John Scott, 72, of Western Springs and previously Oak Park and River Forest, died peacefully on Dec. 22, 2026. A proud ethnic Bohemian with a lifelong appreciation for the culture and cuisine of his Czech roots, he was particularly distressed by the procession of restaurant and bakery closings along Cermak Road that steadily dwindled the options for the fare he loved.
As the youngest in his family, with two much older brothers, John was also something of an only child. He spent his early years in Douglas Park in a three-flat surrounded by extended family. When his parents moved to Cicero, much of the family came with them.
John attended Mary Queen of Heaven and Morton East High School, where he formed a small, ragtag circle of smart, curious, slightly subversive friends whose bonds endured for decades. Over time, their friendship became a shared act of remembering, and the stories only grew richer — especially those about skipping school to take the el downtown for Vietnam War protests in Daley Plaza, where they first learned what it meant to stand for something.
John began his career in architecture at UIC but found his creativity stifled in rooms full of students drafting HVAC systems. He pivoted to art schools in warmer climates before returning to Chicago to complete his design degree at Harrington College of Design, where he later taught for many years.
Inspired, compelling, and a leader in his profession, John became president of Keevan Sadock Design, the nearly 100-year-old firm he and his partners purchased from the founding family in 1985. Deeply creative and gifted with an eye for beauty and possibility, he shaped spaces for private homes, corporations, financial institutions, professional firms, and country clubs throughout the Chicago area. He always said his aim was to “craft some cool” into every project and to have fun. By loosening the attitude around great design, he built lasting relationships.
John influenced the look and feel of whole neighborhoods, his design hand evident block after block in the homes of Oak Park and River Forest. One longtime River Forest client said he had brushed every part of her home — every color, every piece of furniture, every layout and plan. Another laughed that while she trusted his classic taste and keen eye, he could be ruthless about her own questionable fabric choices.
John supported many charitable causes and rarely said no to donating time or talent, which likely contributed to the fact that he was always late. He was a professional member for three decades and past president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).
Harlem Avenue was the through-line of his life, and for most of his adult years he never lived more than a few blocks from it. His first jobs were at Begun’s Clothing Store in North Riverside and Weiboldt’s in River Forest, followed by Beautiful Living Rooms further north.
His first car — remembered now as either a Ford Fairlane or a Dodge Dart, with three-on-the-tree — was not of his choosing and long lamented for its lack of style. It sparked a lifelong pursuit of the perfect automobile. Cars came and went so often, no one ever got too attached to any of them. No car was truly broken in until someone ate a Parky’s hot dog inside it.
John married Jamie Hogan in 1985 in the backyard of the two-flat they owned on North Grove Avenue in Oak Park. They shared decades of life, work, and creativity, anchored for many years in the historic Lake Street building they owned in River Forest. John shaped the spaces; Jamie, as a realtor, found the places and made them possible — together they transformed a dozen properties in Oak Park and River Forest. Jamie lives in the Indiana Dunes home John designed and built in 2003.
He is survived by his son, Jake (Jillian), and grandchildren, Tyler and Brielle.
He is also survived by his nieces Patricia Rosa, Peggy Boyd, Wandi Scott, and Jennifer Scott, and his sister-in-law Janet Scott. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Rose Scott; his brothers, Joe and Jim Scott; and his niece, Rosie Scott.
F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, “We are often astonished at the amount of room we have taken up in other people’s lives.” Few people filled more room with grace, warmth, and imagination than John.
His family will host a gathering with wine, refreshments and the music that shaped his life on Thursday, Jan. 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cheney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid Ave., Oak Park.
