Saturday, January 07, 2006

Chick Delano

Charles “Chick” H. Delano III, 65, of Springfield, died at 10:40 a.m. on Friday, January 6, 2006 at Memorial Medical Center.

Chick was born on March 19, 1940 in Springfield, the son of Charles H. and Nell Curren Delano. He married Barbara Schwarm on September 12, 1964 in Evanston, IL.

Chick was a 1961 graduate of Stanford University and received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1964. He practiced law serving as a trial lawyer for forty-one years. He began his career with Continental Bank of Chicago and then practiced at two LaSalle Street litigation firms. He served as a Sangamon County Assistant State’s Attorney. In 1967 he founded Delano Law Offices. He served as the first corporation counsel for the city of Springfield, setting up its law department. In 1992 he purchased the Roland building which sat upon the foundation of the historic American House Hotel. The full historic renovation was recognized by the National Park Service as a certified historic structure. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

He was preceded in death by two infant daughters, Catherine Curren and Mary Christine.

He is survived by his wife: Barbara of Springfield; three sons: Charles H. (wife, Erika) Delano IV of Springfield, John (wife, Lisa) Delano of Brookline, MA, Kevin (wife, Annie) Delano of North Riverside, IL; three daughters: Sarah (husband, Tom) Pavlik and Cathleen (husband, Patrick) Sweeten both of Springfield, and Ann (husband, Keith) Bunnell of Peoria, eleven grandchildren, and a sister: Jane (husband, Warren) Foran of Springfield.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 2006 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home , 900 S. 6th St. Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 5:00 p.m. Concelebrated Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1725 S. Walnut, Springfield with Rev. James Neuman, principal celebrant and Rev. David H. Hoefler and and Rev. Robert Spriggs, concelebrants. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, 748 W. Laurel, Springfield, IL 62704.

The family of Charles “Chick” H. Delano III is being served by Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St. Springfield.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Will,
Thank you for all your efforts! Happy & sad...the latest...Chick will be missed; we celebrate his life with family and friends.
God Bless, Janet Beardsley Johnson

Will Howarth said...

Janet,

Thanks. The news about Chick hit me pretty hard. He and I had become better acquainted over the last five years and would exchange phone calls every month or so. We last spoke on New Year's Eve, and a week later he died.

We all remember Chick as a wild kid, but he settled down early and became a staunch family and church man. He was a fierce, combative lawyer but also did a lot of pro bono and charity work. He held big family reunions and loved to potter about in his garden.

He told me that every year at this time, he would go over catalogs, plan the next year's garden, and then by the time the plants arrived, he would lose the plan and just plant impulsively, and it came out all right in the end.

I think his life was that way, too. I'm just sorry that he couldn't wait until after our 50th, because he promised me he'd come to that reunion.

One last story: I met him in 6th grade, and we had a fight that day. He boxed, I wrestled, and finally I sat on him and yelled "Say Uncle." My Dad had taught me that phrase; it was about 40 years out of date. Chick said "Say WHAT?" and started to laugh. But he said it, we were friends after that, and never fought again.

Will

Will Howarth said...

C. E. Welch sent me a list of folks who attended the visitation and services for Chick Delano:

Mon Jan 9 Visitation: SHS 58

C. E. Welch
Ron Wilson
Jim Rollman
Mary Pearson Perkins
Phil & Polly Spengler
Janet Beardsley Johnson

Tue Jan 10 Funeral

C. E. Welch
Ron Wilson
Jim Rollman
Janet Beardsley
Jack Billington
Stu Brown
Jan Guiffre Sables

Cathedral H. S. class of 58

John Eck
Louie Gietl
Tom Regan
Phil Graham

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