Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

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

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Tribute for local athlete to be held Jan. 15
by Ross Forman
2011-01-12

This article shared 5619 times since Wed Jan 12, 2011
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


A few weeks before he unexpectedly died on Nov. 14, Jamie Moravec commented to his friends about Howard Brown Health Center and their financial crisis. He expressed interest in helping out because he recognized the importance of Howard Brown to Chicago's LGBT community.

So three of Moravec's best friends—Bradford LaHew, Bobby Hull and Bob Zuber—are throwing a party in Moravec's honor.

And half of the $20 entrance fee—which includes unlimited beer, well drinks and a light buffet—will be donated to Howard Brown Health Center.

The celebration is slated for Saturday, Jan. 15, 6-9 p.m., at Scarlet Bar, 3320 N. Halsted.

"We thought Jamie would love the idea of a fundraiser in conjunction with his party," said LaHew, 34, an attorney who lives in Rogers Park. "We conceived of the tribute as a way to celebrate the life of our best friend. Jamie was a wonderful person with whom we all share countless memories. The four of us talked every day, traveled together, celebrated our birthdays together and basically were inseparable. He changed each of our lives in his own unique way and this is our homage to him. It's also a reminder of some of the things that Jamie stood for—love, laughter, a big life, and friendship. It's also our way of saying, 'We love you, we miss you, and we'll never forget you.'"

Their goal for the event is simple: "To honor our best friend and share a little of him with all of his friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances," LaHew said.

Moravec, who played three sports in Chicago's gay leagues, died from injuries sustained in a fall from his fifth-floor condominium in the Uptown neighborhood. He was 35.

Moravec played beach volleyball and flag football within the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA) umbrella and bowled in the Friday night Chicago Pride League.

LaHew said Moravec would love the celebration they are planning, as long as it's not a sad event.

The Moravec celebration, LaHew said, will be a "reminder of the brevity of life and the importance of living it to the fullest, with no regrets, and with unrepentant passion and appreciation for all of your blessings."

They will have a video montage of photos, including some of Moravec's favorite clips from the TV shows Designing Women and Family Guy as well as the character Betty Butterfield, set to his favorite songs. Chris Wedig, a very close friend of Moravec, is preparing the 90-minute video tribute.

"Since his death, it has been up and down," said Hull, 36, a CPA who lives in Lakeview. "I have been living my life, but each day feeling a little bit sad and even guilty that I am moving on and Jamie is not here to enjoy the simple things in life that he appreciated so much. I am so afraid to get caught up in everyday life that I forget his energetic personality, excitement for life and love for his family and friends. Part of me doesn't want to let go of the sadness because I feel like I am letting go of him. That's for me to deal with as I know life goes on. I just never would have wanted it to go on without Jamie. It's difficult."

Zuber, 37, an Edgewater architect, added: "It's been hard on me not having Jamie around. I have learned that people that you love can be taken from you without a moment's notice and although it may be a cliché to 'live life to the fullest each day,' but no truer words have been said. You must always let the people you love know how much they mean to you. Thankfully, Jamie passed out of our lives with the knowledge that he was deeply loved by us, because we never missed an opportunity to tell each other how we felt."

The celebration has been branded "Raise Your Glass: A Tribute to Jamie Moravec."

"There has been a palpable emptiness in my life since Jamie died," LaHew said. "We have helped his mom and stepfather go through this, which has been very hard. Spending time with them has been very therapeutic, however—they are truly wonderful people. I still cannot believe he's gone after having been such a constant presence in my life for the last nine years. I spoke to him nearly every single day. I've traveled the world with him. I look at his picture every day and wish he were still here. Since his death, I have tried to express my love for my best friends every chance I get. I have been so lucky to have been blessed with so many close friends—I want them to know how much they mean to me, always."


This article shared 5619 times since Wed Jan 12, 2011
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Four Chicago Red Stars receive international call-ups 2024-03-28
- CHICAGO (March 28, 2024) — Chicago Red Stars Nádia Gomes, Natalia Kuikka, Alyssa Naeher and Mallory Swanson have been tabbed to represent their countries during the April international window. Forwards Gomes and Swanson are set to ...


Gay News

2024 'Nike Basketball Camps with the Chicago Sky' announced 2024-03-28
- The Chicago Sky officially announced, in a debut collaboration with Nike Sports Camps, 2024 summer basketball camps for Chicagoland youth. Two camps for boys and girls ages 7-15 will take place June 17-21 and July 8-12 ...


Gay News

Be here, be queer, play polo: Gay Polo League creates safe athletic space for LGBTQ community 2024-03-26
- LGBTQ+ athletic clubs aren't too hard to come by, offering a variety of sports such as softball, soccer and more in cities across the country. But LGBTQ+ athletes would be harder pressed to find someplace to ...


Gay News

Chicago Red Stars stay undefeated 2024-03-24
- Chicago Red Stars stay undefeated On March 23, the Chicago Red Stars took down the Seattle Reign FC 2-1 in the club's home opener at SeatGeek Stadium. With the win, the Red Stars are now 2-0-0 ...


Gay News

ACTIVITIES Pickleball, fine eats and fun are all at SPF 2024-03-21
- Despite the fact that it was invented in 1965, pickleball has only really entered the national consciousness within the last few years. However, there really hadn't been a large indoor dedicated space in Chicago for the ...


Gay News

2024 OLYMPICS U.S. women's soccer team's opponents set 2024-03-20
- The United States women's national soccer team will face Australia, Germany, and either Morocco or Zambia in Group B at the 2024 Paris Olympics, ESPN reported. The tournament will mark the Americans' first competitive games with ...


Gay News

Alyssa Naeher wins National Women's Soccer League Impact Save of the Week 2024-03-20
--From a press release - CHICAGO (March 20, 2024) — Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher earned National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Deloitte Impact Save of the Week honors, the league announced today. Seven minutes into the eight minutes of added ...


Gay News

Red Stars start season with 2-0 win 2024-03-17
- On March 16, the Chicago Red Stars kicked off their 2024 campaign with a 2-0 road win over Utah Royals FC in the Royals' inaugural match back in the National Women's Soccer League. Ally Schlegel and ...


Gay News

College athletes sue NCAA over transgender policies 2024-03-15
- Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines was among a group of college athletes who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on March 14, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing trans swimmer Lia Thomas ...


Gay News

SPORTS Red Stars prepare to kick off NWSL season against Utah Royals 2024-03-15
- It's been a busy winter for the Red Stars, and it's time to put their work to the test. Following a last place finish in the 2023 NWSL season, Chicago has had an active offseason transforming ...


Gay News

Chicago Red Stars release 2024 roster 2024-03-13
- CHICAGO (March 13, 2024) — The Chicago Red Stars announced today their final roster ahead of the 2024 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season. The club's roster is bolstered by an array of experience brought not ...


Gay News

Chicago Red Stars release midfielder Jill Aguilera 2024-03-12
--From a press release - CHICAGO (March 11, 2024) — The Chicago Red Stars today announced the release of midfielder, Jill Aguilera. "I want to thank Jill for her time with the Red Stars," said general manager, Richard Feuz. "Over her ...


Gay News

Trans golfer banned from competing 2024-03-08
- Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson spoke out on Instagram after the NXXT Women's Pro Tour suddenly announced on March 8 (International Women's Day) that participants must be "a biological female at birth" in order to compete—banning D ...


Gay News

Chicago Red Stars sign midfielder Leilanni Nesbeth 2024-03-06
Press release - CHICAGO (March 6, 2024) — The Chicago Red Stars announced the signing of draftee and midfielder Leilanni Nesbeth. Nesbeth, Chicago's first-round and tenth overall draft pick in the 2024 National ...


Gay News

Chicago Red Stars announce partnership with Wintrust 2024-02-27
Press release - CHICAGO (Feb. 27, 2024) — The Chicago Red Stars and Wintrust Financial Corporation announced a partnership that will see Wintrust become the club's new front-of-jersey partner and community outreach investment ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.