Abigail "Abby" Spreyer

Abigail K. Spreyer, 72, of Chicago, was born on October 14, 1945 in Hollister, CA to the late Frank and the late Wilma Spreyer and passed away on August 7, 2018 due to complications following hip replacement surgery at Northwestern University Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL.

Abigail was the sister of Frank “Chip” (Mary Alice Mandarich) Spreyer and Mark (Susan Allman) Spreyer; proud aunt of Jacob Spreyer.

During Abigail’s career, two themes developed: (1) Employers were willing to pay her to write, and (2) no matter what the title or job description, her work would involve making other people or institutions look good. Abby’s first fulltime job was a public relations director and producer’s assistant for a small professional theater. Abby wrote press releases, advertising, and brochures about the productions, the stars, and the theater. Abigail joined the public relations team promoting the opening of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the U. of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. After the opening, she moved to Chicago to become the first fulltime editor of the U. of I. in Chicago’s alumni publications. She told the story of this young campus and the success of its alumni for the next 3 ½ years.

In 1973, Abby enrolled in IIT’s Chicago-Kent College of Law. Following graduation, and afer a two-year appellate court clerkship, she joined a boutique Chicago firm that concentrated its practice in major civil business litigation. Over the next 25 ½ years, Abby “got her name in lights” as a principal in the firm. Along the way, she joined the board of the Union League Club of Chicago and a couple of its charitable arms.

Early in 2003, she stepped off the cliff into retirement at the age of 57. Abby did take over a firm that was founded in 1972 at the time of her father’s retirement and had a 100% equity position with Doolittle, Livwell & Sitmor. (Read it aloud).

Abby was born to be an aunt. Following the development and exploits of her nephew Jacob (on whom the sun rises and sets) gave her a lot of pleasure. Abigail traveled a bit, but not a lot. She spent much of her time serving as executor/trustee of the estates of various relatives in the generation before us. Going to the theater, caring for her cats, watching basketball games, playing bridge, reading, and dining with friends were her main pastimes.

Visitation for Abigail will be held on Thursday, August 23, from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St. (Lake-Cook Rd.), Barrington, IL. Interment will be held privately at Evergreen Cemetery, Barrington, IL. A Celebration of Abby’s Life will be held on Friday, September 7, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the Cliff Dwellers Club, 200 S. Michigan Ave. 22nd floor, Chicago, IL 60604.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Rd., Barrington, IL 60010 or to the Wilma W. Spreyer Scholarship Fund, c/o Lake Forest College, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, 555 N. Sheridan Rd., Lake Forest, IL 60045.