Mortimer Edward Dillon

Mortimer Edward Andrew "Mort" Dillon, 89, of Chicago, Illinois, formerly of Jersey City and Bloomfield, NJ and Prince Edward Island, Canada, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2025, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. A role model husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, Mort leaves behind a legacy of faith, integrity, intellect, quiet generosity and steady devotion to those he loved and the communities he served. His 89 years were, in every sense, a life extraordinarily well lived.

Born on April 1,1936 in Jersey City, Mort was the devoted son of Ed and Ella Dillon. He grew up a diehard NY baseball Giants fan, surrounded by a large and lively family, with siblings Edmund/ Edum (Peggy), Mary (Frank Robinson), William/Bill (Ellen), Richard/Stretch (Annie) and Ellen (Joe Richards) - all of whom, with the exception of Annie, preceded him in death. A proud graduate of St. Patrick's School and St. Michael's High School in Jersey City, Mort's intellect and work ethic shone early. At just seventeen, he secured a job in the NBC mailroom—then the only employee without a college degree—and began what would become a remarkable four-decade career at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. His years at NBC were interrupted only by his honorable service in the US Army from 1959 to 1961 and, periodically, by night classes at Fordham from which he eventually graduated following their "12 year plan."

In 1964, Mort married Jeanne McGovern. Over their 61-year marriage grounded in love, faith, service to others, a sense of adventure and a nightly family dinner, the two nurtured a partnership that became the unshakable core for their children Mark and Cathi and their extended family. They first settled in Bloomfield, New Jersey, in a home they lovingly renovated and expanded to host and house family, friends and anyone who just needed a warm welcome and a meal. After retiring at 57, Mort spent a year as a substitute teacher at Bloomfield High School, sharing his patience, knowledge and gentle humor with a new generation.

In their next chapter on Prince Edward Island, Mort became an unofficial poet laureate and construction "supervisor" for a close knit community of family and friends in Canoe Cove, helping to create a generational happy place for dozens of families.

When grandchildren began arriving, Mort and Jeanne moved to Chicago's South Loop to be the ultimate grandparents - babysitting, puppysitting, enduring shows, freezing at soccer, lacrosse, and hockey games, cheering at baseball and basketball games, and hosting sleepovers. Also in the South Loop, Mort became a devoted member of Old Saint Mary's Parish. He attended daily Mass, served as Eucharistic Minister and lector, and helped establish the parish's after Mass daily coffee hour - a tradition that blossomed into a beloved community of fellowship and kindness.

Mort will be remembered as a thoughtful, well-read, soft-spoken gentleman who listened first and always sought to give more than he received. A proud son of the playgrounds of St. Patrick's Parish, a lover of American history and a faithful daily reader of every word of the New York Times, he had the rare combination of quiet street smarts and bookish intellect. He wanted nothing more than a fireside beverage with Jeanne or a long walk on a red dirt road with the grandkids.

Mort is survived by Jeanne, his beloved wife; his son, Mark Dillon (Caroline); his daughter, Cathleen Dillon DeWald (Ron); his five adoring grandchildren, Kate, Megan, Anne, Maggie and Luke and sisters-in-law Michele McDermott and Annie Dillon and a vast circle of nieces, nephews and friends.

Mort donated his body to science through the Anatomy Gifts Registry. A visitation on February 21st at 12:30P will be held at Old Saint Mary's Church at 1500 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago immediately followed, at 1:30P, by a funeral Mass to celebrate Mort's life. The Mass will be livestreamed for those unable to attend
(www.youtube.com/@OldStMarysChurch). Burial will be on Prince Edward Island later this summer.

Those who knew him will remember a grand life and a good guy. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository (chicagosfoodbank.org), Holiday Express - New Jersey (holidayexpress.org) or The Upper Room Hospitality Ministry - Charlottetown, PEI (urhm.org).