Stuart Charles Unger

On May 3, 2023, the world dimmed because Stuart lost his nine-month combat with cholangiocarcinoma in spite of Northwestern Medicine’s amazingly competent, loving, and creative oncology team.

Stuart will be remembered every day by his family and friends who will miss his silly jokes, easy smile, garden tips, homemade pottery gifts, and enthusiastic golf and fishing stories.

Before his retirement from the profession of law, he was recognized as one of Chicago’s top commercial real estate attorneys primarily because of his fairness, honesty, intelligence, and creativity. Stuart loved Chicago architecture as much as he loved law, so he was proud to be involved in many behind-the-scenes decisions that preserved and protected some of our most significant architectural treasures like the Board of Trade, the Rookery, Continental Bank, and the Civic Opera building which became the Lyric Opera.

Stuart graduated with honors from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and earned his Juris Doctor degree from University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

He was the beloved husband of Marlena Ascher, loving father of Dr. Michael (Hilary Feldman) Unger and Scott (Angelica) Unger; adoring grandfather of Kaitlin (Drew) Ceckowski and Luna Unger; affectionate step-grandfather of Nataly Godoy; fond brother of Robert M. (late Frances Shunick) Unger, fond uncle of Aaron (Sari) Unger, Benjamin (Abby) Unger, and Joseph (Lauren) Ascher; proud great uncle of Evan Unger, Ashley Unger, Stella Unger, and Ivy Unger; devoted brother-in-law of Raymond (Melinda) Ascher.

A Private Inurnment will be held at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.

In Lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation to the Refuge for Saving the Wildlife, Inc. at https://rescuethebirds.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/94-one-time-donation.html or the Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation https://secure.givelively.org/donate/garrido-stray-rescue-foundation/honoring-the-life-of-stuart-unger