Rita Simo Way

Rita Simo was the founder of the People’s School of Music in Chicago, an organization offering free music lessons to people who would not otherwise be able to afford them. Rita was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to attend the Julliard School of Music. She took her vows as a Catholic nun and taught music at Rosary College. She left the order to fulfill her dream of opening her own music school. In 1976 she started the People’s Music School in a former beauty salon, staffed by volunteers and the donation of a baby grand piano. The school expanded to Bronzeville, Back of the Yards and Albany Park neighbohoods. Rita retired in 2001. She remained a board member of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus and a Life Trustee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

YouTube playlist: Rita Simo. Honorary Chicago

Alumni
Julliard School of Music
Boston University, D.M.A. Music Performance

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Honorary Rita Simo Way

Eastwood Avenue at Sheridan Road

 

Approved: 2001

Ward:
Alderman:
Neighborhood: Uptown
Ceremony: 2002

b. 1934. Dominican Republic
d. September 22, 2020. Age 86. Chicago

Near
People’s School of Music

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Source

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Tribune

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Theresa M. Petty-Philpot Way

Theresa was a long time physical education instructor for the Chicago Park District at Sherman Park. She also has a decorating service, Theresa’s Gifted Handz Decorating.

Alumni
Tilden Tech High School
Illinois State University

Honorary Theresa M. Petty-Philpot Way

West 52nd Street from South Loomis Boulevard to South Racine Avenue

 

Approved: January 2017

Ward: 20
Alderman: Cochran
Neighborhood: Back of the Yards

Near
Sherman Park

Unveiling: April 22, 2017

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Reverend Homer Gardner Way

Reverend Homer Gardner was the pastor of the Sun Rise Missionary Baptist Church. After serving in the Army, he moved to Chicago in 1957 and was an active member of the Church including Sunday School teacher, choir, treasurer, and Deacon. Until his retirement in 2000, he had a career as a metallurgist in the metals and steel industry. Homer was called to the ministry in 1977. He served as Pastor of Sun Rise Baptist Church from 1978 until his retirement in 2016.

Alumni
Army Academy
Illinois Institute of Technology, Metalurgy
LaSalle Extension University, Law
Carolina University of Theology, Masters

Veteran: Army

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Honorary Reverend Homer Gardner Way

South Kilbourn Avenue between West Gladys Avenue and West Van Buren Street

 

Approved: September 2020

Ward: 28
Alderman: Ervin
Neighborhood: West Garfield Park

b. July 29, 1937 in Mississippi, Tallahatchie County
d. March 23, 2019

Near
Sun Rise Baptist Church
351 S. Kilbourn Avenue

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Edward J. Schmit, Jr. Way

For fourty-seven years, Edward Schmit was the owner of the Teddy Bear Day Care, which grew to six centers in the Southwest Chicago area including Little Bear for infants and the Big Bear Day Camp program. He was on the board of directors of the St. Rita High School (his Alma Mater), and the Valentine Boys & Girls Club. Ed had retired from the Continental Can Company where he worked in facilities. He had been a benefactor to the Gage Park baseball and to the neighborhood throughout his life; Ed grew up in Gage Park, and where he and his wife raised their five children.

Alumni
St. Rita’s High School, 1963

It‘s with sadness that we announce the passing of St. Rita graduate and longtime member of the St. Rita Board of Directors, Mr. Ed J. Schmit Jr. '63. Our condolences go to the entire Schmit family.

Ed truly was a Ritaman and his love and support of St. Rita will live on forever pic.twitter.com/C8IW10wq2k

— St. Rita Chicago (@StRitaHS) July 22, 2020

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Honorary Edward J. Schmit, Jr. Way

West 51st Street, both sides of the street, between South Washtenaw Avenue and South Talman Avenue

 

Ward: 14
Alderman: Burke
Neighborhood: Gage Park

b.March 30, 1945
d. July 2020. Age 75

Near
Teddy Bear Day Care
2649 W 51st St

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Lena Marie Nunez Anaya Way

Lena was a 10 year old girl who was watching television with her brother in their grandmother’s apartment when a stray bullet came through the window and killed her. She was the innocent victim of gang violence a block away. A vigil was held by the community the next day.

The releasing of the white balloons pic.twitter.com/FzbEFoeZKI

— Mina Bloom (@mina_bloom_) June 30, 2020

Police have made an arrest in the shooting death of 10-year-old Lena Nunez, who was visiting her grandmother in Logan Square in late June when shew as shot i...

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Honorary Lena Marie Nunez Anaya Way

West Dickens Avenue, from North Drake Avenue to North St. Louis Avenue

 

Ward: 35
Alderman: Ramirez-Rosa
Neighborhood: Logan Square

b. September 7, 2009
d. June 28, 2020. Age 10. Chicago

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Block Club

Twitter

WBEZ

Ramona Rouse Way

Ramona Marquitta Rouse owned and operated the Salon Pastiche in the Rogers Park neighborhood for 23 years. She supported local artists through Sungold Pastiche, the Roman Susan Art Foundation has a tribute art installation at the salon. Ramona was born in Chicago in the Old Town neighborhood, and grew up in in the early scattered site public housing integrated in Lincoln Square. She easily befriended her customers and neighbors and was well regarded in the community.

Alumni
Immaculate Conception Grammar School
Lincoln Park High School
National Lewis University
Pivot Point Academy

Dignity Memorial: Tribute video

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Honorary Ramona Rouse Way

Loyola Avenue between Sheridan Road and Glenwood Avenue

 

Approved: September 2020

Ward: 49
Alderman: Haddon
Neighborhood: Rogers Park

b. September 15. Chicago
d. January 4, 2020. Chicago

Near
Salon Pastiche 1226 W. Loyola Avenue

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Fred Saufnauer Way

Fred Saufnauer started the Better Roofing and Siding Company in 1937 and grew it into the largest roofing company in Chicago by 1940. He operated the company for 60 years.

Alumni
St. Philamena’s
Kelvin Park High School

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Honorary Fred Saufnauer Way

2200 Block of North Cicero Avenue

 

Approved: February 2017

Ward: 36
Alderman: Villegas
Neighborhood: Hermosa

d. 2016. Age 99.

Near
2210 N. Cicero Avenue
Location of Better Roofing and Siding Company

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Joseph Muntaner Way

Joseph Muntaner was a construction contractor and super volunteer to the 1st Ward and his church, St. Bonaventure. He was very dedicated and loyal and took his work very seriously, whether it was shoveling snow or removing graffiti.

Alumni:
Mather High School

Born in Chicago

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Honorary Joseph Muntaner Way

West Diversey between North Leavitt Street and Western Avenue

 

Approved: 2018

Ward: 1
Alderman: Moreno
Neighborhood: Logan Square

b. August 19, 1958. Chicago
d. May 14, 2017. Chicago

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Joseph Muntaner

Eugene Lang Way

Eugene Lang founded Lang Exteriors in 1953; he built and installed windows and doors. His son Darb Lang succeeded him in the business. While serving in WWII Eugene invented the T-Wrench for setting the depth and speed of a torpedo.

Veteran: WWII

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Honorary Eugene Lang Way

West 59th Street between Western Avenue and Oakley Avenue

 

Approved: April 2018

Ward: 16
Alderman: Foulkes
Neighborhood: Marquette Park

d: age 78.

Near
Lang Exteriors, Inc. headquarters
2323 W 59th Street

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Eugene J. Lang

Father Martin E. O'Donovan Way

Father Martin O’Donovan grew up in the St. Cristiana parish and he served as Pastor there for 15 years. He was ordained at Mundelein in 1978 and currently serves the Saints, Faith, Hope, & Charity Catholic Church in Winnetka. Previously he led the Our Lady of Good Counsel in Bridgeport. Father Marty, as he is known, has touched the lives of several parishes in the Chicago area. He has guided his parishioners through times of scandal in the Church

Alumni
Quigley Prep
Niles Seminary

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Honorary Father Martin E. O’Donovan Way

111th and Homan Avenue

 

Approved:

Ward:
Alderman:
Neighborhood: Mt. Greenwood

Near
St Christiana’s Church
11005 S. Homan Avenue

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Michelle L. Van Allen

Michelle L. Van Allen was the Principal of the Marcus Garvey Elementary School; she had been a student and then a teacher at the school. She was a proponent of social-emotional learning.

Alumni:
Marcus Garvey Elementary School

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Honorary Michelle L. Van Allen Way

South Morgan between 103rd and 104th

 

Approved: 2019

Ward: 34
Alderman: Austin

Near
Marcus Garvey Elementary School
10309 S Morgan St

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Source

Video Credit: YouTube, channel: Committee for Children, “What Keeps Michelle Motivated?”

Milton I. Shadur Way

The Honorable Milton Irving Shadur was a U.S. Federal Court judge for the Northern District of Illinois for thirty-seven years. When he retired he had been one of the longest serving Federal judges. He wrote more than 11,000 opinions while on the bench; he was appointed in 1980 by President Carter. Judge Shadur was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chicago Bar Association. Judge Shadur served on the Village Board for Glencoe and was a life trustee of the Ravinia Festival.

Photo: US Government, Public Domain

Alumni:
University of Chicago
University of Chicago Law School

Veteran: Navy, Lieutenant. WWII

Founding member of Congregation Am Shalom

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Honorary The Honorable Milton I. Shadur Way

West Adams Street, from South Dearborn Street to South Clark Street

 

Approved: July 2019

Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
Neighborhood: Loop/Federal Plaza

b. June 25, 1924, St Paul, Minnesota
d. January 15, 2018. Age 93. Glenview, Illinois

Near
Dirksen Courthouse Building
218 South Dearborn

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YouTube playlist: Milton Shadur. Honorary Chicago

Source

Photo credit

Joseph F. Ferguson Way

Patrolman Joseph Ferguson was shot while making an arrest in the last days of 1968.

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Honorary Joseph F. Ferguson Way

 

West side of South Paulina Street between West 32nd Place and West 33rd Place

Approved: July 2019

Ward: 12
Alderman: Cardenas
Neighborhood: McKinley Park

d. December 27, 1968. Age 26. Chicago 

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The 100 Club Chicago

Erie Neighborhood House Way

The Erie Neighborhood House, originally the “little Dutch Church,” was founded in 1870 in West Town. It is Chicago’s longest operating settlement house; it originally served immigrants and low-income residents. It now has several locations and offers education and workforce development services and advocacy under its mission to be inclusive and just.

YouTube playlist: Erie Neighborhood House. Honorary Chicago

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Honorary Erie Neighborhood House Way

West Erie Street between North Elizabeth Street and North Armour Street

 

Approved: June 2019

Ward: 1
Alderman: La Spata
Neighborhood: West Town

Near
Erie Neighborhood House, 1347 W. Erie

Erie House sites and programs can also be found in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and in Little Village.

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Antonio Pasin Way

Antonio Pasin was the inventor of the American classic little red wagon childrens toy known as the Radio Flyer. Antonio had emigrated from Italy in 1914 and by 1917 had setup his own design shop in Chicago. His first wagons were made from wood; by 1933 he was building his wagons from steel and promoted and sold them at the 1933-34 World Fair in Chicago. He named his wagon after the two popular inventions of the day - radios and airplanes; hence, Radio Flyer.

YouTube playlist: Antonio Pasin. Honorary Chicago

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Honorary Antonio Pasin Way

 

West Fullerton and Grand Avenues between Natchez Avenue and Normandy Avenue

Approved: September 2019

Ward: 29
Alderman: Taliaferro
Neighborhood: Montclare

b. 1897. Bessano, Italy
d. 1990 Age 93. River Forest, IL

Near
Radio Steel and Manufacturing Co. Headquarters

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Source

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-07-08-9002250622-story.html

John Novi Way

John Novi founded Cosmat Insurance in 1964 after arriving in Chicago from Italy in 1958. Cosmat offers small business and healthcare insurance. He was an active and enthusiastic member of the community.

Alumni
State Teachers College, Salerno, Italy.

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Honorary John Novi Way

 

West Belmont Avenue between Central Park Avenue and Lawndale Avenue

Approved: 2019

Ward: 30
Alderman: Reboyas
Neighborhood: Old Irving Park

d. June 6, 2018. Age 83
Glenview, IL

Near
Office of Cosmat Insurance Agency, Inc.
3601 W. Belmont

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Double Bubble Way

Double Bubble is a local tavern which has been a good neighbor for decades. “The Bubble',“ as it is known, has hosted many fundraisers through the years for residents, schools, and local causes. The owner, Larry Swoboda has offered cheap beer and priceless company for all.

Larry Swoboda March 22, 1950 - May 27, 2020. Age 70.

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Honorary Double Bubble Way

 

North Broadway between Norwood Street and Glenlake Avenue

Approved: 2019

Ward: 48
Alderman: Osterman
Neighborhood: Edgewater

Near Double Bubble Bar
6036 N. Broadway

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Roy L."Bill" Frakes Way

Deputy U.S. Marshall Roy Frakes was one of two law officers killed in the line of duty in the attempted escape of a prisoner from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse building in the Loop. He posthumously received the Marshals Service’s highest honor, and an air operations hanger in Oklahoma City was named in his honor at the Will Rogers Airport.

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Honorary Roy L. “Bill” Frakes Way

South Dearborn Street from Jackson to Adams Street

 

Approved: February 2020

Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
Neighborhood: Loop

d. July 20, 1992. Age 30.

Near
Everett McKinley Dirksen Courthouse Building - on Federal Plaza
219 S. Dearborn

Reverend Dr. David D. Clay Way

David Daniel Clay was the pastor at the Maryland Avenue Baptist Church, which he moved and renamed from the Central Avenue Baptist Church. He was born in Louisiana and spent high school in Texas before moving to Chicago and attending the Moody Bible Institute. Reverend Doctor received many invitations to preach, including one from a large Baptist congregation in Hong Kong.

His motto was: “Every saved soul is saved to help saved souls!”

Alumni:
Southern University (Baton Rouge)
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
Moody Bible Institute

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Honorary Rev. Dr. David D. Clay Way

Northwest corner of 81st St. & Maryland Ave. and Norhteast comer of 81st St. & Cottage Grove Ave

 

Approved: January 2020

Ward: 8
Alderman: Harris
Neighborhood: Chatham

b. 1913. Lousiana
d. April 2, 1972.

Maryland Avenue Baptist Church
8058 S. Maryland

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Neftali Reyes, Jr. Way

Neftali “Buzzo” Reyes was 19 years old, he graduated with honors from Roberto Clemente High School in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. He was a star athlete and an outstanding sportsman for the Wildcats. It was his dream to be a Major League Baseball Pitcher. Neftali was on a full scholarship at Claflin University in South Carolina. He was at home in Chicago for the holidays and recovering from a sports injury when a stranded friend called in need of a ride late one night. Neftali became the innocent victim of a shooting.

Alumni:
Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School

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Honorary Netfali “Buzzo” Reyes, Jr. Way

1000 and 1100 blocks of West Luis Muniz Marin Drive

 

Approved: April 2020

Ward: 26
Alderman: Maldonado
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park

b. May 3, 1998. Chicago
d. December 29, 2017. Age 19.

Near
Little Cubs Field in Humboldt Park

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