Donda West

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

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Honorary Dr. Donda West Way

78th Street from South Shore Drive to Coles Avenue

 

Approved: June 2024

Ward: 07
Alderman: Gregory Mitchell
Neighborhood: South Shore

b. July 12, 1949
d. November 10, 2007. Age 58.

Near
Her Home

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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

Mac and Louise Irvin

McGlother "Mac" Irvin was considered the “Godfather“of Chicago club basketball. He launched the Mac Irvin Fire, basketball club to highlight Chicago talent and setup a traveling team, which was sponsored by Nike in 1992. Many players went on to the NBA. He also founded the Mac Irvin Foundation to make a positive impact on at risk youth through basketball.

His wife, Louise Irvin was the manager of the program until her death in 2019. He worked for Xerox company before starting the Club; they raised 6 children on the South Side of Chicago. The Foundation and Club are being continued by the Irvin children.

Fernwood Park Basketball Courts were dedicated in his honor in 2012.

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Honorary McGlother "Mac" Irvin WAY

South Parnell Avenue from West 109th Street to West 111th Street

 

Approved: April 2023

Ward: 21
Alderman: Howard Brookins, Jr., (amended September) Ronnie Mosely
Neighborhood: Pullman

d. 2011. Age 74

Sign dedication: September 23, 2023

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Source

20231313
20121108

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/mcglother-mac-irvin-basketball-courts

https://www.jcoydenreports.com/chicagohonorsgodfathermacirvin

https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/high-school/post/_/id/2380/chicago-mourns-passing-of-mac-irvin

https://www.foreverfire.org/about-us

https://www.guidestar.org/profile/36-4430661

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/12/24/mac-irvin-godfather-of-chicago-basketball-dies/

Richard Driehaus

Richard Herman Driehaus was one of the most influential people in mutual fund investing. He founded Driehaus Securities in 1979 and Driehaus Capital Management in 1982. He was born and raised in Brainerd neighborhood on Chicago’s southwest side, to a family of modest means. He became one of the top financiers and philanthropist in Chicago.

Beauty, harmony, and context are hallmarks of classical architecture, thus fostering communities, enhancing the quality of our shared environment, and developing sustainable solutions through traditional materials.” —Richard H. Driehaus

He, and the Driehaus Foundation, engaged in philanthropy, especially historic preservation, classical architecture, collecting, the arts, and education. The Driehaus Museum is an exceptional mansion restored inside and out to the Guilded Age and a decorative arts. He initiated the Richard H. Driehaus Prize for Architecture. Even though he was not an architect, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 from American Institute of Architects. He was also honored with the Order of Lincoln Award in 2017, the highest honor bestowed by the State of Illinois.

Alumnus:
DePaul University
University of Illinois at Chicago
Southeast Junior College
St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School

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Honorary Richard Driehaus Way

East Erie Street between Wabash Street and Rush Street

 

Approved:

Ward:
Alderman:
Neighborhood:

Near the Driehaus Museum
40 East Erie Street

b. July 27, 1942 in Chicago
d. March 9, 2021. Age 78 in Chicago

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Source: New York Times Obituary

Driehaus Capital Management, About Richard Driehaus

Gus and June Travlos Way

Costas (Gus) and Anastasia June Travlos were long time residents of the Edgewater neighborhood, they were also the co-founders of the Edgewater Development Company and worked to improve the lives of their neighbors and spearheaded the revitalization of Bryn Mawr as a Historic District. Gus was born in Greece, they moved to Edgewater in 1964.

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Honorary Gus and June Travlos Way

1000 West Bryn Mawr Avenue between North Broadway and North Winthrop Avenue

 

Approved: June 2018

Ward: 48
Alderman: Osterman
Neighborhood: Edgewater

June
d. November 1, 2016. Age 91

Gus
d. 2005. Age 70

Near
Edgewater Development Corporation
1055 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue

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Source

Source

Chicago Public Art Group

Margaret Hartigan Way

Margaret Dunne Hartigan was a long time resident of the Rogers Park neighborhood and a very active civic leader. She held several board memberships in a wide range of community institutions supporting education, and the arts. This included: The Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, Sacred Heart Schools, St. Ignatius College Prep, Northwestern University, DePaul University, Loyola University, Rosemont College, Georgetown University, The Rogers Park Community Council, The Chicago Community Trust Executive Committee, The Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, The Harris Theater, John F. Kennedy Center, The American Cancer Society, 49th Ward Democratic Party.

Honorary Margaret Hartigan Way

1000 through 1100 blocks of West Albion Avenue

 

Approved: September 2018

Ward: 49
Alderman: Moore
Neighborhood: Rogers Park

b. 1940. New York
d. June 28, 2003. Age 63

Near
Her former residence on Albion

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Source

Edward G. Irvin

Edward G. Irvin was a journalist and founder of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraterity. The Edward G. Irvin Foundation was founded in 2001, it is the philanthropic division of the Chicago Alumni of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Founder Edward Giles Irvin Speech (by Kenny McCain)

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Honorary Edward G. Irvin Way

East 67th Street, from South Marquette Road to South Rhodes Avenue

 

Approved: June 2017

Ward: 20
Alderman: Cochran
Neighborhood: Englewood

b. 1893. Indiana
d. 1983

Near
Edward G. Irvin Foundation

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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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Oprah Winfrey Way

Oprah Gail Winfrey was the founder and producer of the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” a nationally syndicated daytime television talk show from 1986 to 2011. She became one of the most influential people in American and one of the wealthiest. She turned the television talk show genre from trash talk into an opportunity for personal development and enrichment for her audience. She interviewed countless celebrities, and boosted the careers of many authors, television stars, and political figures.

She built Harpo Studios in 1990 (Harpo os Oprah spelled backwards). This is where she produced the “Oprah Winfrey Show, “ O Magazine, films, the Oprah’s Book Club, a media empire, and a national treasure. She moved to Chicago to break into television. Before launching her own show she worked for WLS Radio.

alum
East Nashville High School

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Honorary Oprrah Winfrey WAY

100 North Carpenter Street
Absent

 

Approved:

Neighborhood: West Loop

b. January 29, 1954 in Mississippi

near
former location of Harpo Studios
1058 W. Washington

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Source

https://www.oprah.com/inspiration/oprah-on-cleaning-out-harpo-studios_1

https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/g23067476/oprah-book-club-list/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=arb_ga_opr_ext_comm_org_us_g23067476&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw0YGyBhByEiwAQmBEWrZg0qsqJ-JiRrMQOsXr3I3ctXcloJGEMDcCokPNCMFkjiT6hikNAxoCrwsQAvD_BwE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey

Steve Lombardo Way

Steve Lombardo is co-owner of the Gibsons Restaurant Group. 

Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse
Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House
Quartinos Pizzeria and Wine Bar
Luxe Bar

RL - The Ralph Lauren Restaurant
The Polo Bar (New York City, 2015)

Gibsons opened in May 1989.  Opening night was full of notable people and events including the engagement of Candice Jordan to her husband Chuck, their photo on this occasion is on a wall at Gibsons. Also, former owner and Bears Football #42 MVP and Quarterback, Sid Luckman.

Steve and his wife, Peggy, are long time supporters of Misericoria and received the Sister Rosemary Connelly Service Medallion Award.

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Approved: February 2017
Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
100 East Bellevue Place
Neighborhood: Gold Coast

Dedicated: 2017
Steve Lombardo's honorary sign is located outside the Gibson's Restaurant

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Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2015
Gibson's Restaurant Group

Twitter: @GibsonsSteak

Dr. Edward & Mildred Cruzat

This doctor and dancer couple was very involved in the community. Mildred in Rainbow Coalition/PUSH

Edward “Ted” Pedro Cruzat was a surgeon and lecturer at Northwestern University Medical School

Mildred “Millie” Cruzat danced on Broadway and at Carnegie Hall. She teaches dance.

Alumni - Edward
University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana
Meharry Medical College. Nashville, Tennessee

Alumni - Mildred
American School of Ballet at Carnegie Hall

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Honorary Dr Edward and Mildred Cruzat Way

South Ellis Avenue from East 32nd St. to East 32nd PLace

 

Approved: January 2017

Ward: 4
Alderman: King
Neighborhood: Douglas

Edward
b. Alton, Illinois
d. February, 16 2000. Age 73. Chicago

Mildred
b. February 17, 1927. Detroit, Michigan

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Source
Facebook

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