Alan Harris Obituary

Harris, Dr. Alan G.

Often in dreams, and sometimes in life, two souls find their intendeds or "besherts" and create a real life Camelot.

Such was the case for Alan Gary Harris and his wife of 54 years, Linda (Chaplik). Alan died on December 18, 2025 at age 79 in Linda's arms in their home after a magnificent fight against Leukemia. Alan is now joining his beloved parents, Harold and Fay Harris-whose great love for their sons and each other were the source of Alan's beauty and goodness.

In addition to Linda, Alan is survived by his brother Scott Harris (the late Cheryl Ellenby), his nephew Hugh (Amy) Harris, his niece Sophie Harris Vorhoff (Harry Vorhoff), great nephews and nieces Felix Vorhoff, Ferrin Harris, Rose Vorhoff and Micah Harris, brother in love of Elynne Chaplik-Alescow, Susan Chaplik and Richard Aleskow. Genuine son of the late Miriam and Ruby Chaplik.

Alan was born on May 23, 1946--a gorgeous tow-haired baby boy born on his parents' third anniversary. This precious gift came home to Chicago's Austin neighborhood, where Alan grew up among a tight knit extended family, who lived within blocks of each other.

At age 7, Alan and his family moved to Skokie. There, Alan thrived in a world of friends, baseball, schemes and fun. He later loved planning grammar and high school reunions because he adored these years. He cherished friendships with his Sharp Corners and Niles East clique--the cool kids who had each other's backs. They came of age in a carefree time before the 60's revolution, and they knew how to have fun.

For college, Alan attended the University of Illinois and then American University in D.C. While on a college spring break trip with a buddy at American, he picked up two high school senior girls hitching down Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. One was Linda, and the rest is a love story for the ages.

Upon graduating college, Alan worked at Baxter Labs, then returned to D.C. to attend Howard University Dental School. He and Linda married in 1971 and "played house" in D.C. as students. There they experienced the magic of becoming each other's family and gaining life-long cherished friendships.

Upon graduating Dental School, Alan and Linda moved home to Chicago, where Alan completed his post graduate degree in periodontics at Northwestern University. Alan loved his professional work, and for all the care he gave, he received even more. He started his own practice, Suburban Periodontics, and was blessed with patients and colleagues who provided him with extraordinary loyalty, love and support.

When not at work Alan played with his friends and family. He inherited his parents' passion for golf, which brought beautiful friendships, trips, country club administration, and endless hours of fun. His zest for interesting hobbies extended to horse breeding, including trips to Keenland and Deauville, with his Illini franternity brother. He relished golf trips with his Hillcrest buddies all over the world, and would never pass on a great cigar or wine. In more recent years, he and his dear friends returned to a boyhood passion of building museum-worthy model railroads. Travel throughout the world was a passion for Linda and Alan. Yet their Highland Park home was their happy place. Alan may be best known by his friends and family for the culinary skills he developed as his "mid life crisis." The fun that Linda and Alan had planning menus, grocery shopping, hosting parties, and cooking together was indescribable. Their home was filled with color, flowers, photos, family, friends, and endless love.

But perhaps Alan's greatest joy was being among his family and friends. His brother Scott and sister-in-law Cher lived in Minneapolis and made their home "a happy place" for Linda and Alan. This was in large part because of Hugh and Sophie, who adored their "Uncle Wisdom" and were the closest thing to his own children. Alan was a beloved son-in-law and friend to Linda's parents, Ruby and Miriam Chaplik, and greatest advocate and friend to her sisters, Ivy, Susan, Elynne and her husband Richard. And Alan's life was enriched so by the Lincolnwood clan of Linda's childhood friends who, together with their spouses and children, became family.

Generosity and kindness were in Alan's DNA-demonstrated through his charitable work and, more than that, in his deep commitment in every deed to be respectful, generous, and kind-to his closest friends, his colleagues, and his caddies. These characteristics were the essence of Alan and his life, held dear by all who had the blessing to know him.

Alan Harris's goodness lives on in every person whose life he touched. May his memory be a blessing to all who loved him. And may it never be forgot: "There's simply not a more congenial spot for happily-ever-aftering than here in Camelot." This is his legacy that Linda and all who love him cherish.

Service Sunday 11AM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd., (at Niles Center Road), Skokie. Interment Westlawn. To attend the funeral livestream and for shiva info., please visit our website. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Civil Liberties Union, www.aclu.org or Simon Wiesenthal Center, www.wiesenthal.org or Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, www.ccfa.org. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals-Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com

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