Nathan Schiff

Nathan Schiff obituary, Schiller Park, IL

Nathan Schiff

Nathan Schiff Obituary

Visit the Chicagoland Cremation Options website to view the full obituary.
Nathan Schiff, 88, of Highwood, IL, formerly Wheeling, IL, and Bronx and Brooklyn, NY passed away after a long illness on April 1, 2024. He is predeceased by his wife, Barbara (nèe Musler) and his parents, Simon and Lilian (nee Denmark) Schiff.   He is survived by his daughters, Linda (Robert) Greenwald and Amy (Donald) Smith, grandson, Zachary, and brother, Oscar Schiff. 

Nathan (Nicky to friends and family) was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.  He spent his formative years in Flatbush, Brooklyn where he attended James Madison High School.  He and his brother, Oscar, attended a large summer camp each year where his love for Jazz led him to play the trumpet.  Each morning and evening he played Reveille and TAPS for the entire camp.  

At the age of 25, Nathan married his wife, Barbara.  They, lived in Parkchester, and then Riverdale (both in the Bronx) where they raised two daughters.  Throughout this time, he went back to college at night and earned two Masters degrees in Secondary and Special Education, from Hunter and Mercy Colleges.  He went on to teach social studies for twenty years in Manhattan (NY) and Bronx (NY).

After 37 years of marriage, he was suddenly widowed. He continued to live in the same apartment for the next 17 years.  In 2015, he moved to Illinois to be cared for by family.  He became ill in 2021 which was when he moved to Aliya of Highwood (formerly Aperion Care of Highwood).  He enyoyed a dynamic, life with many friends, at Aliya,  He would walk all of the hallways and meditated in the library each day.  He passed comfortably, with hospice nurses in attendance.

Those who knew Nathan would agree that he was a larger than life person.  He was an avid reader, his interests being American history,  world history, cowboy culture, Native American History and spiritualism  He loved going to yoga classes and studying Reiki.  He was a music lover who could often be found conducting an invisible band with headphones  on.  He also loved his cats, as did his wife, Barbara.  His cat, Mr, Kisses (aka Buddy Boy) found a home with a loving friend when he moved to Aliya.  


Services Private.

Nathan had a huge heart for animals.  In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider giving a gift in his name to:

https://www.humanesociety.org/memorial


"But God will redeem my life from the grave;
He will surely take me to Himself."
Psalm 49:15




Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options in Schiller Park, Illinois.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Chicagoland Cremation Options

9329 Byron St, Schiller Park, IL 60176

How to support Nathan's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Nathan Schiff's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more