Brian Joseph Stephenson
March 24, 1961-December 27, 2020
Brian was larger than life. He told a joke to every person he met, and once he successfully made each person on Earth smile, he gained a new audience in Heaven.
A native New Yorker, Brian had an affinity for Long Island bagels, riding the Coney Island Cyclone, and cheering on the New York Mets. He attended The John Marshall Law School where he served as school president and met his loving wife, Minnie. They started their legal career as deputy prosecutors in Kokomo, IN but soon thereafter moved to Chicago where Brian became a successful litigation attorney.
He was a doting father to his four children and set a golden example of what a parent should be. He served on the St. Francis Xavier School Board and coached more than 25 sports teams. Many neighborhood kids recognize him as their soccer, softball, baseball, basketball, or football coach and he was often met with a “Hi, Coach Stephenson!” When he wasn’t coaching, he could be found coordinating various fundraising activities at his parish.
Brian enjoyed life to the fullest. No one stayed a stranger for long and he was always surrounded by friends. It came as no surprise that his natural ability for making people laugh turned into his becoming a successful stand-up comedian. He introduced comedy shows at the La Grange Theatre, as well as countless venues around Chicago.
Brian’s love for laughter was matched only by his commitment to service. He was a generous person both in his legal career and his personal life. Many of his comedy shows were done as fundraisers for local charities, including The Danny Did Foundation. He organized art and acting classes for children in LaGrange, including the LaGrange Hometown Team Players and Backdoor Theatre. Along with his son Cole, he developed a fishing program for adults with disabilities called Gone Fishin’. Brian founded Turn the Corner which helped teens who were on probation or at-risk, build self-esteem, promote teamwork, and develop creativity.
He was always helping youth. Whether speaking out against school bullying, or bringing business professionals to low-income neighborhoods, he encouraged teens to stay in school and pursue their career dreams. His passion for service culminated in him receiving the Distinguished Service Award from John Marshall in 2014.
On December 27, 2020, Brian passed away surrounded by his four adoring children, son-in-law, and devoted wife. His legacy will live on in the work he created, the jokes he told, and the endless lives he touched.
Brian J. Stephenson, age 59, of La Grange Park; beloved husband of Domenica “Minnie” (nee Martino) for 30 wonderful years; loving father of MaryGrace (Frank) Chiarello, Madeline, Sophia, & Cole; dear brother of Marie (Byron) LaSalle, Patricia Stephenson Gorn, Eileen Sweeney (Joe Lauck), Judy (Patrick) Engle, & Edward (Maria) Stephenson; pre-deceased by loving parents Edward & Marie; dear uncle, brother-in-law, and friend of many.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Brian’s name to the Les Turner ALS Foundation (www.lesturnerals.org) or The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (www.theaftd.org) are appreciated.
A private funeral will be held on Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 10:00 am at St. Francis Xavier Church in LaGrange. It will be live-streamed for friends and family everywhere. To view the Funeral Mass, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/SFXParish.LG
My deepest condolences to Domenica and her family. I didn’t know Brian personally but from my few conversations with Domenica I learned of his great attributes and his humor. May his soul rest with the Lord
We loved Brian He was a Great friend of our Son Dan We always loved his Company May he Rest In Peace We will Miss You Dear Brian❤️
Oh MaryGrace—- Just read the obituary honoring your father. —please Know that our hearts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.—the Toshachs
Minnie-I just heard from Neera about the passing of your husband. I am so sorry for your loss. I know recent times have been very challenging. What a wonderful husband and father. From the obituary it is clear that he was very busy and generous with his time coaching, fund raising, helping those in need and making people laugh. My thoughts are with you.
My deepest sympathy to the entire family. I only had a few opportunities to meet Brian, but his love of life and family always shown brightly. A life well lived, and touching so many! Rest In Peace.
Minnie:
Janeen and I want to express our deepest sympathy to you and your family. You all will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerest condolences from the Rodden family. Brian was such a larger than life guy. It was always such a hoot to be with him on the sidelines of the soccer field, in church and at your Halloween parties! What a fine soul!
Dear Minnie,
What a beautiful obituary for a wonderful man. I am so very sorry for your loss, you and your family are in my prayers.
MaryGrace – Holding you close in my thoughts and wishing you and your family comfort and peace.
Words cannot express our sorrow on Brians’ passing. I am sure my family will be one of many who will say how much Brian meant to us and how much we will miss him.
We met in 2006 when I volunteered on a committee he chaired at St Francis for the retirement of our former pastor. With his New York upbringing, which mirrored my Southwest Side of Chicago background, he and I became fast friends. He never forgot who he was, where he came from and the importance of family and friends. His love of music and the arts were an endless point of conversation, as well as all his tales of New York and Chicago. And I was privileged to have been part of many great times with him too.
Always quick with a joke to make you comfortable, his wonderful friendly personality made it easy for him to help so many people, young and old, and from all backgrounds. He was always calling up and saying something like, “you know what would be great….”and then he’d try to figure out how to make that happen. Whether it was comedy shows, teaching theater for our kids in the area, or raising money for charities, he was always creating something that he could do that he would use his many talents to benefit others. Especially a bonus, if he could be involved with his kids and others like, coaching and theater. And l’ll never forget all the music and concerts he enjoyed. Blues, R&B, Two Tone , Ska, Reggae, Motown, punk, Rock n Roll etc. He was a veritable encyclopedia on music!
He packed in and did more in his too-short years than most people could do in three lifetimes. I was lucky, as so many of his other friends were, to have been involved in some of his endeavors. And if anyone is reading this who also had that privilege, you knew that if Brian called it was going to be fun and it was going to happen.
Most importantly was his love of his family. He was a great husband and father, who adored Minnie and his children. You could always see how much he and they loved each other.
We’ve lost a light. I know the last few years had been difficult health-wise but as always, he was someone who understood what was most important, that of treating all people with love and trying to do good while having a good time doing so. I and my family was and will always be proud to have had the privilege to know Brian, to have had him as a friend and especially to have been called a friend by him.
Thank you Brian for all the laughs, music and adventure, but mostly for your friendship in our lives. Our hearts are with Minnie and his family and his friends. He is now able to be with all those who’ve gone before him. And knowing Brian he’s for sure making new friends and is probably organizing a huge concert right now with all the greats. That will be one party!
His legacy will live on with all those he touched and with his family who will carry his spirt in their hearts.
My family will keep him in our hearts too and wish your family and all his friends condolences and all our love..
Jim and Ann Longino.
Dear Minnie: My deepest sympathy to you and your family. Brian’s obituary attests to what a great man he was. May he rest in peace.
I have only had the privilege to know Brian for a couple of years, but indeed he always made me smile!! Till the very end, he would always say Hello and stop to talk! Always complimenting and sharing something to make you smile! Your family has been remarkable in their love and support for Brian. He certainly will be missed.
Brian was an inspiration. I admired his sense of humor, his strength and his perseverance. I enjoyed the short time we had to work together, and I was lucky to call him a friend. He will be missed.
Minnie, I am so sorry to hear this news. Brian was one if those special people you don’t forget. I will always remember him as a guy I sat around the campfire with, telling jokes. I still tell some of the jokes I learned from him. This is a loss to all who knew him.
Minnie and family: Brian always made me laugh! Whether it was at the grocery store, downtown LaGrange, or when he’d drop something off for Tom. He spent a lot of time with his kids, and he was happy. I loved that he organized and performed for fundraisers—his talent as a comedian really showed. Brian definitely made a difference in our community—his life was a gift to us all.
Minnie and family, Bill has fond memories of Brian making all the guys laugh at Indian Princesses camp outs with our kids and I remember how he helped me setup a comedy night fundraiser for a friend battling cancer. What a great man who touched so many lives! Prayers for comfort and healing.
Dear Minnie,
I am very sorry for your loss.
It sounds like Brian was a remarkable man.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dear Minnie and family,
Our deepest condolences on Brian’s passing. Brian’s quick smile, humor, laughter and creativity were just some of the wonderful contributions we witnessed that Brian shared with the world. Those qualities, along with his leadership with our kids in Back Door Theater and the LaGrange Hometown Teen Players, will long be remembered.
Wishing you all peace and comfort in the months ahead.
Maria Niedos and John Edinger
My heartfelt condolences to Brian’s family. I just heard this sad sad news. I have known Brian since first grade at St. Brigid in Westbury NY and then Clarke H.S. Always a kind word and a smile! Once in 3rd grade Brian, who sat behind me, was tickling me and I laughed out loud. Sister Ruth Marie came over and taped my mouth shut for disturbing the class. Brian roared with laughter at recess that day. I will keep his family in my prayers and will hold on to the memories of all the laughter Brian gifted me.