Margaret Chaplan

CHAMPAIGN - Margaret Anne Chaplan, elder daughter of Simon and Margaret (Waldele) Chaplan, passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Champaign.

She was born on June 20, 1942, in Evanston, and was raised in Elmhurst, ultimately graduating from York Community High School. She attended Rosary College (now Dominican University) and graduated with a B.A. in history. She would go on to attain an M.A. from the Library School at the University of Chicago. Margaret was also a Fulbright Scholar who studied in Germany and was bilingual in both English and German.

Beginning in 1965, Margaret held positions at the University of Chicago as both a reference librarian and then an associate librarian in the A.G. Bush Library, Industrial Relations Center. Later, she worked as a labor librarian and ultimately an associate professor of library administration in the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she retired after more than 30 years.

After retirement, Margaret became a trustee on the board of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District. She served in that capacity for over 10 years.

Margaret enjoyed international travel and visited Europe several times. She was a serious reader of crime and mystery novels and was able to read multiple books in a matter of a day or two. She was a devotee of tennis both as a player and spectator and made sure to watch the French Open and Wimbledon every year. Additionally, she was an avid fan of the Fighting Illini men's basketball team and was a season ticket holder for many years. She was also a financial supporter of public radio and television, the University of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for many years. Margaret was a cat guardian to many cats over the years, including Otto, Nick, Nora and George.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and her younger sister, Dorothy.

She is survived by her brother-in-law, William Schleichert; nephew, Donald Vita (Erin); great-nieces, Allison Trobaugh (Brandon) and Rebecca Vita; and great-nephews, Jacob Vita and Nathan and Austin Hinshaw. Also surviving are three great-great-nieces, Sophia, Scarlett and Sadie Trobaugh; and a great-great-nephew, Miguel Lovato.

Per Margaret's wishes, there will not be any formal service or memorial. Those who feel led to do so might consider donating in her honor to their local public library or to any of the organizations previously mentioned of which she was a supporter.