Sara Rebecca Rohman

It is with full, but broken hearts that we share that our beautiful Sara Russo Rohman, 50, passed away peacefully on the morning of Thursday, August 10, 2023 in Chicago, IL, after bravely and gracefully facing bladder cancer. Sara transitioned surrounded by her family and friends, and with her loving husband of 21 years by her side.

Sara was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on November 17, 1972 to Michael Russo and Helen Martin Russo, where she grew up alongside her beloved sister, Deirdre. During her early years in Brookline, Sara cultivated a deep and profound love of the ocean, rescued animals, and the Patriots. It was also there that she met her lifelong friend, Rachel Jarvis in middle school. They formed an inseparable bond that endures today. This was a common trait for Sara. If you were lucky to be her friend, she would carry you throughout her life. She was a connector of people which is why her vast community of friends stretched from Brookline to New York to Chicago, and all points in between. As a 1994 graduate of Adelphi University with a degree in Art History, Sara pursued a career in Digital Marketing, working for companies including: Excite, Alta Vista, and Performics.

Sara was well-traveled, and boasted a great appreciation of fine art, music, and great (and sometimes trashy) novels. Her love of arts, culture, and activism was nurtured by her grandparents, Michael & Pearl Russo, whom she affectionately called Papa and Nina. Papa was an award winning artist who was active in organizing trade unions, fighting fascism, and broadening the Civil Rights movement, and Nina, a true lover of art, theater, and music, was an impassioned community organizer as well. Sara followed in their footsteps by becoming active in advocating for equity in public education, rescuing and adopting animals, and standing up for those less fortunate. Before starting her own family, Sara was active in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chicago where she mentored her own “little sister”. Most recently, Sara returned to mentoring by volunteering through CPS to aid children in pre-school at Belding Elementary.

Sara met the love of her life, Steele Rohman in 1998, and they married on Aug 10, 2002- which yes, is the same day she passed … our Sara really had a wicked sense of humor. They settled in the Old Irving Park Community in Chicago where they created a beautiful network of friends. Theirs was a true partnership, and together they raised their two children, Anabelle and Zachary, who were her heart, her joy, and her soul. Sara’s eyes sparkled whenever she spoke of them, and she devoted her life to raising kind, thoughtful, and loving human beings. Sara leaves a living legacy in her children and it is through them, she will always be here.

Though Sara made a home and built an immense community of loved ones in Chicago, she was not a fan of Chicago sports teams, and let it be known to family and friends whenever she could. A dyed in the wool Red Sox fan, Sara briefly hopped on the Cubs bandwagon in 2016, a fact she would later deny to anyone who reminded her. If you were lucky enough to know Sara well, you will well know her strength and bravery, her fierce and loyal friendship, her sharp and brilliant sarcasm, and her insatiable urge to claim victory over any heated social media debate.

Sara will lovingly be remembered by her husband, Steele Rohman; children, Anabelle and Zachary, Sister, Deirdre Russo (Larry Jordan) and their children Oona and Luca; Aunts, Joan Martin and Lynne McCleery; Sister(in-law), Lisa (Mike) Ragan; Parents(in-law), Marcia (Ron) Jacob and Charles (Brenn) Rohman; Step-siblings(in-law), Seth (Jessica) Jacob and Josh Jacob; four-legged family members, Winnie, Pumpkin, and Clementine; countless friends, neighbors, and moms who all loved her dearly.

A celebration of her full and vibrant life will be held at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646 on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023. Visitation will begin at 4:00pm with a service starting at 7:00pm.

Sara’s family would like to thank her doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the compassionate physicians, nurses and staff in the NW Cardiac ICU, and Dr. Eytan Szmuilowicz and his palliative care team. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Sara's name to the following organizations: The American Bladder Cancer Society: https://bladdercancersupport.org

or PAWS Chicago: https://www.pawschicago.org

Visitation for Sara will be on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, (Edward A. Tylka, Manager), 6000 North Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 7:00 PM. For more info call 773-774-4100 or visit www.MalecandSonsFH.com.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MalecandSonsFH.com for the Rohman family.