Robert Vihon 1952-2020
Robert S. Vihon, 67, of Wilmette, died on May 2, 2020 after a year-long battle with cancer. He embodied community with a life defined by a passion for service, commitment to justice, and devotion to his enormous network of loved ones.
After working as a lawyer in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, he co-founded Worsek & Vihon, LLP, a leading Chicago law firm where he practiced law until his retirement in December 2019. From 2009 to 2019, he served on the board and executive committee of The Civic Federation of Chicago from 2009 to 2019. Leveraging his legal experience in real estate tax law, he also enjoyed teaching as an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School. Believing in service above all else, Rob spearheaded the revitalization for the Center for Enriched Living ("CEL"), a center where developmentally disabled children and adults could make new friends, have fun, and acquire new skills for social inclusion and independent living. After leading an extensive search, he found the site location of CEL's new home, a 20,000 square foot facility which serves more than 450 people annually. Ultimately, after several fundraising drives and countless hours of dedication, Rob sat as a Board Member, President, and Trustee. More recently, Rob served as a Board Member for Youth Guidance, an organization that among many initiatives operates Becoming A Man ("BAM"), a program launched in 2001 to help young men navigate difficult circumstances that threaten their future. Eager to give back to the City of Chicago, he considered his involvement at Youth Guidance the honor of a lifetime.
Rob was born in Chicago to Maxine and Jack Vihon, later moving to Glencoe when he was in grammar school. While studying at New Trier East High School, he made many lifelong friends on the cross-country team and eventually became class president. In 1974, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with high honors from the University of Illinois. He worked as a turkey wrangler on a kibbutz before attending law school at Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he received his J.D. in 1977. Rob believed in the fundamental beauty of all people. He dedicated his life to helping as many people as he could, even if – perhaps especially – they did not ask for it. He celebrated his friends' tiniest victories as enthusiastically as their biggest and encouraged everyone with his relentless optimism. Known for his magnanimity, he loved introducing new friends to old so everyone could feel like they were a part of a community. Indeed, even when surrounded by his friends, Rob would walk across the party to strike up a conversation with someone sitting alone and insist they join him. He had a talent for finding the remarkable in every single person and making sure that they knew how special they were. Words cannot convey how extraordinary Rob truly was, but he left a legacy of warmth, humor, and empathy that no death can take from us.
Rob is survived by his wife, Mary (née Woods); his daughter, Jennifer Vihon; and his sister, Laurie Werner (Richard). He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Maxine and Jack Vihon, and his two other sisters, Marsha Vihon and Hilene Spiezer. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. Finally, Rob is survived by scores of friends from around the world, many of whom he considered family and all of whom he loved.