Margaret H. Todd, 94, of Forest Park, formerly of Oak Park, died peacefully on Feb. 8, 2013 at the British Home in Brookfield.

Michael R. Pikowski, 41, of Oak Park, died on Jan. 30, 2013. Born on Oct. 21, 1971, he participated in baseball and swimming as a child.

Jacob T. Van Zant, 20, a River Forest and former longtime Forest Park resident, died suddenly on Feb. 2, 2013 in Belvidere.

Cardiss Collins, 81, a legendary figure in Illinois and national politics, died Sunday Feb. 3 from complications of pneumonia.

Philip Wagreich, 71, a groundbreaking professor of mathematics and a kind, supportive family man, died on Jan. 1, 2013.

Julia E. Miner of Niles, Mich., formerly of Oak Park, died on Jan. 30 following an extended illness. Born on March 6, 1919, in Chicago, she lived in Riverside until 1932, when her family moved to Niles. She had a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Illinois and was a talented painter.

Gilbert "Gil" Hugh Weinstein, 83, an Oak Park resident for over 41 years, died on Jan. 22, 2012. Born on Nov. 27, 1929 in Chicago to Edwin and Rose Weinstein, he grew up in the Kenwood neighborhood and attended the University of Illinois at Navy Pier.

Ean Lemont Barnard, 40, of Madison, Wis., died on Jan. 22, 2012. Born in Chicago on June 21, 1971, his early childhood education took place in various parochial schools in the city. He graduated from Percy Julian Middle School and while there, ran for public office (see below). He attended Oak Park and River Forest High School and graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign.

Ernest T. Baughman, 97, of Oak Park died on Dec. 30, 2012 at Hospice of the Valley, Sherman House in Phoenix, Ariz.

Martha Louise Leininger (nee Voigt), 99, a resident of Belmont Village Assisted Living Center in Oak Park, died on Dec. 27, 2012.