Susan F. Messinger

Susan Frances Messinger, 97, of the Gold Coast neighborhood. Dear younger sister of the late Henry Peter (late Jan) Messinger; loving cousin of Lisl (Herbert) Winter; devoted aunt of Don (Wilma) Baker, Paul (Xin) Messinger, and Nena (Steve) Peltin; caring great-aunt of Rachael (Rudy) Prather, Spencer (Samantha) Baker, Aviva Peltin, Shoshana Messinger, and Leo Messinger.

Departing Vienna hastily in 1938, she finished high school in New Jersey and completed a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master's degree in anthropology (both at the University of Chicago). She found her passion as a Chicago city planner for four decades, ending her career in the Landmarks Preservation Division. Active in civic and social justice organizations and cultural activities, she adored opera and the symphony, and she loved Chicago theatre (especially Shakespeare) and its museums, particularly the Art Institute. She dreamed of a Peace Fountain on the lake near the Planetarium. A family member summed up, “Chicago was her child.” Her mark can be felt in the streets of Chicago and on her family, for whom she was a loyal and consistent bright light.

Her life will be celebrated at a Zoom Service on May 3, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to doctorswithoutborders.org, bnaibrith.org, wttw.org, crownschool.uchicago.edu, lyricopera.org, or the symphony (cso.org), which are among the organizations to which she was devoted.

Zoom Funeral Zoom link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/98823044064 Monday, May 3, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. The service will be graveside at Oak Ridge Cemetery (outside) and the zoom funeral service and burial will be broadcast from there. For info, Weinstein & Piser Funeral Home, 847-256-5700