Robert Jons Sargis, 93, of Chicago, passed away peacefully Mon July 9, 2018. He was born in Chicago on the 4th of July, 1925, to Jonas Sargis and Sherin Isaac Sargis, both Assyrian immigrants from the Lake Urmia region of Persia. As a child, Robert grew up in the Wrigleyville area and graduated from Lakeview High School and Roosevelt University. As a young boy, he started a parking "business" with his brother Albert "selling" spots they reserved on the street for 25 cents for Cubs and Bears games. Robert expanded his business at two parking lots on Addison Street, which he continued for nearly 80 years. He enjoyed meeting patrons and reconfiguring parking spaces to fit in a few more cars on the lot! Robert served in the Air Force near the end of World War II. He met his future wife, Alma Joseph Sargis, at Lakeview Presbyterian Church, following a concert of the Assyrian Women's Choral Society. The two were married on June 28, 1952. He spent the first part of his career as a chemist with several companies in the paint and coatings industry. In the 1970s, he started a second career in the insurance industry with the Equitable Life Assurance Society. After formal retirement, he helped operate the Assyrian Universal Alliance Foundation, where he had also served on its Board of Directors for many years, working as an "ombudsman" to manage the office and its social service programs, primarily providing home care services to seniors. Robert always liked to be "on the move." At 90 years old, he finally retired to provide full-time care for his wife, Alma, who suffered from Parkinson's disease until her passing in early 2017. Robert always brought a joke (or pun) or some new idea, and always had a twinkle in his eye and smile on his face. Robert also loved food - he loved to grocery shop, loved to grow herbs and vegetables in his back yard, loved to cook, and loved to eat!  He nurtured a love for his native Assyrian cuisine but also experimented often by trying different ingredients in the traditional recipes.  Robert is mourned by his two sons, Scott Sargis of Chicago and Mark (Elizabeth) Sargis of Wheaton; and grandson Eli. Private interment: Rosehill Cemetery . A public memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 4, at 10:30 a.m. with a time of informal visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Carter-Westminster Presbyterian Church , 4950 West Pratt, Skokie, Illinois 60077. Direct memorial gifts to Carter-Westminster Presbyterian Church .

In addition to the Photo Album and video posted here, there is a wonderful family created video tribute to Alma and Robert made in recent years which you can view by clicking here: https://vimeo.com/49935096