CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENT OF JOHN OWREY
YOUTH COMMUNICATION CHICAGO BOARD PRESIDENT
We celebrate the life and achievements of John Owrey,
our beloved Youth Communication Chicago Board President who died on January 5th, 2022.
John served on the YCC Board as President for over a decade. He led with with a cheerful dignity,
always gracious, knowledgable and wise. We will all miss John terribly. He was a brilliant light
of optimism and inspiration. John was a beacon of hope to many, many lives which he touched
through his non-profit work, his teaching career, and through his IT expertise. John’s life
created a rippling effect of strength, care, and empowerment which radiates out into the world
making it a far better, more just, and happier place to be for countless individuals of all ages
and backgrounds. In his honor Youth Communication will be organizing a Scholarship Program to
continue his noble work. John was a doting father who always made time for his children no
matter how busy he was. He took care of his aging mother with grace and compassion. John was a
great and loyal friend. He made time for all who needed his help. John always had a bright and
sunny smile on his face, eager to co-create the next new idea and take a project further.
His absence on this Earth will leave a great void in the hearts of all who knew and cherished him.
John Owrey, 61, died on January 5th, 2022 when his house in River Grove, Illinois, caught fire
in the early morning. His mother, Marilyn 91, and his daughter Michelle 24, also died in the
fire. Due to extremely cold weather conditions the firemen had trouble with the water flow
to put out the fire.John is survived by his daughter Christina and her husband,
his sister Mary Myers and her husband Kevin and their children Adam and Elaine,
and his step brother Steve Donnan.
