Officer James "Jimbo" Svec

James “Jimbo” Svec had served as a police officer in the Chicago Police Department for 20 years when he contracted COVID-19 in the line of duty and died as a result.

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Honorary Officer James “Jimbo” Svec WAY

South Kolmar Avenue between West 77th Place and West 79th Street

 

Approved: April 2024

Ward: 18
Alderman: Derrick Curtis
Neighborhood: Ashburn

b. October 15, 1962
d. December 8, 2021. Age 59

near
his home since 1989

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Source

20248242

https://odmp.org/officer/26486-police-officer-james-svec

https://memorials.lawnfh.com/james-svec/4799241/

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-police-memorial-honoring-fallen-officers/

https://abc7chicago.com/james-svec-chicago-police-officer-covid-19-south-kolmar-avenue/14662716/

https://abc7chicago.com/community-events/street-named-in-honor-of-cpd-officer-who-died-from-covid-complications/14662716/

Raul R. Montes, Sr.

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.

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Honorary Raul R. Montes, Sr. Way

South Kolin between 26th Street and 27th Street

 

Approved: 2021

Ward: 22
Alderman: Rodriguez
Neighborhood: Little Village

b. August 9, 1948. Chihuahua, Mexico
d. Age 72. COVID-19

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Source

Carlos Rosas

Manager of Calumet Fisheries restaurant for more than 25 years.

Education

Hospitality Institute of Chicago
George Washington High School
Marsh Grade School

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Honorary Carlos Rosas Drive

East 95th between South Chicago and Avenue N

 

Approved: June 2021

Ward: 10
Alderman: Garza
Neighborhood: South Chicago/South Deering

Near Calumet Fisheries restaurant

d. July 20, 2020. Age 41.

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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/

Guadalupe and Maria Lopez

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

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Honorary Guadalupe and Maria Lopez Way

South Kenneth Street between 47th Street and 48th Street

 

Approved: April 2021

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.

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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

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.

Education

Chicago State University

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Honorary Olga L. Quiroga Way

Central Park Avenue, from Armitage to Dickens

 

Approved: September 2021

Ward: 35
Alderman: Ramirez-Rosa
Neighborhood: Hermosa

Near Funston Elementary School

b. September 30. Tamaulipas, Mexico
d. October 1, 2020. Age 58. Chicago

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Source
Chicago Sun-Times

Betty Reskinoff

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.

Education

University of California, Berkeley
NYU School of Education

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Honorary Betty Reskinoff Way

North St. Louis Avenue, between West Cullom to West Belle Plaine avenues.

 

Approved: June 2021

Ward: 35
Alderman: Ramirez-Rosa
Neighborhood: Irving Park

d. April 28, 2020. Age 84. Chicago

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Source

Second City Teachers

Archbishop Lucius Hall

Lucius Hall was the founded of the First Church of Love and Faith, in Chicago’s Auburn-Gresham Neighborhood in 1980, one year after becoming a minister. Lucius was the Executive Director of the Head Start program at his church. In 2010 he became an Archbishop by the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, inc. For twenty years (1990-2010) he was the Executive Director of Chicago Gospel Fest. During the same timeframe, he served as Chairman of City of Chicago Personnel and Human Resources Board under two Chicago Mayors.

Music was a huge part of Lucius’ life and his ministry. As a teenager he was a radio announcer and later the Channel 26 WCIU producer and host of the “Rock of Ages Gospel Hour.” In 1979 he founded the Broadcast Ministries Alliance, and later hosted the groups Cable TV program.

After serving in the US Army he had a thirty year career with the Veterans Administration. He became a minister in 1979 and founded or co-founded several programs and organizations including: one of the first food pantries in his neighborhood, and an international organization of US and West African churches - The First Spiritual Churches of Truth, Inc.

Veteran: Army, Military Police

Born in Chicago

Alumni:
Burke Grade School
DuSable High School
University of Illinois at Chicago
Gospel Outreach Theological Institute. Houston, TX (Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree)

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Honorary Archbishop Lucius Hall

West 79th Street, between South Seeley Avenue and South Hamilton Avenue

 

Approved: February 2021

Ward: 18
Alderman: Curtis
Neighborhood: Auburn-Gresham

d. April 2, 2020. Age 87.

The First Church of Love and Faith
2140 West 79th Street

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Source
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Crusader

'Majic' Juan Suarez Way

Juan Suarez was a very popular DJ of House and Freestyle on WCYC in 1984, and later WCEV, and WRLL radio. Juan was born in Chicago and grew up in the Little Village neighborhood. At age 9 he lost his sight, but that did not stop him from pursuing the life in music he loved. He started his career as a DJ, spinning vinyl records at age 20.

Born in Chicago

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Honorary 'Majic' Juan Suarez Way

West 28th Street, from South Lawndale Avenue to South Ridgeway Avenue

 

Approved: January 2021

Ward: 22
Alderman: Rodriguez
Neighborhood: Little Village

b. May 26, 1965. Chicago
d. November 17, 2020. Age 55. Cancer and COVID

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Source