Honoring John Flemister, A Beloved Community Hero

We are heartbroken to share the tragic loss of beloved John Flemister, a cherished doorman, Army veteran, and pillar of Chicago’s West Loop community, who was senselessly killed on April 12, 2025, while heading home from work. At just 61 years old, John’s life was cut short in a shooting near the UIC-Halsted Blue Line station—a place he walked daily with kindness and purpose.

John was more than a doorman. For decades, he greeted residents with warmth, kept treats for their pets, and offered unwavering support during tough times. To know John was to love him. His coworkers and neighbors describe him as a “gentle, kind soul” who “could not let anyone have a bad day.”

A devoted uncle and community father figure, John opened his home to everyone, helping raise his niece’s children and mentoring countless young people in the Bronzeville neighborhood. Though he had no children of his own, his legacy lives on in the lives he uplifted.

John’s family is facing unimaginable grief and unexpected expenses. All funds raised will go directly to John's twin sister, Janice Flemister, and will help cover funeral and memorial costs to honor John’s life in a way that reflects the love he shared with all of us.

In addition to helping support John's family with funeral and memorial costs, we'd love to help continue John's legacy of mentorship and kindness by establishing a community fund for the Bronzeville neighborhood.

Each and every contribution, no matter the size, helps ease the burden on John’s family.

John's family sincerely thanks the entire community for standing with them during this devastating time. Together, we can ensure his light continues to shine in the community he loved so deeply. John was an angel on earth for so many of us, and now he has his wings.

*photo courtesy of Chicago Sun-Times