Eliot Fishman Obituary

I miss you everyday...I know your happy and at peace...Say hi to Janis Joplin for me :)

Sue, Megan, Michael.......I am so sorry about Eliot. He was a fine man and everyone loved him. Always had time to talk to you, and I always loved hearing about his motorcycle rides........Jeanee Burns (Kelly)

WE WILL ALWAYS TREASURE ELIOTS MEMORY . THE RINK WILL NOT BE THE SAME . SO GLAD I SAW ELIOT IN EARLY DECEMBER , GAVE HIM A BIG HUG AND KISS ON THE CHEEK .

REST IN PEACE ELLIOT , GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS .

Sue,
I just found out today and can't believe it. I'm sooo sorry and have no real words. We loved Eliot and have the best memories of him.
With great sadness,
Jan Jones

Dear Nancy & Lenny,
Just heard the sad news and wanted to express my heartfelt sympathy.

Your old neighbor from Alison Lane.

Charlene Stern Coles
(daughter of Edna Levin)

No parent should have to bury a child, no matter what age and least of all twice in a lifetime. I think of Leonard and Nancy and the pain in their hearts from their child's absence. Hristos Ljubavi, and I will light a candle for Eliot and think of him on each future occasion when I am in Church.

I have seen too many of my generation die at too early of an age and for no good reason, not from war, not from injury or illness. I have read too many of these guestbooks and after awhile, they all sound the same.

If I had to draw a line back to a starting point for almost every friend I currently have in my life, for the majority of the business aquaintances and clients that I have developed in the last 16 years, for my wife, her family and our first child, that starting point would be Eliot Fishman and all of the people that I have met as a sole result of knowing him. Not having known Eliot I would know none of them.

Eliot, El, Dr. E... all names I knew Eliot by when we were growing up together in Wilmette.

Strange how someone's passing can bring back so many wounderful memories that you have not let yourself have the time to enjoy for so many years. Many of my favorite childhood moments came from the times Eliot and I spent together... Slot car racing at Tom Thumb (Eliot always had the fastest cars!), Gigio's Pizza for lunch (still think of those days whenever I go there to this day) hockey in my driveway for hours upon hours trading off who got to play goalie (in Eliot's goalie pads & Tony Espo mask) and who got to shoot while we dreamed we would be the next Bobby Hull or Tony Esposito, Wilmette Ice hockey and Village Green rink rats, Global Thermal Nucular War (the card game), Taffy, Gramps Cramps, the slot machiene, sleepouts in the back yard, "borrowing" street signs to make our kung fu throwing stars, Nunchucks, a memorable ride in Jack's Triumph Stag, "Big Bertha", fireworks, wall ball at Locust, Hockey Camp in Canada, combining Eliot's green Gretsch drum set with my walnut Camco set to make the ultimate double bass rocker!, HS Parties, the Celica, the Skylark ... they go on and on.

As time wore on Eliot and I drifted our seperate ways yet I would always look forward to his annual call to me to check if I could get the McFetridge Ice Show order out sooner to make their rehersal and then we would play catch up.

I was in Israel with my family celebrating my daughter's bat-mitzvah when I heard the news of Eliot's death. I was dissapointed that I could not make the funeral but at the same time it gave me an opportunity to remember a friend with a note and a prayer at the Western Wall which I was thankful for.

My sincerest sympathaies go out to all of Eliot's family especially Mrs. and Mr. Fishman who always made me feel welcome in their home and who's warmth, generosity and humor obviously made great impact on Eliot's life.

Eliot, thanks for the memories and rock on where ever you go.

Your Friend,

Glenn

We are very sorry for your families loss. We just heard about the sad news of Eloit's passing. It was always a treat to see Eloit at
McFetridge driving the zamboni. He was always friendly and helpful with everyone. We will miss him and his kind words for everyone he met.
He will be greatly missed.

TO ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS, ELLIOT WASLOVED BY ALL. MAY HE REST IN PEACE.
ALL MY LOVE,
LISA KOZAK

Where do you even start when someone was part of your life longer than they weren't? Eliot was a dear friend and co-worker for many years. He never wanted to see a sad face and did whatever it took to turn a persons day around...mine included. In true Eliot form, the attorney in him told me during my divorce "look at it this way, go shopping, everything is half off!" It was so fun to be friends with someone with such a quick wit. I thank him for all the support, laughter and fresh ice surfaces on which to skate. Eliot will be greatly missed. McFetridge will NEVER be the same.

To Nancy and Lenny, whom I've known since I was a child, and to all the rest of the family. My heart goes out to all of you on the tragic death of Eliot. Nancy and Lenny, you meant a lot to me during my growing up years and I think of you often.

Sue, our heartfelt condolences
Just found out today
Eliot will remain in our hearts
And our prayers are with
You and your family

From the Kennedy
Tom & Sandi

I have so many memories of Eliot I hardly know where to begin. Above all, I remember that mischievous gleam in his eye just before springing ‘it’. It was almost irrelevant whether ‘it’ was the punch line of a joke, a gift of some sort, a wild and usually hare-brained scheme only Eliot could have imagined, or any of a million other things. He had the same gleam in his eye, and without a word I knew to put on my mental seat belt, because we were going for a ride. And what a ride!

The only look I remember better than Eliot’s is the look on my own Mom’s face when she saw the gleam in Eliot’s eye. She knew what The Gleam meant every bit as well as I did!

If life is a journey, Eliot always made sure I had the wheels. We rode tricycles together, and it seems like we made the move to cars only a few short years later (Eliot told me it was OK because we had Jackie’s learner’s permit in the car with us). A few years after that, and we even received driver’s licenses. When I was 14 years old, my Dad took me to an empty parking lot and let me drive for the ‘first’ time. Actually, it was nice to be with my Dad, and even nicer to be back behind the wheel!

Over the years, Eliot and I traveled by air, land and sea. One of my favorite ‘Eliot’ stories involves the day I was in Wilmette, and told my Mom I’d be having dinner with Eliot. We went flying through the loop, did a touch-and-go at Meigs (among other airports), and I still vividly remember seeing the roof of the Sears Tower - above us! We wound up flying to Lake Geneva for dinner that night, which turned into yet another adventure - culminating in a ‘friendly’ call from the State police to my parents. Uncle Lenny tried to reassure my Mom by saying ‘don’t worry Lois - I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding - they’re out flying the plane today’. Which would have been great - except that she didn’t know Eliot was a pilot! Mom later told me she missed the good old days when we were just little kids - and only drove cars instead of planes!!! Surprisingly, Aunt Nancy always seemed to feel better when Eliot and I were together. Go figure.

Eliot’s sense of humor was legendary, and I can still hear his voice when I think of phrases like:

Daaaaaaavo G!

Happy Garden, may I help you?

Candy bars!!!

Eliot’s messages - especially his ‘happy birthday’ greetings - were always hysterical, especially when he had a guitar handy. I still have some sheet music titled ‘Eliot’s Blues’. He was a triple threat, playing drums, blues guitar, and singing. No Eliot song was complete without the stream-of-consciousness lyrics, which were never quite the same and often hit-or-miss, but when they were right they were soooo right, and so funny we’d be on the floor laughing. My wife Jill and Eliot were both born on December 15th, and I know she too greatly misses her ‘Birthday Buddy’.

Eliot may have put on a few pounds over the years, but when we were kids he was far and away the best pure athlete across the board I’ve ever seen. He was the undisputed King of Birchwood. He taught me how to hit a fastball - including the one he threw so hard it broke our garage door! Not bad for a guy with a rubber ball. Even my Dad was impressed.
So was the guy who replaced the door!

Eliot loved Winter sports, and he was such a great skater when he was young that I really believe he had the talent to go as far in hockey as he chose. His slapshot was so hard, I remember goalies rushing out of the net just to keep from being hit! He also loved snowmobiling, and he was a great skier. In Summer, he was a fabulous golfer and he loved to hunt, but he especially loved fishing and boating.

Somewhere along the way Eliot found time for schoolwork too (thanks to those 26 hour days of his), and he went on to become an attorney. It’s hard enough to get through law school, but Eliot managed to do so while holding down his full time job with the Chicago Park District. It’s a rare man who can handle law school, and still be the Master of the Six Minute Ice Cut. Eliot was like a brother to me, and when he passed the Bar we became ‘brothers in law”. That phrase gave us even more pleasure in later years, when Marv and Dayle married, and we truly did become family members and joined together to celebrate many happy occasions over time.

But no thoughts of Eliot would be complete without mentioning women. As his neighbor right across the street, I had perhaps the best view of anyone of the perennial Miss America pageant happening at 2707! Eliot was absolutely born to be Santa Claus, and I have yet to see a ‘girl’ of any age who didn’t absolutely melt when sitting on his lap. It was only natural that he be Santa at McFetridge. Eliot was always good looking in a ‘young Elvis’ sort of way, but it was his charm, wit, and sense of humor which won everyone over. But Eliot always knew a great thing when he found it, and he repeatedly told me over the years “Davo, I hit the jackpot the day I found Sue”.

Sue was the great love of Eliot’s life, and he did his best to make sure she knew it every day. Sue shared that spot in his heart with two other women who meant everything to Eliot - his Mom Nancy, and his sister Cyd. Cyd was like a second mother to Eliot, and he absolutely worshiped her. Eliot was always happiest when with others, and hated being by himself. It gives me great comfort to know that he is with Cyd now, and that they will never be alone again.

But Eliot had room in his heart to love a great many people - friends, family, colleagues, everyone - and I’ve never known anyone to be as greatly loved by as many people as he was.

Eliot left us all with stories and memories to last a lifetime. I’ll cherish every one of them (especially the ones I can’t repeat here!). Eliot brought joy and laughter to all our lives, and I can’t even imagine my childhood (or later years) without him. Eliot taught me a great many things over the years, but above all, Eliot taught me how to live. For that, I’ll be forever grateful.

Mr. and Mrs. Fishman your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Eliot was part of my family for years, my father (Pete Vito) had the pleasure of working with Eliot at the Park District. Eliot was his fourth son in our family, I missed Eliot this year at our family Christmas Eve Celebaration the he and his wife always attended. I have a void in my life without him there. I will always remember him as my Jewish brother in my Italian family. Eliot I will miss you forever GOD SPPED ELIOT.My Family will miss you and you love

My brothers and I grew up in Wilmette with Eliot. The last time I saw him was at our friends wedding. I know that he was a very special person who retained his childhood friends into adulthood. He will be missed by all and my thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Eliot was a great guy!!! I just found out the services were today :o( I was waiting for a call to find out the information, which never haooened, but my point is I wish I could have went. I've known him for a long time through Mcfedtridge! His laugh and huge smile will be missed and of course his jokes! Much Love Eliot!

We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Eliot was a wonderful person. We met when my nephew started taking skating lessons at McFetridge when he was 4 years old. He loved Eliot, as all the skaters did. And yes, it did help that Eliot was lucky enough to drive the Zamboni! Such a cool responsibility! Just last week, Eliot offered to bring in his guitar to show my nephew. My nephew was excited because he had received a guitar as a gift and was contemplating lessons. He thought it was so great that Eliot was a musician. We all looked forward to seeing him on skating days and we will miss him greatly.
The Witry/Riley family.

I am shocked and deeply saddened. Eliot and I were compatriots and "partners in crime". I have a lifetime of memories with Eliot and our neighbors, the Fishmans. Eliot and I shared so very many laughs together. I am glad I was able to visit with him this past spring when he came up north to go fishing. Today I am going to dig out old photos and reminisce. Nancy and Len, you are in my thoughts. I am sorry I cannot be there to honor Eliots life.

Nancy & Len-
I was so sorry to hear of Eliot's passing. You are in my prayers along with his wife and children.

Eliot - You will be missed. God Bless

Eliot was a friend and colleague and I will miss him dearly

My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Eliot was an pal in college and was a dear man. We were blessed to have known him. May he rest in peace.

???

you will be missed

Nancy and Len
I am currently in Maryland and just heard about Eliot's passing. Even though I can't be with you, please know that my thoughts and love are with you and the family.
May Eliot's name be for a blessing.
Terri Katznelson Berman & Family

Eliot, I will always remember the good times we had at the park together. I will miss our El and Al duets and your endless supply of jokes to get us to smile. You were one of the kindest men I will ever know and I am glad that I had the privelege of being your friend. When I go into work today and everyday, there will be a void without you being there. I hope you knew how important you were to so many people and I hope that you knew how much I appreciated your sincerity and gentle soul. I will miss you Eliot.

"E-Man". I worked with Eliot for many years at McFetridge, and although I'd lost touch with him, I still considered him my friend. He was a great guy, always there to lend an ear when I needed to talk. He will be dearly missed. -Blue

For me personally, it is less important how many years we live, and more important how much life we pack into the years we have. Eliot packed a full life into every moment, and as a result deeply touched so many of us. As kids, Eliot and I were next door neighbors on the mean streets of west Wilmette, a place where I felt disconnected from virtually everyone else. But I felt a connection to Eliot, and to his wonderful family. They always welcomed me at their home, and that simple act of kindness opened the door a little ways for me to understand what community was or could be. Eliot taught me how to develop photos, he helped me get over my fear of dogs via his beloved Taffy. Eliot taught me how cool hockey was, skiing too. He was a genuinely nice guy who "got the girls." He never helped me put away the games we had just played with -- he was already on to the next. But that was ok by me. The "next thing" was the very thing I wanted to play too. Then all too soon we were adults going our separate ways. As we grew up, I saw that others also were touched by Eliot's love for life, his warm and wild sense of humor, his commitment to friendship, his living every moment. I feel tremendous gratitude to have known Eliot. And my thoughts and prayers are with his family.