THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Scoglio always loved an adventure. One of her favorite adventures to recount was a story when she was in the San Cristobal area of Mexico in 1970. While horseback riding in the mountains, she removed the horse's bit ( not knowing its function ) and was forced to cling to its mane as it raced down the steep trail and collided with vendor carts in a street festival. At age 50, Scoglio journeyed to Canada on an Outward Bound scholarship. While there she scaled a mountain and swam in rapid waters. Scoglio loved to travel, and in general made her life an event to remember.

An artist at heart, she created and sold crafts with the craft collective "Jamboree," making puppets and children's toys. She created stained glass, ceramic pieces and paintings throughout her life. Her love of books was evident in two successful businesses: The Book-Worm children's bookstore in Evanston that she co-founded and ran in the '80s and as a book procurer in the '90s for Chicago Public School's elementary teachers through the Roshelle Lee Fund, where her loving guidance in book selections was appreciated by her many clients. Scoglio also helped her husband, Frank, operate the Burgundy Inn, a popular North side Chicago restaurant, for three decades, and was loving mother to her children.

A community organizer, Scoglio founded the Northside Parent's Network in 1980 and chaired Kindred Hearts, a women's support organization in Evanston, for many years. Throughout her life, she continually strived for higher ground and received her bachelor's degree in photography from Columbia College in 1976, and a master's degree in psychotherapy from Roosevelt University in 1998. She later became a licensed appraiser and the owner and founder of AppraiserChicago.com .

Born Lael Ruth Cropper in Mount Prospect, Ill., in 1947 to Ralph and Ellen Cropper, she is survived by her partner, Karen Baier; children Anthony Scoglio and Megan ( Daryl ) Moon; mother Ellen Cropper; and siblings John ( Judy ) Cropper, Dave Cropper and Joy ( Steve ) Rainey. She is preceded in death by brother Andy Cropper, father Ralph Cropper and husband Frank Scoglio. 

The visitation and memorial service will be held Sunday, Aug. 8, at Lakeview Funeral Home, 1458 W. Belmont. The visitation will be 3-4:30 p.m. and the memorial service will be 4:30-5:30 p.m. For more information, call Baier at 773-807-5381. 

  Throughout her cancer treatments, Scoglio was supported and treated by many doctors and caregivers, and she would like to show her appreciation for them. She is therefore asking that instead of flowers, donations be made in her name to The Jiang Jing Institute, 1515 Sherman, Evanston, Ill., 60201.

Scoglio will be greatly missed by her family, many friends and colleagues.