Jeffrey Theodore Kuta, 73, retired real estate attorney, of Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, passed away peacefully July 12, 2021. He was a thoughtful man who enjoyed exploring philosophy, politics, visual art, and music. He grew up in Humboldt Park where his father owned a hardware store. A Polish boy, he learned to play the accordion and tried to please his father who coached baseball. Jeff attended Lane Technical High School where he served as editor of the Lane Daily, joined ROTC to avoid gym classes, and won the Wabeno Award for scholarship, service, leadership and citizenship. In 1965, he drove off to The University of Chicago in a VW bug, the first in his family to learn to drive. During the turbulent 60's he studied sociology and covered student unrest as editor of the Chicago Maroon. Marriage and Law School followed. He became managing editor of the Law Review and had fun with The Glass Menagerie, a spoof of faculty. Professionally, Jeff was proud of his work to obtain a facade easement for the Chicago Theater which enabled necessary interior repairs and ensured this landmark's survival. Affordable Housing was a major part of his legal work. Jeff was the second chair of the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law and founding Editor of the Forum Journal. He also offered free legal services to establish 501(c)3 status for Dame Libby Komaiko's Ensemble Espanol dance company and also to N.A.M.E. Gallery. Beloved husband of 52 years to Diane LaVerne Kuta (nee Jancovic); loving father of Jonathan (Katherine Ansorge) and Joseph (Cathryn Augustine) Kuta; proud grandfather ("Pops") of Xavier and Juniper Kuta; eldest brother of Kelvin and Ernest (Diana) Kuta. Son of the late Stanley Joseph Kuta and Helen Terpin Kuta. A celebration of life is being planned. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in his memory. Arrangements by Cremation Society of Illinois, 773-281-5058 or www.cremation-society.com.

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Published by Chicago Tribune on Jul. 18, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Jeffrey Kuta

6 Entries

Ronald Pasko

January 17, 2024

Remember Jeff from playing ball at Humbolt Park. RIP Jeff

Art Jasso

September 10, 2022

Condolences to the Kuta family.

Carl Hopkinson

June 8, 2022

My cousin Jeff was a very kind, wise and intelligent man. I hope to join him in Heaven in not too many years.

Denise J. Dozier (Matthews)

July 19, 2021

I had the pleasure of working with Jeff at Holleb and Coff. I worked as one of the receptionist and later managed the telecommunication system. May the peace and comfort of God be with the family.

Margery L. Al-Chalabi

July 19, 2021

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Jeffrey Kuta. My late husband, Suhail al Chalabi, and I knew and respected him as a friend, colleague, and counselor. Jeff provided the legal incorporation of The al Chalabi Group, Ltd., back in 1983, and served as its first Secretary, as we established ourselves. Suhail and I worked closely with Jeff on that Chicago Theater façade easement and the syndication of historic tax credits that provided the Private Funds (to be matched with Public Funds) to save and renovate the Theater. Many well-planned projects, done together, followed.

With sympathy,

Margery al Chalabi

Richard J Rice

July 18, 2021

Jeff and I were classmates at Lane Tech, in my case only for the first 5 semesters, but we knew each other fairly well. We reconnected during the Chicago Theatre Restoration project, Jeff doing the mentioned legal work on the facade easement donation, I was head of the investor group. I still have a vivid memory of Jeff, from the "closing" meeting in 1985, in a conference room with a very large table covered with piles of stacked documents that needed to be signed, and Jeff off to the side still plowing through key documents, while Mayor Washington was in the room, anxiously waiting to start the TV-radio news conference once all was completed. Jeff was cool, calm and unshakeable in doing what needed to be done for his clients. My condolences to the Kuta family and friends.

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