Warren Michael Lisec

Warren Michael Lisec, 85, died at home on Saturday, December 23, 2023, surrounded by his family. Mike is survived by his wife of 64 years, Katherine (Miller), his three sons Aaron (Melinda Bloos), Andrew (Alicia Hall), and Alec (Donna DelVecchio), grandchildren Emma and Samuel, and cousin Susan (Carlson) Haase. He was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Irene (Minarik), aunt Joan (Minarik) Carlson, brother Ted, and close family friend Katherine Prescott. Mike was born March 26, 1938, in Chicago. He graduated from Arlington Heights High School (1956) and the architecture program at UIUC (1961). At Harry Weese Associates in Chicago, Mike's notable projects included the Seventeenth Church of Christ Scientist on Wacker Drive, performing arts centers in Milwaukee and Grand Rapids and the Healey Library at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. After leaving HWA in 1977, Mike designed the Royal George and Mercury theaters in Chicago as well as affordable housing in Chicago and elsewhere, including the Paul G. Stewart Center in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. His passion for historic preservation and affordable housing merged in the restoration of the Raymond Hilliard Homes, originally designed by Bertrand Goldberg, which won the National Trust/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. Mike retired in 2020; Alec continues their practice. In the early 1970s Mike participated in Fox River cleanups organized by Chicago canoeist Ralph Frese. He was a familiar figure among birders at Montrose Harbor's "Magic Hedge." He loved travel and flea markets. Mike and Kathy had season tickets to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from the late 1960s through 2022. He played the piano from childhood, led a jazz trio in high school and later in life embraced Irish traditional music, taking up the concertina and playing in weekly sessions at Chief O'Neill's and other Irish pubs. He also played the violin in De Paul's New Horizons String Orchestra under conductor Mina Zikri. Mike donated his body to science through the Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois. A farewell party is planned. Please consider a donation to the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra or the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-370-2959 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.