Daniel and Shirley Friedlander’s names were synonymous with the Chicago Headline Club for decades. Dan, a board member, edited the monthly newsletter. Shirley handled mailings, membership lists, directories, and in general kept our records straight.
They died, 12 days apart, after 60 years of marriage. Shirley was 81 when she died Oct. 17. Dan was 86 when he died Oct. 29. Longtime residents of Waukegan, they had moved to Georgia and care facilities several years ago when their health declined. At the end, they shared a room in a nursing home.
They co-owned Friedlander Communications, a public relations firm, after Dan left the newspaper profession. Dan earlier worked for the City News Bureau of Chicago and four downtown Chicago newspapers. He and Shirley later owned the Warren-Newport Township Press newspaper in Gurnee. After a childhood in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, he earned a journalism degree from the University of Colorado.
Shirley grew up in South Bend, Ind., and attended Indiana University at Bloomington. Her Office Center of Gurnee was the last in a series of virtual office support companies she founded. Their son, Alan, still operates it. She was active in B’nai Brith, Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, Waukegan Downtown Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce and Lincolnshire Morning Star Rotary Club.
They were involved in the semi-pro basketball team the Lake County Lakers and the semi-pro football team the Lake County Rifles.
“They contributed many, many hours of work to the CHC,” said Howard Dubin, a former president who remains on the board. He was one of the people from many facets of their lives who attended the funeral.
“To the end, Dan was concerned about Freedom of Information and how the Society of Professional Journalists could better protect it,” said Susan S. Stevens, former CHC president and current secretary. “Shirley was wonderful to work with – she kept our records better than anyone else.”
They are survived by their sons, Alan (Danna) and Robert, daughter Janet (David) Walker, and five grandchildren.
Services were held Oct. 30 at Chicago Jewish Funerals in Buffalo Grove, followed by interment in Am Echod Cemetery in Waukegan. Contributions may be made to Congregation Am Echod, 15 Commerce Drive, Unit 115, Grayslake, IL 60030.