joseph F. Ferguson Way

 

West side of South Paulina Street between West 32nd Place and West 33rd Place

Approved: July 2019

Ward: 12
Alderman: Cardenas
Neighborhood: McKinley Park

d. December 27, 1968. Age 26. Chicago 

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Source

The 100 Club Chicago

Erie Neighborhood House Way

The Erie Neighborhood House, originally the “little Dutch Church,” was founded in 1870 in West Town. It is Chicago’s longest operating settlement house; it originally served immigrants and low-income residents. It now has several locations and offers education and workforce development services and advocacy under its mission to be inclusive and just.

YouTube playlist: Erie Neighborhood House. Honorary Chicago

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Honorary Erie Neighborhood House Way

West Erie Street between North Elizabeth Street and North Armour Street

 

Approved: June 2019

Ward: 1
Alderman: La Spata
Neighborhood: West Town

Near
Erie Neighborhood House, 1347 W. Erie

Erie House sites and programs can also be found in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and in Little Village.

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Source

Antonio Pasin Way

Antonio Pasin was the inventor of the American classic little red wagon childrens toy known as the Radio Flyer. Antonio had emigrated from Italy in 1914 and by 1917 had setup his own design shop in Chicago. His first wagons were made from wood; by 1933 he was building his wagons from steel and promoted and sold them at the 1933-34 World Fair in Chicago. He named his wagon after the two popular inventions of the day - radios and airplanes; hence, Radio Flyer.

YouTube playlist: Antonio Pasin. Honorary Chicago

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Honorary Antonio Pasin Way

 

West Fullerton and Grand Avenues between Natchez Avenue and Normandy Avenue

Approved: September 2019

Ward: 29
Alderman: Taliaferro
Neighborhood: Montclare

b. 1897. Bessano, Italy
d. 1990 Age 93. River Forest, IL

Near
Radio Steel and Manufacturing Co. Headquarters

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Source

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-07-08-9002250622-story.html

John Novi Way

John Novi founded Cosmat Insurance in 1964 after arriving in Chicago from Italy in 1958. Cosmat offers small business and healthcare insurance. He was an active and enthusiastic member of the community.

Alumni
State Teachers College, Salerno, Italy.

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Honorary John Novi Way

 

West Belmont Avenue between Central Park Avenue and Lawndale Avenue

Approved: 2019

Ward: 30
Alderman: Reboyas
Neighborhood: Old Irving Park

d. June 6, 2018. Age 83
Glenview, IL

Near
Office of Cosmat Insurance Agency, Inc.
3601 W. Belmont

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Double Bubble Way

Double Bubble is a local tavern which has been a good neighbor for decades. “The Bubble',“ as it is known, has hosted many fundraisers through the years for residents, schools, and local causes. The owner, Larry Swoboda has offered cheap beer and priceless company for all.

Larry Swoboda March 22, 1950 - May 27, 2020. Age 70.

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Honorary Double Bubble Way

 

North Broadway between Norwood Street and Glenlake Avenue

Approved: 2019

Ward: 48
Alderman: Osterman
Neighborhood: Edgewater

Near Double Bubble Bar
6036 N. Broadway

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Roy L."Bill" Frakes Way

Deputy U.S. Marshall Roy Frakes was one of two law officers killed in the line of duty in the attempted escape of a prisoner from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse building in the Loop. He posthumously received the Marshals Service’s highest honor, and an air operations hanger in Oklahoma City was named in his honor at the Will Rogers Airport.

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Honorary Roy L. “Bill” Frakes Way

South Dearborn Street from Jackson to Adams Street

 

Approved: February 2020

Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
Neighborhood: Loop

d. July 20, 1992. Age 30.

Near
Everett McKinley Dirksen Courthouse Building - on Federal Plaza
219 S. Dearborn

Reverend Dr. David D. Clay Way

David Daniel Clay was the pastor at the Maryland Avenue Baptist Church, which he moved and renamed from the Central Avenue Baptist Church. He was born in Louisiana and spent high school in Texas before moving to Chicago and attending the Moody Bible Institute. Reverend Doctor received many invitations to preach, including one from a large Baptist congregation in Hong Kong.

His motto was: “Every saved soul is saved to help saved souls!”

Alumni:
Southern University (Baton Rouge)
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
Moody Bible Institute

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Honorary Rev. Dr. David D. Clay Way

Northwest corner of 81st St. & Maryland Ave. and Norhteast comer of 81st St. & Cottage Grove Ave

 

Approved: January 2020

Ward: 8
Alderman: Harris
Neighborhood: Chatham

b. 1913. Lousiana
d. April 2, 1972.

Maryland Avenue Baptist Church
8058 S. Maryland

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Neftali Reyes, Jr. Way

Neftali “Buzzo” Reyes was 19 years old, he graduated with honors from Roberto Clemente High School in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. He was a star athlete and an outstanding sportsman for the Wildcats. It was his dream to be a Major League Baseball Pitcher. Neftali was on a full scholarship at Claflin University in South Carolina. He was at home in Chicago for the holidays and recovering from a sports injury when a stranded friend called in need of a ride late one night. Neftali became the innocent victim of a shooting.

Alumni:
Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School

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Honorary Netfali “Buzzo” Reyes, Jr. Way

1000 and 1100 blocks of West Luis Muniz Marin Drive

 

Approved: April 2020

Ward: 26
Alderman: Maldonado
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park

b. May 3, 1998. Chicago
d. December 29, 2017. Age 19.

Near
Little Cubs Field in Humboldt Park

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Coach Lewis Thorpe Street

Lewis Thorpe was the basketball coach at North Lawndale College Prep, who led the team to the 2008 state Championship. He was demanding and firm, and highly respected as a coach.

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Honorary Coach Lewis Thorpe Street

 

West 16th Street between south Christiana
south Spaulding
&
south Thompson between Burkhardt and Farrar

Approved: 2020

 

Ward: 26
Alderman: Scott
Neighborhood: Lawndale

d. Age 56

Near
North Lawndale College Prep, Christiana Campus
and Collins campus in Douglas Park

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SPC Henry Mayfield, Jr. Way

Army Specialist Henry “Mitch” Mayfield, Jr., from south suburban Hazel Crest, was killed in the line of duty during an al-Shabab militant group attack on Manda Bay Airfield, a U.S. base in Kenya, which killed two others and damaged six aircraft. He served as part of field operations for Operation Octave Shield, which carried out intelligence gathering and air strikes on Somalia.

Mayfield was a dynamic soldier who inspired those he served with to excel both on and off duty. The 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group will miss his leadership and camaraderie.

- Col. William Garber

Alumni:
Hillcrest High School
Northern Illinois University

Veteran: Army SPC, died serving in Kenya in 2020. Operation Octave Shield

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Honorary SPC Henry Mayfield, Jr. Way

5500 block of S. Laflin

 

Approved: June 2020

Ward: 16
Alderman: Coleman
Neighborhood: Englewood

b. October 14, 1996
d. January 5, 2020
Age 23.

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John Prine Way

John Prine was a Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter. His style was humorous social commentary country folk music. He had worked as a letter carrier and in the 1970s performed weekly in local Chicago club, the Fifth Peg, when Roger Ebert wrote a glowing review in the Chicago Sun-Times which launched John’s folk music career. Since then many famous singers such as: Johnny Cash, Bette Middler, and Bonnie Raitt, and George Strait have recorded his songs. Since 1981 his son, Jody Whelan, has run John’s independent record and publishing company, Oh Boy Records. John Prine was posthumously named an honorary poet laureate of the State of Illinois in 2020. He died in Nashville at age 73 from complications of the COVID-19 virus.

Veteran: U.S. Army in Germany

YouTube

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Honorary John Prine Way

West Armitage Avenue between North Fremont Street and North Dayton Street (853-858)

 

Approved: May 2020

Ward: 43
Alderman: Smith
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

b. October 10, 1946. Maywood, IL
d. April 7, 2020. Nashville, TN
Age 73

* Amended location 2021

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Suellen Long Way

Suellen Long was a long time resident and advocate for the Uptown neighborhood and founder of her own public relations firm. She became the president of the Bridgeview Bank which had long been the center of development and social service agencies for the Uptown neighborhood, in particular, many groups of asian immigrants settled in the area. Her first involvement with the historic bank building was as part of the team which rehabilitated it, in the 1960s, after a long period of decline, The building was sold again in 2019 and will become residences. Suellen was also very involved with local charities and the Peterson-McCormick Boys & Girls Club. In 2004 she was featured in the business section of the Chicago Tribune.

Alumni:

• Plymouth High School (Indiana)

• St, Mary’s of the Woods

• Ray-Vogue College of Design in Chicago

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Honorary Suellen Long Way

West Lawrence between North Broadway and North Malden

 

Approved: May 2020

Ward: 46 and 48
Alderman: Cappleman and Osterman
Neighborhood: Uptown

b. January 17, 1942. Plymouth, Indiana
d. March 24, 2020. Age 78

Near the former Bridgeview Bank building
4735 N. Lawrence Ave.

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Disney Family Avenue

Walt Disney, and his brother Roy, were born in Chicago in a house built by their parents. Their father, Elias, was a carpenter. He built the family house, he also worked on the 1893 World Fair in Chicago and he told his children stories about the Fair.

Disney is best known for his animated films and theme parks. As an individual Walt won 22 Oscars and was nominated for an Academy award 59 times. He also won 2 Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy.

Born in Chicago: Walt, 1901; Roy, 1893

Alumni
McKinley High School. Chicago
predecessor to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

WWI Red Cross Ambulance Driver

www.thewaltdisneybirthplace.org

Walt Disney grew up in a house in Chicago's Hermosa neighborhood at 2156 N. Tripp Ave., which was built in 1893. The new homeowners have made several renovat...

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Honorary Disney Family Avenue

North Tripp Street between West Armitage Avenue and West Fullerton Avenue

 

Approved: May 2016

Ward: 35
Alderman: Ramirez-Rosa
Neighborhood: Hermosa

Walt Disney’s Birthplace
2156 N. Tripp Avenue

Walter Elias Disney
b. December 5, 1901. Chicago
d. December 15, 1966. Age 65. Los Angeles, California

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Photo credits: Kari Carbone karicarbone.com

Walt Disney Birthplace and Facebook page and Wikipedia and IMDB
A Cinderella story for Walt Disney's childhood home - Chicago Tribune

Michael W. Gonzalez Way

Michael Gonzalez was the founder and CEO of Maestros Ventures, an Engineering Services firm in Chicago. He served as President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers - Chicago Chapter; President of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA); Member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board; Vice Chairman of the Illinois Legislative Caucus Foundation; and Trustee on the Board of PBS Station WTTW, Channel 11.

Born in Chicago

Alumni
Holy Family Grammar School, Chicago
St. Ignatius High School
University of Illinois at Chicago, Engineering School

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Honorary Michael W. Gonzalez Way

South May Street from West Cullerton Street to West 21st Street

 

Approved: 2020

Ward: 25
Alderman: Byron Sigcho-Lopez
Neighborhood: Pilsen

d. July 8, 2019. Age 63.

Clarence L . Shaffer, Sr. Drive

Clarence Shaffer was a Navy WWII veteran and former professional baseball player in the Southern Negro League. He was Deacon of The Way of The Cross Holiness Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago for 37 years, where his wife was the Pastor, W.E. Shaffer.

Veteran: Navy, WWII

Born: Mississippi

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Honorary Clarence L. Shaffer, Sr. Drive

 

South Halsted between 81st to 83rd*

Approved: January 2020

Ward: 21
Alderman: Howard Brookins, Jr.
Neighborhood: South Side, Auburn Gresham

b: Mississippi July 22, 1925
d: Chicago April 16, 2012. Age 87.

Near
The Way of The Cross Holiness M.B. Church
8229 S. Halsted

* the location was amended to 81st to 83rd Street in 2021

Ivan de Jesus Reyes Way

Ivan de Jesus Reyes was born in Chicago and raised in the Pilsen neighborhood who worked as a Senior Pharmacy Technician. He graduated with a degree in Biology which he put to use as a researcher at the University of Illinois, studying plant invasive species which had applications in agriculture and renewable energy. In his community he was known as an active volunteer, a great neighbor, and huge baseball fan. He was a member of the congregation at St. Pius V Catholic Church. His diagnosis with cancer at age 31 did not dampen his outlook on life nor his role as a mentor and volunteer at the local YMCA and Harrison Park.

Alumni:
Cooper Elementary School
Whitney Young High School
Northeastern Illinois University

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Honorary Ivan de Jesus Reyes Way

 

West 21st Place between South Paulina Street and West 21st Street

Approved: 2020

Ward: 25
Alderman: Byron Sigcho-Lopez
Neighborhood: Pilsen

b. October 3, 1983. Chicago
d. July 12, 2016. Chicago

Justice John Paul Stevens Way

John Paul Stevens was a United States Supreme Court Justice for 35 years. At his retirement in 2010, he was the third longest serving judge in the history of the Supreme Court. He lived to be 99 years old.

Born in Chicago. Raised in Hyde Park

Alumni:
Northwestern Law School
University of Chicago
University of Chicago Lab School

Retired: 2010

Presidential Medal of Freedom 2012

Veteran: Navy, Lieutenant, WWII, Bronze Star

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Justice John Paul Stevens Way

 

East Chicago Avenue between Lake Shore Drive and Fairbanks Court

Approved: 2019

Ward: 2
Alderman: Hopkins
Neighborhood: Streeterville

Born April 20, 1920 in Chicago
d. July 16, 2019, Age 99

Near the Northwestern University Law School, Downtown Campus

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Photo: Steve Petteway, photographer for the US Supreme Court [Public domain]

Plumbers Campus

Honorary Plumbers Campus was designated to commemorate the new state-of-the-art plumbers training center by UA Local 130 to meet the training needs of the future. Training includes: rainwater harvesting, grey water harvesting, and solar water heating.

See video of new Plumbers Campus

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Honorary Plumbers Campus

 

1400 block of West Washington Street

Approved: 2019

Ward: 27
Alderman: Burnett
Neighborhood: West Loop

Near Plumbers new training facility