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222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago, IL, 60654
312-380-9883
Chicago's honorary brown street signs, days, and commemorative honors; the who, what, where, when and why. Honorary Chicago guide book, maps, biographies, history, trivia, tours, and gifts.
Yuleander Seals, “YOLO 150” as he was known, was a City worker who died while performing his duties; he was hit by a service vehicle.
Ward: 3
Alderman: Dowell
Neighborhood: Washington Park
Source
Third generation Italian food wholesale and retailer. J.P Graziano Grocery Company was started in 1937 by his grandfather Vincenzo Graziano who emigrated from Sicily.
Ward: 27
Alderman: Burnett
Neighborhood:
J.P. Graziano
901 W. Randolph Street
Ward: 25
Alderman: Sigcho-Lopez
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Source
Sister Patricia Fillenwarth was a member of the Humboldt Park community for more than 37 years. She served as Director of Providence Family Services for 24 years and was a bilingual counselor. She started the Providence Family Services Center in 1994. This expanded to include an “After-School Homework Club,” tutoring programs, English as a second language, computer classes, and citizenship classes.
Previously she had been a teacher and then Principal of the Maternity Blessed Virgin Mary elementary school, she taught in Washington DC and in her home town of Indianapolis. In 1971 Sister Patty served as a missionary in Peru for 6 years.
Sister Patty, previously Sister Joseph Monica, joined Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary’s of the Woods in 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Here is her writing Every Day is a Gift and also a poem of gratitude following a 2012 Rummage Sale fundraiser.
Alumna:
Northeastern Illinois University
Ward: 26
Alderman: Maldonado
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park
Providence Family Services
1540 N. Monticello Avenue
b. September 1, 1940
d. January 7, 2020. Age 79.
Source
https://spsmw.org/sister-profile/patricia-fillenwarth/
Raul Montes was a civic leader and activist in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. He was the Superintendent of the 22nd Ward for Streets and Sanitation from 1990 until he retired in 2010. Raul established block clubs which improved the homes and made the neighborhood safer for children and the elderly. Previously, Raul worked for the Chicago Department of Aviation and the Chicago Department of Human Services. City Council Member, “Chuy” Garcia, appointed Raul a Democratic Precinct Captain for the 6th Precinct. “Chuy” later became US Rep Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.
He came to the US from Chihuahua, Mexico in 1965 and worked at Marshall Field’s department store on State Street as a busboy. By 1967 he worked at Western Electric, where he met his wife. They raised their three children in the Little Village neighborhood.
Ward: 22
Alderman: Rodriguez
Neighborhood: Little Village
b. August 9, 1948. Chihuahua, Mexico
d. Age 72. COVID-19
Michael Aloysius Specialle was a member of the Park Ridge Police Department in Norwood Park.
Ward: 41
Alderman: Napolitano
Neighborhood: Norwood Park
b. December 30, 1993
d. August 13, 2020. Age 26.
Source
https://www.chicagolandcremationoptions.com/obituary/michael-specialle
Jeff “Trogs” Troglia served for twelve years as a Chicago Police Officer.
Chicago Joe would watch this video every day after his open heart surgery. Officer Jeff Troglia had such a positive effect on my then 5 year old son during his most trying time. This past Friday, he lost his life. I pray for him, his wife, his kids, his family and friends. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/UgTtNSj9JI
— Tim Doyle (@TimDoyle00) March 8, 2021
Ward: 19
Alderman: O’Shea
Neighborhood: Mount Greenwood
d. March 5, 2021. Age 38. Chicago
Source: Hero Down Chicago
Harold Wayne Bone retired from the Chicago Police Department after 31 years of service and numerous commendations and awards. He was well respected among his peers and lived a life of service to his City and his profession. He was a talented officer and was keenly aware of situations and able to address any challenge he faced.
He loved his job, his family, his animals, oldies music, and playing cards.
Ward: 38
Alderman: Sposato
Neighborhood: Norridge
d. March 17, 2021. Age 66.
Source: Obituary
Corporal Kurt A. Kruger was a Marine 1980-1984 who served in Grenada and Lebanon conflicts; after his years of service he returned to Chicago delivered mail with the U.S. Post Office for thirty years.
Kurt grew up in the Chrysler Village neighborhood of Chicago and later raised his own family nearby.
Alumnus:
St. Laurence High School
St. Symporosa Elementary School
Veteran: Marines - Grenada, Lebanon
West 63rd Place at South Latrobe Avenue
Ward: 13
Alderman: Quinn
Neighborhood: West Lawn
b. July 2, 1962
d. December 22, 2019. Age 57
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church was founded in 1906 at 4444 North Laramie Avenue and was a fixture in the community for over one hundred years. It became one of the largest parishes on the Northwest side of Chicago. Father Francis Chickozki was the first Pastor. The Our Lady of Victory School was open from 1910-2016. In the original school building, the nuns lived on the third floor, above the classrooms.
Our Lady of Victory Church held its final mass on June 13, 2021 with Reverend Michael Wyrzykowski and merged with the Saint Pascal and Saint Bartholomew Parishes.
Ward: 38
Alderman: Sposato
Neighborhood: Portage Park/Jefferson Park
Our Lady of Victory
5212 W. Agatite Avenue
4444 N. Laramie
Source
http://www.olvchicago.org
https://nadignewspapers.com/2020/12/19/%EF%BB%BFour-lady-of-victory-church-in-jefferson-park-to-close-by-late-2021-property-could-eventually-be-sold/
Saint Thecla Church and School
Ward: 41
Alderman: Napolitano
Neighborhood: Norwood Park
Source
Cindy was a long-time resident and well known neighbor on Hermitage Avenue who helped shape and define the neighborhood with her welcoming and friendly ways.
Ward: 40
Alderman: Vasquez
Neighborhood: Edgewater
b. April 21, 1947
d. August 8, 2021. Age 74.
Long time residents of Rogers Park who were leaders of the Community Council and well known by young and old alike. Sanford “Sandy” wrote an opinion blog about neighborhood matters and was a local activist. He had worked for Broyhill Furniture for 25 years and had been the owner of a local video store, and ran the “Hi Neighbor Day” carnival. Carol worked on projects for seniors, housing resources, and fundraising for the community, and was a member of the garden club. They traveled the world together and were a very social couple.
Ward: 49
Alderman: Hadden
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
Carol
d. June 14, 2021. Age 84.
Sanford
d. June 24, 2021. Age 89.
Source
https://rogerspark.org/home.html
Jack “Rosy” Rosenberg was sports editor for The Tribune Company and WGN from 1954-1994, and was a huge behind the scenes influence on the radio and television production of sports. He was often found in the broadcast booth with Jack Brickhouse. He also worked with other Chicago legends: Harry Caray, Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau, Jack Quinlan and Irv Kupcinet.
Jack arranged for President Kennedy to be interviewed by a sports reporter during a game. He also wrote the Hall of Fame induction speech for Jack Brickhouse.
He was a “walking encyclopedia” of Chicago sports.
WGN Radio Walk of Fame 2017
RIP Jack Rosenberg. We’ve lost a Chicago treasure, a WGN legend, and one of the nicest men to ever walk the earth. Pioneer, mentor, brilliant writer, heart of gold. THREAD pic.twitter.com/BZD3ngLqLQ
— Bob Vorwald (@BobVorwald) December 28, 2020
Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
Neighborhood: Magnificent Mile
b. 1926. Pekin, Illinois
d. December 26, 2020. Age 94. Chicago
Source
Robert Feder. https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/12/28/jack-rosenberg-1926-2020/
https://wgnradio.com/wgn-insider/legendary-wgn-sports-producer-jack-rosenberg-to-be-recognized-with-honorary-street-name/
Jack Brickhouse Hall of Fame Induction Speech. https://wgnradio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/08/Jack-Brickhouses-speech-written-by-Jack-Rosenberg-for-Induction-into-Baseballs-Hall-of-Fame.pdf
Manager of Calumet Fisheries restaurant for more than 25 years.
Hospitality Institute of Chicago
George Washington High School
Marsh Grade School
Ward: 10
Alderman: Garza
Neighborhood: South Chicago/South Deering
Near Calumet Fisheries restaurant
d. July 20, 2020. Age 41.
Source
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/7/22/21334407/calumet-fisheries-carlos-rosas-obituary
https://chicago.eater.com/2020/7/24/21335613/calumet-fisheries-manager-carlos-rosas-obituary-intel
https://news.wttw.com/2021/02/18/chicago-tonight-your-neighborhood-south-deering
https://calumetfisheries.com/
Husband and wife who died of COVID-19 within weeks of each other. Guadalupe (Lupe) Lopez was an Emergency 911 Dispatcher at the Office of Emergency Management for the City of Chicago, where he worked for 33 years. He was also a coach of his neighborhood little league baseball team. Maria (Lupita) was very active in the Little Village community where she had an income tax business.
They both went into the hospital on November 8 and died within weeks. Due to the Pandemic conditions they could not be in the same room with each other and said goodbye using a video service.
Officers in Chicago rely on their dispatchers while serving and protecting this city. For #ChicagoPolice officers working in @ChicagoCAPS10 & @ChicagoCAPS11, Lupe Lopez was a voice of security and reassurance. Our heartfelt condolences are with Lupe's family & friends. https://t.co/MmENRiiawM
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) November 16, 2020
Ward: 14
Alderman: Burke
Neighborhood: Archer Heights
Near the home where the lived and raised their family
Guadalupe (Lupe)
d. November 2020. Age 58.
Maria (Lupita)
d. December 2020. Age 56.
Source
ABC News
ABC News - Maria Lopez
Chicago Tribune https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-covid19-maria-lopez-police-dispatcher-wife-20201205-4d7vbbxlkfbfxehoxgp6d6aqxe-story.html
Olga Quiroga was a popular teacher of immigrant students in Chicago Public Schools for more than 30 years. She was known for her kind heart and generous spirit. She loved teaching; her students were like family to her. Olga taught third and fifth graders at Funston Elementary School.
Olga was born in Mexico, when she came to the United States she worked cleaning houses and earned her GED; she went on to get her Bachelor and teaching degrees.
She was taken to the hospital on September 11 and died on October 1. Due to the severity and early stage of the outbreak of COVID-19, her family had no contact with her from the time she entered the hospital until the day she died. Olga was among the first Chicago Public School teachers to die from COVID-19.
Chicago State University
Ward: 35
Alderman: Ramirez-Rosa
Neighborhood: Hermosa
Near Funston Elementary School
b. September 30. Tamaulipas, Mexico
d. October 1, 2020. Age 58. Chicago
Founder of Albany Park, North Park, and Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice. She was an anti-war activist and a tireless champion of social justice. She and her husband led the group at weekly protests in the neighborhood; followed by a lively discussion and political analysis.
Betty Reskinoff was an educator who taught a variety of subject including Social Studies, English, and Art at the Junior High School to the College level; including DePaul, DeVry, the University of Illinois at Chicago and at a school in East Africa. She was involved in many strikes and protests throughout her career. Betty was not afraid of running afoul of any administration.
Betty grew up in Yonkers, New York and spent some of her childhood living in public housing, which she enjoyed as a child, it helped foment her fighting spirit against inequity and class differences.
University of California, Berkeley
NYU School of Education
Ward: 35
Alderman: Ramirez-Rosa
Neighborhood: Irving Park
d. April 28, 2020. Age 84. Chicago
Phillip Jackson was the founder of the Black Star Project and a former Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and Chief of Education for the City of Chicago. Prior to entering pubic service he had a 24-year career with Kroch’s and Brentano’s booksellers, rising from stock room to Sr. Vice President of Operations.
Among his numerous recognitions, he was honored as an Education Champion of Change at the White House during the Barack Obama administration, and as Education Man of the Year at the Bud Billikin Parade.
In 1996 he started the Black Star Project to eliminate the education gap among low income black and latinx youth. Black Star focused on tutors, mentors, and parents - including the Million Father March, taking their kids to school on the first day of the school year. Educational programs include: Saturday University, Math Boot Camp, Reading Academy, and private tutoring.
Phillip Jackson was born into the Altgeld Garden public housing project in Chicago and later lived in the Bronzeville neighborhood.
National Lewis University
Roosevelt University
DuSable High School
Chicago Public Schools
Ward: 4
Alderman: Sophia King
Neighborhood: Bronzeville
Black Star Project
3509 S. Martin Luther King Drive
b. September 22, 1950. Chicago.
d. November 4, 2018. Age 68.
Source
Black Star Project
Block Club Chicago
TheHistoryMakers.org
GameChangersProject.org
Manager of Hegewisch First Merchants Bank
Ward: 10
Alderman: Garza
Neighborhood: Hegewisch
b. September 9, 1922
d. August 24, 1996. Age 73.
Source