Sylvia Robertson

Sylvia Robertson, beloved mother, wife, and advisor, died on April 4, 2025. She was born in East Spencer, North Carolina, in 1952. At her death, she resided in Chicago, her home for forty years. She is preceded in death by her daughter Alyson Robertson, her parents George and Zerma Robertson, and her sister Megan Robertson Walck. She is survived by her husband Gary Rayl and Jason, Tiffany (Heather Gibson), and Jared Rayl. James Mahay and Michelle Ninneman (Margaret) are treasured family friends surviving. In addition, she is survived by the thousands of medical school applicants, medical school students, and advisees she always said she was honored to journey with over the years. Her professional career began as a Speech and Language Pathologist at Wisconsin's Dane County Special Education. She then took these skills into her work at the Wisconsin Correctional System, spending six years at the maximum-security prison for adolescent males. During her years at the Lutheran School of Theology, she served a one-year internship at Faith Lutheran Church in Joliet. Then, in 1988 she began her work at the University of Chicago. First, she served as the Chief Health Professions Advisor in the College and then as the Director, and, finally, the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at the Pritzker School of Medicine. After her retirement from the University of Chicago, Sylvia founded Robertson Premedical Advising, LLC, which developed into a robust advising practice serving applicants, their families, and their schools. Syivia was grateful to be a member of Fourth Presbyterian Church for twenty-seven years and was humbled to serve as a deacon and an elder. She also served nine years on the Commission for Preparation for the Ministry for the Presbytery of Chicago. She particularly enjoyed serving as an usher at the 9:30 worship service. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Fourth Presbyterian Church (North Michigan Avenue at Delaware Place) in Chicago, Illinois 60611. Interment private at Graceland Cemetery, 4001 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL. Sylvia asks that any memorial fund contributions be directed to the Chicago Lights Tutoring Program, https://chicagolights.org/tutoring. For further information please call 312-421-0936