Ron Nessen, press secretary to President Ford, dies at 90
WASHINGTON — Ron Nessen, a veteran broadcast journalist who was press secretary for President Gerald Ford and sought to restore the integrity that the position had lost during the Nixon administration,...
View ArticleMarian ‘Cindy’ Pritzker, family matriarch, philanthropist and Gov. JB...
For decades, Marian “Cindy” Pritzker, the matriarch of one of Chicago’s wealthiest and best-known families, was a mainstay in Chicago’s philanthropic, cultural and civic communities. Like her late...
View ArticleColumn: Former Aurora police officer remembered for his work at East Aurora...
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” We all know people to whom that may apply, and maybe you are lucky enough to actually be one of those people. I have known...
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Eugene Propes, principal who pushed for expanded programs at Wheaton schools,...
Eugene Propes’ low-key manner belied his forward thinking policies for educating youngsters during his years as a principal at junior high and high schools in Crete and Wheaton. “He was responsible...
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East Hazel Crest Clerk Helen Minnis remembered for dedication to community
Helen M. Minnis was East Hazel Crest’s village clerk for 40 years, as part of a 60-year career working for the village that only ended in January. “She was very efficient and prompt and did her work...
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George Foreman, two-time heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold...
George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night....
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John Swanson, former OPRF superintendent, dies at 96
John Swanson was superintendent of Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 from 1974 until 1987, and worked to maintain the traditions of the school while taking an empathetic approach to...
View ArticleJulie Woestehoff, Chicago education activist who urged local control of...
Julie Woestehoff was the longtime executive director of Chicago-based Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE), a reform-minded schools advocacy group that pushed for citizen involvement in the...
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‘Mr. D,’ Tinley Park’s traveling magician, ‘at peace’ after fight with cancer
Tinley Park shines a little less bright in the wake of the death of Dirk Spence, a beloved resident known as “Mr. D” who entertained generations of people with his magic. Spence died March 20 in...
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Douglas Higgins, who in middle age returned to a career in education, dies
Douglas Higgins spent a quarter-century in real estate management before returning to his roots in education and spending 16 years as the principal and assistant principal of elementary and junior high...
View ArticleRichard Chamberlain, TV actor who starred in ‘Dr. Kildare,’ dies at 90
LOS ANGELES — Richard Chamberlain, the handsome hero of the 1960s television series “Dr. Kildare” who found a second career as an award-winning “king of the miniseries,” has died. He was 90....
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Thomas Hardy, Tribune political columnist who went to work for Gov. Edgar, U....
Thomas Hardy was a writer and editor for the Tribune, including 10 years as the paper’s top political reporter and a Sunday columnist, before leaving journalism to work as a press secretary for...
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Hannah Voigt, influential piano teacher and ‘consummate musician,’ dies
Hannah Voigt taught piano in Oak Park and performed in the Chicago area for six decades while also mentoring other piano teachers through the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association. Voigt oversaw the...
View ArticleGeorge Freeman, a trailblazing jazz guitarist who enjoyed a late-career...
You could recognize George Freeman’s playing anywhere. When tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons and his sextet appeared as guests on WTTW in 1970, most members of the band generally hewed to the backing...
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Craig Podolski, Buffalo Grove teacher who developed annual service day for...
Craig Podolski was middle school English teacher and coach in Buffalo Grove who developed an annual service day at his school that had hundreds of youngsters volunteering in the community. “As both a...
View ArticleVal Kilmer, film star who played Batman and Jim Morrison, dies at 65
Val Kilmer, a homegrown Hollywood actor who tasted leading-man stardom as Jim Morrison and Batman, but whose protean gifts and elusive personality also made him a high-profile supporting player, died...
View ArticleVal Kilmer, ‘Top Gun’ and Batman star with an intense approach, dies at 65
LOS ANGELES — Val Kilmer, the brooding, versatile actor who played fan favorite Iceman in “Top Gun,” donned a voluminous cape as Batman in “Batman Forever” and portrayed Jim Morrison in “The Doors,”...
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