Rest in peace, Robert

Heart of the 'hood

11/11/2009 10:00 PM

FELICIA DECHTER

No Comments - Add Your Comment


Robert Huffer, a Lake Viewer for many years, was the best man at my wedding 25 years ago, and when he died last week of kidney failure, my husband and I were devastated.

Some readers may know Robert. For decades, the Huffer family has run their business — Teletech Video Corp. — in Streeterville (These days, Robert’s older brother Jeff runs Teletech, which was founded by their late mother, Lois).

Robert had a hearty laugh, loved to have a good time. He was a snazzy dresser with what seemed like an endless supply of cool-colored leather jackets.

I think my favorite memory of Robert is him having faith in me when others didn’t. Many moons ago, when I first decided to get a degree in journalism, a few negative naysayers snootily asked, “What are you going to do with that?” Robert encouraged me, saying, “You’re going to win a Pulitzer someday.” Obviously that hasn’t happened — yet — but I’m keeping the faith.

Robert was thrilled to be a father, and he left behind two sons, Connel, 11, and Logan, 1. He’ll be sorely missed by his friends and family, including Jeff (Kim), sister Martha (Roy) Erickson, nieces/nephews Bob (Abbie) Lyman, Michael and Melissa Huffer and great-nephew R.J. Lyman.

If you’re making any charitable holiday donations, please consider the place that took excellent care of Robert, the Walter Payton Liver Center at The University of Illinois Medical Center, 1740 W. Taylor, in Chicago, 60612.

HERSHEY’S SWEET The immensely-talented Hershey Felder spent 70 record-breaking weeks here performing his “George Gershwin Alone” — which I loved — and “Monsieur Chopin” shows a few years back. Tomorrow, Nov. 13, Felder opens at the Drury Lane Theatre at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, with “Beethoven, As I Knew Him,” before “Gershwin Alone,” takes over from Dec. 23 to Dec. 30.

Miss those shows? Catch Felder’s two New Year’s Eve performances of “The Great American Song Book Sing-A-Long,” which will be filmed for TV and world-wide release.

“We turn it into a party every night,” said Felder, who has called Chicago his “favorite place in America with the best audiences in the world.”

The song, “The Man I Love,” by George Gershwin, is one of my all-time favorites. Felder said the Gershwin story is sad because Gershwin died before he knew what would happen with his legacy. “There’s something very touching about that,” Felder said.

He chooses characters like Gershwin and Beethoven, he said, because they’re, “regular people, just like the rest of us,” who have human and sad tales to tell.

“There’s an important story to tell about people whose lives give us a gift,” said Felder, who’s currently working on an Abe Lincoln musical.

OVER THEIR DEAD BODIES Is what some Near North Siders are thinking about the prospect of the Three Arts Club, 1300 N. Dearborn, becoming a columbarium, or storage facility for cremated remains. Fourteen neighbors met Sunday to discuss the idea, and you can be sure those not in favor won’t let their opposition die. See the story on page 1 of this week’s Skyline.

MOB SCENE Former Columbia College students’ Beverly Ridge Picture’s gangster thriller “Chicago Overcoat” premiered recently on the East Coast at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Fest, receiving resounding applause/cheers from the sold-out crowd. Lake Viewer Danny Goldring again hit the Red Carpet with stars Frank Vincent, Katherine Narducci, and Mike Starr — whose son, John, is a Columbia College student. Executive producer/Skyliner Joanne Moss was thrilled the flick was named a “Best of the Fest” at Chicago’s International Film Fest. She held a fab after-party here at Franconello’s.


No Comments - Add Your Comment