James P Littwin

James P. Littwin, 74, of Chicago was born March 17, 1950 in Chicago to John and Eileen (McMahon) Littwin and passed away December 19, 2024. Jim was the beloved husband of Carol Mayer; loving father of Kristin Littwin (late Nathan) Gile and Michael Littwin; cherished brother of Kathleen (late Steve) Simon, John (Barbara) Littwin, Robert (Peggy) Littwin, Timothy (Gail) Littwin and Joseph (Pamela) Littwin; dear uncle of many nieces and nephews and fond brother-in-law of Janet Mays. Jim is also survived by his former wife and Kristin and Michael’s mother, Suzette Littwin. He was a member of a large and loving extended family who, while spread throughout the United States, remained very close.

Visitation will be Friday, December 27, 2024 from 4-8 PM at Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights and Saturday, December 28 at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, 434 W. Park Street, Arlington Heights from 10:00 AM until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines. Funeral info 847-253-5423 or lauterburgoehler.com

In lieu of flowers, donations in his name to the Academy of American Poets would be appreciated. Academy of American Poets, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite-901, New York, NY 10038.

James grew up in Des Plaines, Illinois, where he attended St. Mary’s grade school, and St. Viator high school in Arlington Hts. He then attended Catholic University in Washington, DC, Loyola University of Chicago (B.A. English) and Northeastern Illinois University (M.A. Literature). He taught composition, surveys in literature, literary analysis and creative writing at St. Viator, Niles Township West & East and Barrington High Schools.

He conducted poetry workshops for local community art councils, for teachers as an adjunct professor at Northeastern Illinois University and National Louis University and served as an instructor for five summers at the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University. Through the kindness of former students, he was honored for excellence in teaching by Cornell University, the University of Chicago and Harper College.

His writing has appeared in Story Quarterly, Willow Review, Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry, Friends Journal, Whetstone, The National Catholic Reporter, Saunt Anthony Messenger, Dappled Things, Hyphen Magazine, Please See Me, Watch My Rising: A Recovery Anthology, Pomme’s Put Into Words My Love, Midwest Magazine, Cadence and other publications, including preface poems for Robert Waldon’s books Francis of Assisi and Lady at the Window. James is a recipient of an Illinois Art Council Award for Fiction, a Whetstone Prize for Poetry, A Willow Review Award for Fiction, and a Ragdale Foundation Fellowship.

As Jim recounted, he has lived in six different northwest “suburban” towns, spent one year in Washington DC, and now lives in Chicago and “All of these places, filtered by fiction, lighted by poetry, show up in my writing”.

Jim loved to teach, which he was born to do. He loved reading, writing, collecting, traveling and spending time with family and friends, but most of all just being at home with his wife Carol surrounded by his many books, paintings, guitars and banjo.

One of his younger colleagues at Barrington wrote this week that Jim is still a beloved teacher and colleague at Barrington High School - a legend.

He touched the hearts of so many over the years with his warmth, friendship, humor, and his ability to guide and inspire.

He will be dearly missed.