Obituaries

Gene W. Sochor, age 80, of Wayne, Illinois, passed away on September 20, 2023.

Gene was lifelong resident of Illinois, born in Chicago and spending his life in several Chicago suburbs, though his desire to travel took him to all parts of the globe.  He discovered his love of Amateur Radio (ham radio) while living in Berwyn, Illinois in his teens, and this hobby would stay with him and keep him up until all hours of the morning through his final days.  He worked at Allied Radio in the 1960s to gain access to the latest radio equipment and took that love of all things electronic into his studies at DePaul University.  He began a career in sales at Berndt Associates as a manufacturer’s rep, eventually becoming president of the company.  The people who worked with him became his extended family, celebrating the good times together, and he did his best to protect them from the tough times.  When he retired in 2016, he never lost contact with those he had worked so closely with.

Gene’s true joy was time spent with his wife of 39 years, Phyllis, and children, Lisl Sochor, Chris Boden, and Kim Glover.  He instilled an appreciation for nature in each of them, enjoying spending time at home in the Tree House as well as at the Morton Arboretum and Chicago Botanic Gardens. Gene encouraged everyone he loved to travel, indulge in new foods, support the arts and enjoy the small moments. He truly enjoyed them all.

Contributions to the Morton Arboretum can be made in Gene’s name through their Tribute Gifts page: Tribute Gifts, listing his name as “honoree.”

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