Jami Bantry, a transgender musician and volunteer at the Center on Halsted, passed away Dec. 2 after a long battle with lymphoma. She was 65.
Bantry was well-known for her work in Chicago's transgender community.
Four years ago, she founded the center's monthly "T Out Mic" event, a transgender open-mic night that brought new visibility to developing transgender musicians and writers in Chicago. There, many transgender musicians who were testing out new identities and sometimes new voices after transition, found a supportive space.
Many of those acts later appeared at Scott Free's Homolatte, the bi-weekly show that features LGBT artists and musicians at Big Chick's bar in Uptown.
"She definitely was a big part of me and my trans programming at Homolatte," said Free, who provided sound equipment to the T Out Mic events.
Bantry was an avid supporter of local music and fan of transgender acts Coyote Grace and Namoli Brennet as well as more mainstream acts like the Beatles.
Bantry volunteered in the center's computer lab when her health allowed.
Before retiring a few years ago, she had made her living as a successful architect in the city. She was also an Army veteran, a mother of three and a grandmother of four.
Those who remember Bantry recalled her upbeat nature and enthusiasm.
"She was very very active," said June LaTrobe, Bantry's best friend of 10 years. "She was quiet but made this really meaningful impression."
Bantry struggled with health problems for years. In recent weeks, her health had started to decline, limiting her social activities. Shortly after, she got word of the death of her friend Lois Bates, transgender health manager at Howard Brown Health Center. The news hit Bantry hard.
Still, her final comments to friends remained positive.
Bantry kept an email list of friends to whom she sent messages. Every message, without fail, ended with what became her signature line. She told readers to "take care, please be and always stay, safe and well."
Center on Halsted is hosting a community gathering to remember Bantry Saturday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m.