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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.
Filtering by Category: profile
James W. Southward Sr.
Ward: 27
Alderman: Walter Burnett, Jr
Neighborhood: Garfield Park
Source
202410061
Leo Louchios was the founder of the Chicago Greektown Educational Foundation. He also served as a Senior Advisor at the State of Illinois to the Secretary of State Office.
Ward: 34
Alderman: Bill Conway
Neighborhood: West Loop
b. December 10, 1956 in Cyprus
d. August 3, 2023. Age 66
Dedicated: September 5, 2024
for the opening of the Taste of Greektown Festival
Source
202410008
https://www.colonialfuneral.com/obituaries/Leo-C-Louchios?obId=28622051
https://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2023/8/9/23826233/leo-louchios-greektown-adviser-jesse-white-alexi-giannoulias
James B. Lemons was the owner of Lem’s Bar-B-Q, famous for Mississippi style, open pit, slow cooked pork rib tips. The restaurant was established by his older brothers, Bruce and Myles Lemons, in the 195o’s and has been serving Chicago for more than 70 years.
Ward: 06
Alderman: William Hall
Neighborhood: Grand Crossing
d. Age 87
Near
Lem’s Bar-B-Q
311 S. 75th Street
Source
20249802
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/6/24/18398334/chicago-bbq-king-james-b-lemons-a-founder-of-lem-s-dies-at-87
https://youtu.be/rN7T3YUljwA?si=4u-dNtuGhn6qrSu4
https://chicago.eater.com/2015/12/15/10232066/james-lemons-lems-bbq-dead
https://www.southernfoodways.org/interview/lems-bar-b-q/
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151215/chatham/james-lemons-bbq-master-behind-lems-bar-b-q-chatham-dies/
http://lemsque.com/
Ronald C. “Topper” Topczewski was a former President of the Polish American Police Association (PAPA). He joined the Chicago police force in 1962 and enjoyed a 32 year career. He served in the US Army from 1963 to 1965. In retirement he worked for Taft High School.
Veteran: Army
Ward: 38
Alderman: Nicholas Sposato
Neighborhood: Jefferson Park
b. August 18, 1939
d. December 23, 2023. Age 84
Source
20248860
https://www.skajafuneralhomes.com/obituary/ronald-topper-topczewski
https://youtu.be/YRaXkSoOJRk?si=hCSeTldhZzYNTOME
Fernando Miguel DeLeon grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago. He was a member of the musical group “Los Perdidos” which had one of it’s songs featured in the Chicago film “Go For It.”
Alumni:
Kelvin Park High School
Funston Elementary
Ward: 36
Alderman: Gilbert Villegas
Neighborhood: Belmont Craigin
b. April 12, 1986 in Puerto Rico
d.May 30, 2020 age 34 in Chicago
near
His home
Source
20249457
Bill Kress grew up in South Chicago and worked on the deep tunnel project and for the City of Chicago Department of Environmental Control, and at the Illinois Department of Transportation. He was also a little league baseball coach.
Alum
Mendel High School
St Pat’s Grammar School
Veteran: Air Force, served in Vietnam
Ward: 10
Alderman: Peter Chico
Neighborhood: East Side
b. September 21, 1948
d. December 20, 2023. Age 75.
near
Sports fields where he coached
He is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery
Source
20249167
https://elmwoodchapel.com/visit-info/obituary.php?id=5631
John Swearengen was the CEO and Chairman of the Standard Oil Company (of Indiana) from 1960-1983. He turned the struggling company into a profitable venture in oil exploration. He was frequently quoted as a leading member of the petroleum industry. He started out in the company research center in Whiting, Indiana, which produced aviation fuel during WWII. The Engineering Center at his alma mater, University of South Carolina, is named for him. In retirement, he helped turn around financial institutions during the banking crisis of the 1980s.
He also had the Standard Oil building (currently AON Center) built in Chicago. The company was later acquired, and the name of the company (and the building) changed to BP-Amoco.
Alumni:
Carnegie Mellon University
University of South Carolina. Phi Beta Kappa
Neighborhood: Michigan Avenue
b. September 7, 1918
d. September 14, 2007. Age 89
near
Standard Oil Building (Aon Center)
200 E. Randolph
Source
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/09/17/john-e-swearingen-1918-2007/
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/business/18swearingen.html
https://www.nae.edu/19579/19581/51314/300179/305149/JOHN-E-SWEARINGEN-19182007
https://www.hbs.edu/leadership/20th-century-leaders/details?profile=john_e_swearingen
https://app.adoraexperiences.com/university-of-south-carolina/general-campus-tour---driving/swearingen-engineering-center/
Ward: 27
Alderman: Walter Burnett, Jr.
Neighborhood:Smith Park/West Loop
Source
20249193
Verlean Perkins was a dedicated member of her community, education, and children. She wasa life long Chicagoan. For 30 years Verlean worked for the Board of Education and was a 15 year contributor to the summer food programs, and a dependable poll worker. She was the chairperson and 20 year volunteer of the Chicago Academic Games League.
She was a “mom” to the neighborhood children and was known as the “Apple Woman” to all who lived near her.
Alumni:
Chicago Public Schools
Member of the Apostolic Church of God
Ward: 20
Alderman: Jeannette Taylor
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
b. April 9, 1934 in Chicago
near
her home
Source
20249171
Dr. Donda West was a professor at Chicago State University for 24 years and the former Chair of the English Department. She was the founder of the Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing. Donda West was awarded a Fullbright Scholarship. The Dr. Donda West Foundation supports underserved youth and encourages teenagers and young adults to stay in school.
She is author of Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star (2009). Donda is the mother of Kanye West.
Alum
Virginia Union University
Clark Atlanta University
Auburn University
Ward: 07
Alderman: Gregory Mitchell
Neighborhood: South Shore
b. July 12, 1949
d. November 10, 2007. Age 58.
Near
Her Home
Source
20249679
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donda_West
WBEZ: Keynote Address by Donda West. https://www.wbez.org/2007/10/19/keynote-address-dr-donda-west-on-raising-kanye
Phil Doran, Sr. was a life-long Chicagoan from the Beverly neighborhood. He and his wife met in grade school. He was a lawyer and was active in his community and parish as a committed volunteer and former Chairman of the Board of the Franciscan Outreach.
Alumni:
Christ the King Elementary School and Parish
St. Ignatius High School
John Carroll University
Northwestern University - Law
Born in Chicago
Ward: 19
Alderman: O’Shea
Neighborhood: Beverly
b. November 6, 1940. Chicago
d. September 18, 2020. Age 79.
Near
Christ the King Church
Jeanne Marie Uzdawinis was the co-owner of Cafe Selmarie in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. She and Birgit Kobayashi were neighbors on Giddings Street who started the European styled cafe in 1983. The Cafe began as a bakery featuring what became Jeanne’s famous hazelnut cheesecake. It has grown in size and popularity with Lincoln Square itself, and is now a full restaurant. Cafe Selmarie moved to the Lincoln Square Plaza in 1999 Cafe Selmarie celebrated 35 years in business in 2018.
Jeanne grew up in Indianapolis and came to Chicago to study dance at Columbia College.
Jeanne Uzdawinis, who ran Cafe Selmarie, the popular Lincoln Square eatery, dies at age 63 https://t.co/2kpRCerBqB pic.twitter.com/MBtsB8CdWT
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) October 13, 2017
Alumni
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (Dance)
University of Wisconsin, Madison (Zoology)
Columbia College, Chicago (Dance)
Approved: July 2018
Ward: 47
Alderman: Pawar
Neighborhood: Ravenswood
d. October 8, 2017. Age 63
ovarian cancer
Near
Cafe Selmarie
4729 North Lincoln Avenue
on Lincoln Square Plaza
Seymour F. Simon was the Chief Justice on the Illinois Supreme Court, former Cook County Board President, and former Alderman of the 40th Ward. He became known for his dissenting opinions in court, and against Mayor and the party line. Roslyn started her own corporate gifts business after the death of her first husband. She is also a was a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette and competed in the Miss America Pagent as Miss Philadelphia.
Alumni (Seymour):
Roosevelt High School
Northwestern University
Northwestern Law
Veteran: Navy, WWII
Ward:
Alderman:
Neighborhood: Old Town/Gold Coast
Seymour
b. August 10, 1915. Chicago
d. September 2006. Age 91. Chicago
Roslyn
b. 2015
d. April 12, 2007. Age 91. Chicago
Ward: 39
Alderman: Laurino
Neighborhood: Sauganash
Near
Queen of All Saints Basillica
6280 Sauganash
Ward: 28
Alderman: Ervin
Neighborhood: West Garfield Park
Near
Evangelistic Outreach Deliverance Ministry
4300 W. Madison Street
Irv Kupcinet wrote a daily column for the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper. “Kups Column” began in 1943 for the Chicago Daily Times, which became the Chicago Sun and then The Chicago Sun-Times in 1948. He interviewed celebrities in the newspaper and for his Saturday television show.
YouTube Honorary Chicago Playlist: Irv Kupcinet
Approved: 1986
Ward:
Alderman:
Neighborhood: Loop
b. July 31, 1912
d. 2003. Age 91
Near
Site of former Sun-Times building (currently Trump Tower)
There is a statue of Irv Kupcinet on the upper river walk of Wacker Drive
Martha Lavey was the Artistic Director of Chicago’s famous Steppenwolf Theater Company for twenty years. She was also an actor. Her first performance with Steppenwolf was in 1981 a production of “Savages” by John Malkovitch. Martha appeared in many productions in Chicago theater including: Goodman, Victory Gardens, Remains, and Northlight Theaters. She joined the company at Steppenwolf in 1993 and became the Artistic Director in 1995. During this time Steppenwolf became a theater which introduced Tony Award winning productions and performances destined for Broadway. It became an an incubator and launching pad for new works and highly acclaimed remakes established works.
Alumni
Northwestern University, BS, MA, Doctorate
YouTube, Honorary Chicago Playlist: Martha Lavey
Approved: 2017
Ward: 43
Alderman: Smith
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
b. February 20, 1957. Kansas
d. April 2017. Age 60. Chicago
Near
Steppenwolf Theater
1650 N. Halsted
Willie Pickens was a famous Chicago Jazz Pianist. His wife Irma, was his producer.
He taught music theory and performance throughout his career including: a collaboration between public high schools and Ravinia, and at Northern Illinois University.
Other collaborations included major Jazz Festivals around the world, the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, and the Willie Pickens Trio.
YouTube playlist: Willie Pickens. Honorary Chicago channel
Willie - Alumni
Milwaukee Conservatory of Music
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Veteran: U.S. Army, Army band -Clarinet
Ward: 5
Alderman: Hairston
Neighborhood: Hyde Park
Dedicated: December 2, 2018
Willie
b. 1931. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
d. December 2017. Age 86
Irma
d. 2015
Near
Their residence for more than 40 years
Mural of Willie Pickens by artist Desi Mundo, between the auditorium doors of Ray School
5631 S. Kimbark Avenue
Henrietta was the pastor of the New Jerusalem Pentecostal Church and a community leader in the Englewood neighborhood for fifty years. She became pastor in 1974. She had been an active member of the church for several years before she was called to the ministry. Henrietta led a range of programs for the community health and wellbeing, and Bible study, and started a Women’s Day in 1968.
Ward: 16
Alderman: Foulkes
Neighborhood: Englewood
d. March 6, 2001
Near
6201 S. May Street
New Jerusalem Pentecostal Church
Source
Emiliano and Judith Cruz were great neighbors to the Humboldt Park neighborhood. They were born in Puerto Rico.
Ward: 26
Alderman: Maldonado
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park
Source