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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: street
Paul Ready worked for the City Department of Streets and Sanitation for 33 years as a hoisting engineer and long time resident of the Jefferson Park neighborhood. Off-duty he was a bartender, a husband, a father of four children and a well respected member of the community.
5300 and 5400 West Wilson Avenue
Ward: 45
Alderman: Gardiner
Neighborhood: Jefferson Park
d. April 9, 2019
Lemuel Austin, Jr. was elected alderman of Chicago’s 34th Ward in 1987 and served three terms as chairman of the Committee on Budget and Government Operations for the City Council. Previously he worked for Illinois Senators and the Cook County Sherrif’s Department, Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, the Chicago Transit Authority, and the Post Office.
Lemuel supported diversity contracting in the City of Chicago and residency quotas.
In 1993 he was awarded “Man of the Year” by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local #150.
He died of a heart attack while in the office of Alderman. His widow, Carrie is the current Alderman of the Ward.
Alumnus
Richard J. Daley City College of Chicago
Carter J. Harrison High School
South Normal Avenue between 110th Street and 111th Street
Ward: 34
Alderman: Austin
Neighborhood: Pullman
d. 1994. Age 48
Roberto M. Herrera, Jr., a.k.a. “Chops”was a firefighter and 30-year veteran who retired from Truck 32 “Bombero Mexicanos” serving the Little Village neighborhood. Bobby retired in 2016 but remained an advocate and supporter of firefighters and the community.
He also had a passion for soccer, Bobby coached soccer for 18-years in the CLASA Latino league. Bobby was also a craftsman who made firefighting helmet shields and worked on cars.
Alumnus
Benito Juarez High School
Jungman Elementary School
West Carpenter Street between West 18th Street and West 19th Street
Ward: 25
Alderman: Sigh-Lopez
Neighborhood: Little Village/Pilsen
b. June 21, 1961
d. May 22, 2021
Jerry Torry mentored youth in the South Shore neighborhood for more than 35 years at Chicago Youth Centers. In 2015 Jerry was honored by Heroes In The Hood for his service to stop violence in the community.
South Phillips Avenue between East 76th Street and East 77th Street
Ward: 7
Alderman: Mitchell
Neighborhood: South Shore
Source
HeroesInTheHood2015
* 2022 May - location changed to South Phillips Avenue between E. 76th Street and E. 77th Street, from East 77th Street between Phillips Avenue and Essex Avenue
Since 1982, Body of Christ Deliverance Ministries has run an outreach training center with the mission
“To teach the word of God, train the Body on how to apply the word of God and send them out so that souls can be saved, healed, delivered and set free.”
115th Street between South Union Street and South Halsted Street
Ward: 34
Alderman: Carrie Austin
Neighborhood: West Pullman
Body of Christ Deliverance Ministries Outreach Training Center
741 W. 115th Street
Reverend Albert D. Tyson, III was the former Pastor of St. Stephens African Methodist Episcopal Church in Chicago and the Presiding Elder of the 4th Episcopal District.
Reverend served on several civic, educational, and health boards in addition to his ecumenical leadership positions. He was a member of the NAACP and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
Alumni:
Garrett Evangelical Seminary, Evanston, Illinois
Monrovia College, Liberia - Honorary Degree
Newark State College, New Jersey
Ward: 27
Alderman: Burnett
Neighborhood: East Garfield Park
St. Stephen AME Church
3042 W. Washington Boulevard
b. June 26, 1948
d. June 21, 2019. Age 70.
Source
https://www.thechristianrecorder.com/transition-of-rev-albert-d-tyson-iii-1948-2019/
Brandon was a 23-year old artist who was killed in a random act of gun violence. He was a good person who looked out for others. A classmate described him as a “beautiful soul.” He had played basketball and football at Lake View High School and worked at WhirlyBall, an entertainment center.
A mural in Brandon’s honor has been painted at the Logan Square Blue Line Station by local artist and friend of Brandon’s family, Tyrue “Slang” Jones.
Alumni:
Lake View High School
Ward: 1
Alderman: La Spata
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
d. 2020. Age 23
Kidz Korna is an organization serving at-risk children in Chicago to reduce violence and abuse. Programs include outreach, playground building, intergenerational mentoring, and video production. Kidz Korna and founder, Delece Williams, have been recognized by several Chicago Mayors and government officials including President Barack Obama.
Ward: 21
Alderman: Brookins
Neighborhood: South Side
Dan O’Donnell was the owner of Armitage Hardware and a long time supporter of Irish students. Dan became an owner of Armitage Hardware in 1967. The original store from 1896 had been for general merchandise before it became a hardware store in 1922 under previous owners. Dan and his wife, Kathleen, lived above the store and bought and restored historic properties in the area. The O’Donnell’s quite literally helped rebuild Lincoln Park from a gang ridden, run down neighborhood residential and commercial area, to the beautifully restored and prosperous neighborhood it is today.
He started to employ Irish students who were on work visas and staying at a nearby youth hostel. This became a decades long collaboration; through the years he helped thousands of Irish exchange students with summer employment and housing.
Dan was an invaluable support to the neighborhood residents and businesses. He was the go-to guy and would be found giving words of support or a hand shoveling snow. He would also organize support for the local food pantries, for hurricane relief all over the country, and for medical support for young travelers. Dan offered whatever support he could for anyone in need.
50-Year member of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeview
Ward: 43
Alderman: Smith
Neighborhood: Old Town
Armitage Hardware
925 W. Armitage Avenue
d. January 19, 2021. Age 80.
Yuleander Seals, “YOLO 150” as he was known, was a City worker who died while performing his duties; he was hit by a service vehicle.
Ward: 3
Alderman: Dowell
Neighborhood: Washington Park
Source
Third generation Italian food wholesale and retailer. J.P Graziano Grocery Company was started in 1937 by his grandfather Vincenzo Graziano who emigrated from Sicily.
Ward: 27
Alderman: Burnett
Neighborhood:
J.P. Graziano
901 W. Randolph Street
Ward: 25
Alderman: Sigcho-Lopez
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Source
Sister Patricia Fillenwarth was a member of the Humboldt Park community for more than 37 years. She served as Director of Providence Family Services for 24 years and was a bilingual counselor. She started the Providence Family Services Center in 1994. This expanded to include an “After-School Homework Club,” tutoring programs, English as a second language, computer classes, and citizenship classes.
Previously she had been a teacher and then Principal of the Maternity Blessed Virgin Mary elementary school, she taught in Washington DC and in her home town of Indianapolis. In 1971 Sister Patty served as a missionary in Peru for 6 years.
Sister Patty, previously Sister Joseph Monica, joined Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary’s of the Woods in 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Here is her writing Every Day is a Gift and also a poem of gratitude following a 2012 Rummage Sale fundraiser.
Alumna:
Northeastern Illinois University
Ward: 26
Alderman: Maldonado
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park
Providence Family Services
1540 N. Monticello Avenue
b. September 1, 1940
d. January 7, 2020. Age 79.
Source
https://spsmw.org/sister-profile/patricia-fillenwarth/
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.
Ward: 22
Alderman: Rodriguez
Neighborhood: Little Village
b. August 9, 1948. Chihuahua, Mexico
d. Age 72. COVID-19
Michael Aloysius Specialle was a member of the Park Ridge Police Department in Norwood Park.
Ward: 41
Alderman: Napolitano
Neighborhood: Norwood Park
b. December 30, 1993
d. August 13, 2020. Age 26.
Source
https://www.chicagolandcremationoptions.com/obituary/michael-specialle
Jeff “Trogs” Troglia served for twelve years as a Chicago Police Officer.
Chicago Joe would watch this video every day after his open heart surgery. Officer Jeff Troglia had such a positive effect on my then 5 year old son during his most trying time. This past Friday, he lost his life. I pray for him, his wife, his kids, his family and friends. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/UgTtNSj9JI
— Tim Doyle (@TimDoyle00) March 8, 2021
Ward: 19
Alderman: O’Shea
Neighborhood: Mount Greenwood
d. March 5, 2021. Age 38. Chicago
Source: Hero Down Chicago
Harold Wayne Bone retired from the Chicago Police Department after 31 years of service and numerous commendations and awards. He was well respected among his peers and lived a life of service to his City and his profession. He was a talented officer and was keenly aware of situations and able to address any challenge he faced.
He loved his job, his family, his animals, oldies music, and playing cards.
Ward: 38
Alderman: Sposato
Neighborhood: Norridge
d. March 17, 2021. Age 66.
Source: Obituary
Corporal Kurt A. Kruger was a Marine 1980-1984 who served in Grenada and Lebanon conflicts; after his years of service he returned to Chicago delivered mail with the U.S. Post Office for thirty years.
Kurt grew up in the Chrysler Village neighborhood of Chicago and later raised his own family nearby.
Alumnus:
St. Laurence High School
St. Symporosa Elementary School
Veteran: Marines - Grenada, Lebanon
West 63rd Place at South Latrobe Avenue
Ward: 13
Alderman: Quinn
Neighborhood: West Lawn
b. July 2, 1962
d. December 22, 2019. Age 57
Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church was founded in 1906 at 4444 North Laramie Avenue and was a fixture in the community for over one hundred years. It became one of the largest parishes on the Northwest side of Chicago. Father Francis Chickozki was the first Pastor. The Our Lady of Victory School was open from 1910-2016. In the original school building, the nuns lived on the third floor, above the classrooms.
Our Lady of Victory Church held its final mass on June 13, 2021 with Reverend Michael Wyrzykowski and merged with the Saint Pascal and Saint Bartholomew Parishes.
Ward: 38
Alderman: Sposato
Neighborhood: Portage Park/Jefferson Park
Our Lady of Victory
5212 W. Agatite Avenue
4444 N. Laramie
Source
http://www.olvchicago.org
https://nadignewspapers.com/2020/12/19/%EF%BB%BFour-lady-of-victory-church-in-jefferson-park-to-close-by-late-2021-property-could-eventually-be-sold/
Saint Thecla Church and School
Ward: 41
Alderman: Napolitano
Neighborhood: Norwood Park
Source