Roscoe Village Residents Mourn Loss Of Beloved StreetWise Vendor
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Dave Urban was a staple in Roscoe Village, selling StreetWise for 14 years.
"Dave was on the corner of Roscoe and Seeley every morning," said Roscoe Village resident Emily O'Neil. "He'd get there around 6 a.m."
But O'Neil says Urban was more than just a vendor, he was a friend to everyone.
"He knew all the dogs by name, he kept the children on the sidewalk to keep them safe. He had a long white ponytail," she said.
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Urban died suddenly on March 30. Now the community wants to raise money for a memorial in his name.
"When I told people what happened, they were so upset," said O'Neil. "There were tears and people were thankful I had let them know and wanted to be a part of what we were doing to memorialize him, a person who'd become just an important part of the community."
O'Neil says they contacted his family who hadn't talked to him in years. He had developed a problem with alcohol and lived at the YMCA but stayed sober and dedicated his life to StreetWise.
O"Neil says they've since learned he had been an accomplished jazz musician and toured the world playing his trumpet.
"We learned he was born and raised in Winnetka and went to the Eastman School of Music," she said. "He toured with the Jazz Members Big Band and with legendary jazz singer Joe Williams."
A gofundme page has been set up in Urban's name.
O'Neil says they've already raised $2,000 that was donated to StreetWise, the rest will toward his memorial. They still need the proper permits but hope to have a dedication ceremony in late summer or early fall.
"He gave out Christmas cards every year," O'Neil said. "He took pride in his work, he took pride in StreetWise. He would put the papers in plastic bags if it was raining. He'd be out there when it was negative 30. He was a constant in our lives. He was always there."
