Nile W. Gossett, 60, a longtime Oak Park resident, died on May 5, 2025 at the Bella Tella of Elmhurst. Born on Feb. 20, 1965, to Nile Edward Gossett and Essie Lee Todd, he grew up on the South Side of Chicago. He attended Paul Cuffe Elementary School and, starting at the age of 10, worked at his father’s dry cleaning business. At 12, he attended Chicago State University’s gifted center and skipped seventh grade. He graduated eighth grade as valedictorian. He spent summers in Detroit, Michigan with family.
He attended Chicago Vocational High School, then the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business. His career path took him to the Wrigley Company, the Chicago Bulls, Inland Steel, McDonald’s Corporation, and the Chicago Chamber of Commerce.
He moved to Oak Park in 1999. Guiding kids was the thread that brought Nile and Megan together, and they married in 2000. He enjoyed cooking, entertaining friends, Motown music, and was the life of every party.
While working in sales and marketing for Inland Steel Co. in Chicago, he attended a diversity training class and discovered he had a knack for it. He switched to Inland’s training department and joined their diversity task force.
He started his own business, Best Practices Training, as a consultant in 2000 and began leading diversity training workshops for clients that included the village of Oak Park. He also joined Project Unity, a group of white and Black residents, which started in 1993, and encouraged people of different racial backgrounds to interact and socialize.
Gossett liked what he saw and eventually became president of the organization. In a Chicago Tribune profile in 2003, he said, “We put together opportunities to get to know each other. And that’s really the cornerstone. Then you’ll watch some of your prejudices melt away.” In that article he described himself as an ambassador of “getting people together.” Karin Grimes, who co-founded Project Unity, described him as “a natural leader.”
Nile was preceded in death by his parents; his uncles, Theodis Todd, Willie James Todd, Anthony Stanley Gossett and Raymond Gossett; and his aunts, Clarita Grimes and Emma Henderson.
He is survived by his wife, Megan; his son, Alexander Gossett; his daughter, Precious Adrienne Lane (Brendan); his grandchildren, Austin, Olivia, Ava, and Chloe Lane; his sister, Lavisha Littleton; his brothers-in-law, Daveed Allen (WaKisha) and Moshe Allen (Basia); his nieces, Krystal Stokes, Angenique Stokes, Makyia Allen and Layah Allen; his great-nephew, Nile Edward Kameron Gossett; his nephew, John Allen; his aunts, Esther Dantley, Oneida White, and Gloria Lyles; and many cousins, extended family members, and close friends.
Visitation was held on May 19 at Johnson Funeral Home, 5838 W. Division St. in Chicago. A Homegoing Celebration took place on May 20 at Rock of Ages Baptist Church, 1309 Madison St. in Maywood.