Obituary
Scott Jeffrey Turner was born 4/10/1962 to Marvin Turner and Linda Turner (nee: Sachen) in Skokie, Ill. He was their only child. He went to local schools and attended the University of Iowa.
After leaving school, he moved to Anchorage Alaska where he lived from 1988 until he moved back to the Chicago area in 2011. While in Anchorage, Scott was heavily involved in philanthropy and politics. Scott was one of the national organizers of the 1993 march on Washington. Scott also enjoyed spending time and working with the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts where he both acted and worked in the staging of numerous productions.
Another one of Scott's loves was leadership and participation in the International Imperial Court System established in 1965. It has 65 chapters across the US, Canada and Mexico and is the 2nd largest LGBT organization in the world. Scott was coronated as the 31st Emperor of the Imperial Court of All Alaska and was the 8th and 13th Emperor of the Imperial Windy City Court of the Prairie State Empire. As such, like royal families all over the world, there are numerous members of the community recognized as his sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Scott also received the title of International Mr. Bear in 2008.
The gatherings and events he organized and participated in were all charitable events with the intention of supporting unhoused youth, food banks, senior centers, and many other community organizations. In addition, he mentored many young members of the LGBT community.
In 2011, Scott was joyfully united with his older half-brother, Robert (Bob) Nissim who had previously been given up for adoption by their mother Linda in 1959. Scott is survived by Bob Nissim, his wife Candi, their 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren plus numerous cousins, nieces and nephews in addition to countless chosen family members.
Chapel service, Wednesday 10 AM at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Interment Shalom Memorial Park. For information, including shiva, a link to view the service or to leave condolences: Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, www.shalommemorial.org or (847) 255-3520.