City Council September 21, 2022 Committee on Transportation & Public Way
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Section 1. Pursuant to Section 2-8-040 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, which allows erection of honorary street name designations, the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation shall take the necessary action for standardization of West 113th Street, between South Artesian Avenue and South Maplewood Avenue as "Matt Hooker Way"
Matthew J. O'Shea Alderman, 19th Ward
SECTION 2: This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and publication.
August 11, 2022
Office of Budget and Management 121 N. LaSalle, Room 604 Chicago, IL 60602
To Whom It May Concern:
I, Matthew J. O'Shea , Alderman of the 19th Ward, hereby authorize the
Office of Budget Management to withdraw the funds associated with the cost of
installation for this honorary street designation for Matt Hooker Way
from my:
□ Ward's annual menu program budget
K Ward's aldermanic expanse allowance
upon passage of this designation ordinance, pursuant to Section 2-8-040 of the Chicago Municipal Code.
Sincerely,
Alderman
6/1/2017
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Matt Hooker, 40, dedicated dad, coach, alumnus
by Kyle Garmes Jun 18, 2019
Matt Hooker
Even after he was diagnosed with cancer, Matt Hooker lived life to the fullest.
He welcomed a newborn son, enjoyed the outdoors, cherished time with family and friends, and he helped others going through the same medical battle.
A 1997 Mt. Carmel High School graduate, the Morgan Park resident was known as a "Carmel man" through and through, and he returned to his alma mater as an assistant wrestling coach for many years.
REAL ESTATE AUCTION
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Previously Valued to $12,500,000 . Suggested Opening Bid $2,500,000 On-site Inspections noon to 2pm on August 24, JO, "and September's and by appointment.
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Friends and family are now mourning Hooker's death but remembering his passion for life and tenacious personality.
Hooker, 40, died on June 6. He left behind his wife, Peggy, and two young children, Francesca and Dean.
"Matt showed us how to fight," said his friend John Doohry at Hooker's funeral services at St. Cajetan Church. "He taught us about passion, positivity and perseverance, even in the face of such adversity. I believe his sacrifice showed us how to be better people, and he was the one amongst us strong enough to do it."
Hooker was diagnosed in March of 2016 with non-small-cell lung cancer. A non-smoker, he was a concrete worker for many years. He was an active athlete, completing marathons and triathlons, including the 2012 Chicago Iron Man race.
He completed his first triathlon in 2010 with little training, which amazed his friends.
Hooker, a St. Cajetan Elementary School graduate, was a handsome, proud Italian, Doohry said, and was thrilled when a genealogy test showed that he was 51-percent Italian. While Hooker was ill, he purchased a lakehouse and frequently hosted friends for get-togethers and rides on his pontoon boat.
Hooker's love for Mt. Carmel was "infectious," Doohry said. He wrestled and played baseball and soccer at the all-boys Catholic school, then returned about a decade ago to be a wrestling coach.
Although he was a young man with a busy social life, he still enjoyed waking up early on weekends to coach wrestlers at tournaments.
"He coached his butt off and wanted every one of those kids to experience the same thing he experienced as a man of Carmel," Doohry said. "Matt was a born leader."
Bill Guide coached Hooker in wrestling, then employed him at Cork and Kerry Tavern in Beverly. Guide watched as Hooker continued the Caravan's proud traditions as a coach.
Hooker developed close relationships with his wrestlers, especially those competing at the heavier weight classes, Guide said, who looked up to the young mentor and confided in him.
"He just did a fantastic job with all the levels," Guide said. "Kids loved him."
In 2007, Hooker sat matside and coached Zeke Rowan to the 130-pound state title. As is tradition in wrestling, Rowan jumped into his coach's arms after his victory.
Even though Rowan was a smaller wrestler than Hooker was when he competed, the two meshed well for training.
"He and Matt had a special relationship," Guide said. "I was happy to see Matt get a chance to sit in on the state final match. For a coach, that's the next-best thing [to wrestling]. I'm glad Matt got to experience that. And Zeke came through."
Guide also said Hooker was a pleasure to coach during the dominant Mt. Carmel run in the 1990s. Hooker helped the Caravan win a team state title.
"He was just always a hard-nosed, scrappy kid," Guide said. "He would give you 110 percent every time he stepped out on the mat."
David Lenti, Mt. Carmel vice president of institutional advancement, said that, for Hooker, the Caravan's "brown and white was in his blood."
Hooker volunteered to co-chair events at the school, and he often brought his kids along.
"He was just a great Carmel guy," Lenti said, "always looking out for other people, putting all the other people's interests before his own."
During his fight against cancer, Hooker teamed up with the G02 Foundation for Lung Cancer to raise awareness about the disease. In February, he said his children gave him strength.
"I was diagnosed nearly three years ago when my wife was three months pregnant with our second child," Hooker said in a previous interview. "I always wanted to be a father, so my children inspire me to do what I need to do to stay alive for them. I would tell someone recently diagnosed to stay as positive as possible."
Hooker also received support from Christmas Without Cancer (CWC), a local non-profit organization. Gerri Neylon, CWC founder, was a nurse at Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was diagnosed, and reached out to him. When Hooker went into remission early in his battle, he volunteered as a member of the CWC committee.
He and his family participated in the CWC 5K in Evergreen Park last October, where he called his wife his "rock,".and in December, he helped deliver CWC gifts to other families battling cancer.
In one instance, Neylon said, Hooker and a friend easily loaded a heavy trampoline to bring to a family in Oak Lawn.
"When it came down to it," Neylon said, "Matt was our muscle. ... He brought kids from Mt. Carmel to help."
Neylon praised Hooker and his wife for wanting "to pay it forward," saying they contributed to other families battling cancer. Hooker worked behind the scenes for CWC, Neylon said, and would call her with updates about his condition, always remaining positive even as he discussed radiation treatments.
He insisted, she said, that he had to keep working to support his family, a reflection, Neylon said, of his strong character. "He was a true picture of faith, family and friends," Neylon said. "That was his life."
Funeral services were held on June 14 at St. Cajetan Roman Catholic Church. Interment followed at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Beverly Ridge Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Hooker is survived by his wife, Peggy; his children, Francesca and Dean Hooker; his mother, Florence; his siblings, Jennifer (Stan) Jablonski and Jeffrey (Danielle); his brother-in-law, Patrick Gumbelton; his nieces, Grace and Sophie; his godson, Declan Feely; and his aunts and uncles, Andy (Jane) Abbott, Barbara (Jim) Propati, Sam Abbott and Margaret (Ron) Gucwa.
The Hooker Family sent their thanks to the compassionate staff at Rush University Medical Center, especially Dr. Philip Bonomi, MD, and Irene Haapoja, RNMSN.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Christmas Without Cancer at christmaswithoutcancer.org.