Obituaries - Chicago Tribune

Advertisement

Sheila Trainor, Oak Park teacher who ‘embraced children,’ dies at 70

Sheila Trainor taught in Oak Park elementary schools for more than 12 years before a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis forced her to step back from teaching.

October 27, 2023

Richard Roundtree, star of ‘Shaft,’ dies at 81

Richard Roundtree, an icon of Blaxploitation film who starred as detective John Shaft in Gordon Parks’ 1971 action thriller, died Tuesday afternoon after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old.

October 24, 2023

Harry Porterfield, Chicago TV news fixture remembered for his ‘Someone You Should Know’ features, dies

Harry Porterfield, a fixture on Chicago’s TV airwaves for more than 50 years, known for his “Someone You Should Know" features, has died at 95.

October 24, 2023

Jim DeJong, highly regarded Chicago jazz authority, dies at 81

Jim DeJong, a jazz music authority who was one of the driving forces behind the Jazz Institute of Chicago, has died.

October 23, 2023

Burt Young, the Oscar-nominated actor who played Paulie in ‘Rocky’ films, dies at 83

Oscar-nominated actor Burt Young has died. Young played Paulie, the angry, grumbling best friend and brother-in-law of Sylvester Stallone in six “Rocky” movies.

October 19, 2023

Suzanne Somers, of ‘Three’s Company’ fame, dies at 76

Suzanne Somers, the effervescent blonde actor known for playing Chrissy Snow on the television show “Three’s Company” as well as her business endeavors, has died. She was 76.

October 15, 2023

Stephen Rubin, publisher of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and other blockbusters, dies at 81

Stephen Rubin, a longtime publishing executive with an eye for bestsellers and a passion for music and public life who helped launched the career of John Grisham, among others, and released such blockbusters as “The Da Vinci Code” and “Fire and Fury,” has died. He was 81.

October 15, 2023

Piper Laurie, 3-time Oscar nominee and star of ‘The Hustler’ and ‘Carrie,’ dies at 91

Piper Laurie, the strong-willed, Oscar-nominated actor who performed in acclaimed roles despite at one point abandoning acting altogether in search of a “more meaningful” life, died early Saturday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 91.

October 15, 2023

Louise Glück, Nobel-winning poet of terse and candid lyricism, dies at 80

Nobel laureate Louise Glück has died at 80.

October 13, 2023

James ‘Tail Dragger’ Jones, Chicago blues singer remembered as a ‘true original,’ dies at 82

James "Tail Dragger" Jones was a Chicago blues singer who gave raw performances at clubs around the city for decades.

October 12, 2023

Rudolph Isley, founding member of Isley Brothers and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, dies at 84

Rudolph Isley, a founding member of the Isley Brothers who helped perform such raw rhythm and blues classics as “Shout” and “Twist and Shout” and the funky hits “That Lady” and “It’s Your Thing,” has died at age 84.

October 12, 2023

Chicago’s Dorothy Hoffner, 104, dies one week after setting skydiving record: ‘She was just indefatigable’

Dorothy Hoffner died in her sleep one week after setting the world record to become the oldest skydiver ever. "She was just indefatigable. She just kept going."

October 10, 2023

Chef, TV personality Michael Chiarello dies at 61 after being treated for allergic reaction

Michael Chiarello, a chef known for his Italian-inspired Californian restaurants who won an Emmy Award for best host for “Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello” and appeared on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and “Top Chef Masters,” has died. He was 61.

October 09, 2023

Kathleen Carroll, HR executive who promoted discussions on identity and equality, dies at 55

Kathleen Carroll, a Chicago area human resources executive who was devoted to mentoring and promoting women in leadership roles, has died at 55.

October 09, 2023

Patricia Nicarico, who bore a family tragedy with ‘courage and fortitude and grace,’ dies at 80

After her daughter Jeanine was murdered in 1983, Pat Nicarico channeled her grief into a determination to see the killer brought to justice and work to support childhood literacy in her daughter’s name.

October 08, 2023

‘He was Chicago’s son’: Dick Butkus, the Hall of Fame Bears linebacker known for his toughness, dies at 80

Perhaps no player in the Chicago Bears’ 104-year history better epitomized the team’s tough and determined identity than Dick Butkus.

October 05, 2023

Linda Jackson, Glendale Heights village president for 20 years, dies

Linda Jackson, Glendale Heights’ village president from 2001 until 2021 and an elected village trustee for 10 years prior to that, has died at 74.

October 03, 2023

Raymond Morrill, Wheaton parks recreation superintendent and board member, dies

Raymond W. Morrill was for many years the superintendent of recreation and special facilities at the Wheaton Park District, later serving as an elected board member for 16 years.

September 29, 2023

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, an advocate for liberal priorities, dies at age 90

Feinstein, the oldest sitting U.S. senator, was a passionate advocate for liberal priorities important to California but was also known as a pragmatic lawmaker who reached out to Republicans and sought middle ground.

September 29, 2023

Norb Tatro, Chicago TV news producer who ‘exuded calm,’ dies

Norb Tatro, an award-winning television news producer for two Chicago TV stations and for NBC News’ Chicago bureau, has died.

September 28, 2023

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1

2

3

4

5

Advertisement