Michael Miner

Michael Richard Miner, 81, journalist, of Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood, passed away May 1, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, Mike graduated from Kirkwood High School at age 15. He then studied engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. At 19, he completed a BA in journalism from the University of Missouri and proudly became a member of MENSA.

His first job was for Watkins products, selling household goods like vanilla extract door-to-door. His first writing job was for the Disciples of Christ Christian Catalogue, where he contributed copy like “Before you chow down, be sure to bow down.” Mike enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served on an aircraft carrier off North Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. After an honorable discharge, he got a job as a reporter and editor in Saint Louis at United Press International before moving to Chicago to work at the Chicago Sun-Times. In 1975, he took a leave of absence from the Sun-Times to go back to Vietnam to report on the end of the war. As it drew to a close, instead of taking a spot on one of the last choppers out of Saigon, Mike posed as the husband and father of a young Vietnamese family to help them escape to Paris. He spent a decade as a reporter at the Sun-Times and freelancing for the Chicago Reader, including writing for the Reader’s inaugural issue, in 1971. He moved over to the Reader to work full-time in 1979, editing the weekly Hot Type media column and eventually taking over the column himself while continuing to edit other writers. During his career as a journalist he won the Chicago Headline Club’s Peter Lisagor Awards for Best News Column or Commentary in 1991, 1992, and 2008.

Sometime in the early 1970s, Mike ambled into a Lakeview boutique called Presence to buy granola. There he met Betsy, the love of his life. They married on June 11, 1977.

Mike was funny, modest, patient, pensive, loyal, competitive, kind, and honest to a fault, and he didn’t take himself too seriously. He was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan and enjoyed spending time with his family at the Villa Ruta in Union Pier, Michigan. Mike served a term on the Board of Trustees at the Francis W. Parker School and tutored third graders at LaSalle Language Academy for eight years.

Beloved spouse of 48 years to Betsy Nore. Devoted father of Molly (Alex Rosenthal), Joanna (Daniel Thomas), and Laura Miner. Proud and loving grandfather of Solomon and Neva Rosenthal and Elise and Jesse Thomas. Loving brother of Dixie (the late John McIlwraith), Peter, Clyde (Joyce), and Mary Michele (Paul Perri) Miner.

Preceded in death by parents Richard Smith Miner and Elisabeth Caroline Matthey.

Gathering for Mike, Monday, May 19 at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton, Chicago. Doors open 2:30pm, program begins 3:30pm. Livestream the event here: http://youtube.com/live/nWpuYsgUIZQ In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Newberry Library: https://www.newberry.org/support/make-a-gift.

Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-318-1305, or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.