John "Jay" T. Sebastian

Born on May 21, 1953 in Decatur, IL to the late John Thomas Sebastian Sr. and the late Adeline Marie Petek Sebastian (from whom he received his performative inclinations). He grew up in Park Ridge, IL, and attended Notre Dame High School for Boys (Niles, IL) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduating with a degree in Film & Urban Planning in 1974.

His working career was multifaceted – Manager of Ford Foto (Deerfield, IL); President of “Transfermotion” (the videography business that he ran); Director of Media & Instructional Resources at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; a multi-year stint abroad as an Education Administrator at the branch campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Niigata, Japan; Proprietor at “Bridgeport Pasty” (which he founded with his wife Carrie); and Director of the Conflicts Management Department at McDermott Will & Emery in Chicago. Outside of work, he was active for decades in the local Chicago music scene, performing as a drummer with the Pulsations, with Get Smart!, as his alter-ego “Redd Klaats” with Twang Bang (alongside Robin Bienemann), and also as a solo artist.

Adoring husband of Carrie Clark, wonderful father of Jason (Tania) and Carrie Diehl (Jody). Friend of Karen Skelly (former wife). Loving grandfather of Olivia, Axel, Sofia, Johnny, and Asher. Caring brother to Salliann Walker (Steve) and the late Terriann Fleet. Devoted uncle of Erin Walker, Shawn Walker, and the late Ryan Semonin, and “sideline uncle” to several others.

Jay was a musician, traveler, entrepreneur, photographer, videographer, and pasty-maker. A tinkerer and a fixer-of-things. Teller of tales and spinner of yarns. Lover of music, art, nature, camping, monkeys, Jeopardy!, and bicycling. A jokester and a poet. His enthusiasm for life was infectious and will be missed by all who knew him.

A visitation for Jay is scheduled for Friday, April 5, 2024, from 4-8PM at Drake and Son Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625. Friends and family will have a chance to share thoughts and stories about Jay towards the latter half of the visitation period. Donations in Jay’s memory can be made to the “Active Transportation Alliance” in Chicago, IL (https://activetrans.org).