Obituary
Steven Gassman, December 19, 1962, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at the Barrington Care Center, a Journeycare hospice center in Barrington, Illinois after recent hospitalizations for pancreatic cancer and non-alcoholic liver disease. Steven was born in Chicago, Illinois and was preceded in death by his parents whom he loved deeply, Irving Gassman and Charlotte (Block) Gassman (later Izenman, following her second marriage to Philip Izenman); and nephew Max Gassman and cousin Jerry Block. Their Judaism was important to all of them.
Steven will be missed by many including his sister Roberta Gassman and her husband Lester Pines of Madison, Wisconsin, as well as their daughters Anna Gassman-Pines and her husband David Halpern of Durham, NC, and their children Izzy and Theo; and Jenny Gassman-Pines and her husband Ben Weeks of Minneapolis, and their daughter Betty; and his brother Michael Gassman and his wife Lani May-Gassman of Evanston, IL, as well as the memory of their late son Max, who stays with all of them always.
Steven, though always single, was surrounded by literally hundreds of dear friends across the country - some even since kindergarten, many from Oakton College where he was editor of the school newspaper - and especially dear friend and fellow sports collector and promoter Mitch Dubinsky with whom he worked through their venture Autograph 1 for decades. The family thanks these many friends who stood by him always, especially during his time of illness. Steven also worked for years in security.
Donations in Steven's memory, given his love for sports as well as Chicago Bears football legend Walter Payton, who also passed away too young, may be made to the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation, www.payton34.com or 1905 Marketview Drive, #234, Yorkville, IL 60560; or Journeycare Hospice, 405 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington, IL 60010, where Steven received excellent hospice services for which his family is eternally grateful, or online at www.journeycare.org/donate.
Guests are encouraged to wear, if they choose, touches of green in solidarity with those fighting liver disease and/or purple, standing with those battling pancreatic cancer.
He will be missed by many. May his memory be a blessing.
Chapel service, Friday 12:15 PM CST at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights Interment Shalom Memorial Park. For information, including a link to view the service, shiva or to leave condolences: Shalom Memorial Funeral, www.shalommemorial.org or (847) 255-3520.