Best known for his 15 years as host of the nightly news program "Chicago Tonight" on public television, John Callaway died of an apparent heart attack June 23, according to the Chicago Tribune. He was 72.
Chicago Tonight debuted on Ch. 11 in 1984, and the first guest was then-Mayor Harold Washington. Callaway left Chicago Tonight in 1999 but continued to conduct interviews on Friday Night and host Chicago Stories segments on WTTW-Ch. 11.
Callaway is survived by two daughters—entertainers Liz Foster Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway—from a previous marriage. He was also stepfather to four of current wife Sandra Callaway's children.
WTTW's Alex Silets—who was a co-producer of the co-producers of the documentary Out and Proud, which aired on the station last year—told Windy City Times, " [ Callaway ] was a giant at WTTW but he was also a giant to the journalists here in Chicago. WTTW is known nationally for its local programming, and it's because of John Callaway that we're known. ... I personally wouldn't be at WTTW if it wasn't for John Callaway; I worked on Chicago Tonight and Chicago Stories with John.
Choking back tears, Silets added, "It's a tremendous loss. It's devastating.
"Back in 1984, when Chicago Tonight started, people weren't covering gay issues. John Callaway was covering gay issues—in the '80s. Remarkable. He was a remarkable guy. ... He was brilliant. He wanted to know more about people. He had a love for Chicago, and it was contagious at work. He made everyone bring not just their 'A' game, but their triple-'A' game."
As for Callaway's personality, Silets said, "He was great. He was a lot more playful...he had another dimension than you saw on TV. He was playful, funny and warm. He was sensitive and cry at the drop of a hat. If Liz was on Broadway, or if Ann was doing something in New York, he would drop everything and fly to New York—all the time.
"We at WTTW are like family, and it's like losing a father."
Silets also said, "When we aired Out and Proud in Chicago, he picked up the phone, called me and told me how brilliant it was. That's the kind of guy he was."
A memorial service for Callaway took place June 28 in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to The John Callaway Excellence in Journalism Fund, WTTW, Inc., 5400 N. Saint Louis, Chicago, Ill., 60625-4698.