Maximilian David "Max" Garland Obituary (1988

Maximilian “Max” David Garland, 36, of Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, passed away from plasmablastic lymphoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, on July 26, 2024, surrounded by his loving family and friends. A gifted interior designer and licensed architect, Max was celebrated as a visionary with a rare mind and impeccable taste. Born to make spaces beautiful, Max excelled at everything he did in his career. His designs can be experienced in workplace and hospitality spaces throughout Chicago, including the offices of the Taft Law firm and Esme, a Michelin-starred restaurant. Max made sure to fill his life with the things he loved, including designing costumes, music, dancing, travel, and honoring his passion for creating beautiful things. At the holidays he was known as “Mr. Christmas”. Max was accepting, brilliant, funny, and kind. He was larger than life, unimaginably strong, and beautiful inside and out. He influenced the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Glen Ellyn, IL, Max graduated from Glenbard West High School and earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was there where Max and J Matthew Haws first fell in love. With their undeniably fierce love and friendship, “Max and Matt” became an institution in the Chicago gay community, idolized by so many. Their beautiful relationship spanned more than fourteen years, including eleven years of marriage. Max is survived by his parents David (Karen Matusinec) Garland of Elmhurst, IL, and Katherine (Kevin) Tjelle of Waterman, IL; siblings Ben Garland of Chicago, IL, Nicholas (Emily) Garland of Nashville, TN, Daniel Cassidy of Virginia Beach, VA, Katherine Cassidy of Pittsburgh, PA, and Grace Garland of Old Saybrook, CT; grandmother (“Dama”) Vera (the late Walter) Manning of Plainfield, IL; aunt Victoria (Eric) Matway of Plainfield, IL; and cousins Alexandra Matway, Olivia (Greg) Crawford, and Richard Matway, all of Dallas, TX. Max will be deeply missed by the Haws family: Patricia and J Kelly Haws; sisters Ashley (Bryon) Taylor and Angela (Adam) Vissotski and their children Kaden and Haley Vissotski, and Landon, Addyson, and Avory J. Taylor, all of Boise, ID. From the day Max came into the Haws family, he instantly brought so much joy and love, and “Aunt Max” will be forever admired by his nieces and nephews. His final accessories were Rocco “Bubba” the English bulldo and Kiki the Pomeranian. Over the two-and-a-half years that Max battled cancer, he constantly brought joy to all the doctors, nurses, and his support team who were by his side at the University of Chicago Medical Center, most notably Dr. Adam Duvall and Juli Dziuban, PA. He never missed an opportunity to make friends with anyone who walked into his hospital room, and he impacted the lives of so many more in unforgettable ways. Please join us for “Out Loud & In Color: A Celebration of Max Garland” on Tuesday, August 13, 5-8pm. Doors open 5pm, service of remembrance begins promptly at 5:30. Artifact Events, 4325 N Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, 60625. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Lymphoma Research Foundation at lymphoma.org. Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-318-1305 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.