William S. Lear Obituary
The family announces the passing of William S. Lear of Chicago, Illinois on October 11, 2026. William, born on July 1, 1942 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was part of many shared moments and relationships throughout life. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family.
William will be remembered for the time spent with loved ones and the moments that brought joy to those around him. Friends and family will honor William by reflecting on shared memories and the positive influence he had in their lives. Though William is no longer present, the bonds he created and the experiences shared will endure. William’s memory will continue to be a source of comfort for all who knew him.
He was loved and cherished by many people including: his parents, Dorothy M. Lear (Robert W. Lear) and Yale University; his wife Sharon; his children, Peter M. Lear, Merritt Lear Beck (Christophe Beck) and Anna S. Lear; and his brother Andrew R. Lear (Candyce Rylander).
A funeral service was held on Thursday, October 15th 2026 at 12:30 PM at the St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church (1424 N Dearborn Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60610). For information about Shiva, please contact the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, in memory of Bill Lear and in honor of Sheetal Kircher, MD or to the Navy Seals Foundation in memory of Bill Lear.
