Mathew Takashi Kanno, 62, formerly of Oak Park, died from lung cancer on July 22, 2025 at Northwestern Prentice Hospital in Chicago. In his Chicago hospital room, Oak Park friends’ voice messages of love and hope were played to him, and it was a great comfort to him in his final hours.
Born on Jan. 11, 1963 in Seoul, Korea, the oldest of eight Julian Middle School and OPRF alumni, he played varsity baseball and basketball and off court always had a ball in his hand. He loved tennis, running and advocating for animals. He joined a fraternity at Bradley University and earned a degree from Syracuse Law School. He worked in many different jobs as he made his way through an unconventional life, always on his own terms, much of it solo by choice.
His birth mother was Ohki Paik of South Korea. Survivors include the parents who raised him, Hiroshi and Arlene, formerly of Oak Park; his siblings Ann, Kathy (Mike Wood), Paula, Wendy (deceased 2023), Stephanie (Grant Wegner), Ronnie, and Cary (Christina Grivaljia); and his niece, Michelle Bernat (deceased 1987), all formerly of Oak Park. He also had eight nephews; a special aunt, Pauline Kanno Zuziak; and many cousins.
Condolences: Steph.kanno@gmail.com.