Donald Fricker

Dr. Donald E. Fricker, 63, passed away on May 8, 2020. He was born on May 14, 1956 to Mary and Paul Fricker in Shipman, IL. He was a resident of Chicago for 41 years and was a beloved neighbor and member of the community. He earned his Ph.D from Northern Illinois University, his MBA from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and his BA from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. He taught at Governors State University for fifteen years before dedicating another fifteen years at St. Xavier University. An engaged and generous teacher, he was deeply invested in his students. When not teaching, he was a passionate traveler who explored the world and loved adventure. He was known for his good humor and robust laugh, and could entertain anyone with his outgoing personality. He was very committed to his family, especially his nephew and nieces. He is survived by his mother Mary, brothers Paul and Brian, and sister Yvonne. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Due to present circumstances, a memorial celebrating Don's life will be held when we can assemble. Don dedicated his life to teaching and bettering the lives of his students, and his favorite pastime was traveling the world. To honor his memory, we have created the Donald Fricker Memorial Fund at his former institution, St. Xavier University. Uniting his two passions, teaching and traveling, the fund provides scholarships for underprivileged students to travel to Belize and take part in service missions there and help provide homes for the underhoused. Don participated in this trip several years ago and it changed his life. Should anyone wish to donate to this fund in lieu of flowers, the webpage can be found at https://connect.sxu.edu/giving. In the dropdown box labeled "Designation", there is an option for Don's fund. Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, Illinois.