Philip Comstock Wherry, 72, of Chicago, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, from complications due to Parkinson’s disease.
He was born in 1939 in Pekin, to Dr. Roland C. and Miriam Platt Wherry. He was raised in Pekin.
His parents preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Cookie; his daughter, Chandler; his brother, Richard (Nancy) Wherry; and a loving circle of family and friends.
He was educated at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; and graduated from the University of Miami, where he met “the love of his life” and future wife, Helen “Cookie” Reichert.
After moving to Chicago and graduating from IIT Kent College of Law, Philip became a senior clerk to the late Federal Judge Julius J. Hoffman in Chicago. He became an associate at the law firm of Winston & Strawn before founding the firm of Abrams & Wherry, which specialized in business litigation, both in Chicago.
Philip had a life-long devotion to the community and historic preservation. He worked closely with Burt Natarus, former alderman of the 42nd Ward, to achieve down-zoning of the Near North Side of Chicago. For 30 years, Philip was involved with the North Dearborn Association, ultimately serving seven terms as its president. He was a co-founder of the Near North Preservation Coalition, which helped retain the beauty of that neighborhood.
He was a director of the Lincoln Park Conservancy, which oversaw the restoration of The Rookery. He had a passion for libraries (he met Cookie in the library at Miami) and in 1995 he became chair of a citizens’ committee that resulted in a new branch of the Chicago Public Library being built on Division Street.
For 35 years, Philip was a subscriber to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He also was past president of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Collectors Group.
He “tasted of life fully” with Cookie, traveling on a motorcycle to the Arctic Circle, traversing Europe, steaming the Nile and camping in East Africa.
He enjoyed his classic Porsche 930 Turbo.
Never missing any of Chandler’s games, “Philly” was a devoted soccer dad.
Private internment will take place in Pekin. Arrangements are by the Cremation Society of Illinois in Chicago.
Memorial contributions may be made to a public library, hospice association or in support of Parkinson’s research.