Born in Mayfield, Ohio, in 1970, Mario Devon Chess, affectionately known as “Mr. Mario” among the kids he helped take care of at Kingsley Elementary School in Evanston, died unexpectedly on Jan. 27.
Chess grew up in Evanston, attending four different District 65 elementary schools and both Haven and Chute middle schools before graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1988. He then got a degree in criminal justice from Morris Brown College in Atlanta.
Most recently, Chess was the school-age child-care site coordinator at Kingsley, meeting kids at 7 a.m. before school and watching them until 6 p.m. after dismissal.
“Two weeks ago, we lost a wonderful person who impacted countless students, staff and community members over the years,” said Peter Bogira, a Kingsley parent, during the Monday, Feb. 10 District 65 school board meeting. “Mario Chess, or to many of us known as Mr. Mario, was a fixture in the Evanston community from his time here as a student to his career here helping so many lucky enough to be in his care.
“My children had the fortune of being part of student-age child care at Kingsley, where Mr. Mario helped so many children experience continuity and belonging even as they moved through grades, classrooms and friends. He, Ms. Gill and the rest of the SACC team at Kingsley have been just as integral to my children’s positive school experience thus far as the educators they’ve been with throughout the school day. Rest in peace, Mr. Mario.”
A memorial service for Chess was held Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Sherman United Methodist Church in Evanston, followed by a private burial. According to a GoFundMe set up by Kingsley PTA members to defray funeral costs and honor Chess’ memory, Chess is survived by his children Brendan, Ashley and Brittany and his partner, Lisa. The fundraiser has collected nearly $6,000 for the family thus far.
A Facebook post from the PTA described Chess as “a true fixture in the Evanston community, always willing to lend a hand and loved getting to know the students.”
On the GoFundMe page, organizer Michelle Farra wrote that “in an interview with his students years ago, he said his favorite book was ‘The Digging-Est Dog,’ a story about a dog who finds a new home and becomes the best digger around, exemplifying Mr. Mario’s core beliefs in second chances and perseverance.”
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