Charles Jay Witz

Charles J. Witz, a pioneering Chicago rock music promoter and attorney, died after a long and full life of natural causes on September 1, 2016. Charlie or "Pops" to his four beloved grandkids, was a devoted husband to his wife Shannon, father and grandfather, and good friend to the mother of his sons, Susan R. Witz. A top student at the Latin School, he won a Ford scholarship to Yale University. After graduating from Yale and Northwestern Law School, he helped found one of the early rock music promotion companies in Chicago, 22nd Century Productions, where he put on memorable concerts at the Auditorium Theater and other Chicago venues in the early 1970's. He worked with many top artists, including Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Smokey Robinson, the Doors, and Three Dog Night. His career had a major influence on his son, Jon, a successful event promoter and founder of the Arts, Beats & Eats festival in Michigan, which attracted more than 400,000 people in its nineteenth year this past Labor Day weekend. In a fitting moment of following in his dad's footsteps, son Jonathan booked Three Dog Night for the 2016 festival as a tribute to the first concert of his dad's that he attended 45 years earlier in 1971. Charlie later went on to a successful general law practice in Chicago, sharing offices with his good friend and prominent Chicago attorney, Larry Glick. He was also a world-class backgammon player, with his 1978 European finals showdown analyzed in the NY times. In addition to Jon, he is also survived by his sons, Daniel, a former long-time teacher and current software executive, and James, a shareholder at national labor and employment law firm Littler Mendelson. His sons all remember him fondly as an affectionate, loving, and extremely fun dad who never missed one of their many athletic events growing up. In his later years, Charlie had a great relationship with his wife Shannon and became a devoted "parent" again to their dog Riley. He was incredibly fond of and close to his four grandkids, Jake, Trevor, Tucker and Delaney who always looked forward to being with "Pops". He had no daughters of his own, but cherished his daughters-in-law Susan and Lori. He will be deeply missed by his family, extended family and many friends. A memorial service will be held at Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home, 111 Skokie Blvd., Wilmette on September 12, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlie's name may be made to Autism Alliance of Michigan or Paws.