D.J. ( Danny ) Boos Jr.—a longtime Chicago service industry figure, 1997 Mr. Chicago Leather, and accomplished contemporary "green artist"—died suddenly of an apparent cardiac arrest on March 14. He was 48.
Born April 4, 1965 in Beaverton, Michigan, to Danny W. Boos Sr. and Jamie L. De Young-Boos, D.J. graduated from Beaverton High School in 1982, subsequently enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. After an honorable discharge, D.J. briefly relocated to San Diego, California, Saugatuck, and Douglas, Michigan, finally settling in the place he considered home for 25 years: Chicago. On Nov. 7, 2004, on a dance floor, the place where D.J. found his "Chicago Family," D.J. met his partner of nine years, Daniel R. Sullivan, M.A., LPC., with whom he remained closely connected until his death.
A figure in Chicago's service industry since 1989, D.J. bartended for longstanding establishments in Chicago's Boystown and Andersonville neighborhoods including Little Jim's, Touché, Bucks, and Northwestern Hospital. For the past 20 years until his death, D.J. served as a supervisor for Chicago hospitality staffing employer and friend Todd Armbruster at Service Is Us ( SIU ). Additionally, early in his life, D.J. developed a love of art, designing and painting figures for his 20-year hobby playing Dungeons and Dragons. However, in recent years D.J. discovered his passion for green art, refurbishing discarded items and developing it into amazing works of contemporary "trashion" art.
In addition to his career in the hospitality industry, D.J. often donated his time to Chicago's LGBTQQI community, including the Chicago Hearts Foundation, producer of the forerunning Chicago HIV/AIDS fundraiser Chicago Fireball; Test Positive Aware Network; and The Center on Halsted.
D.J. is survived by former partner and lifelong friend, Daniel R. Sullivan; two stepdaughters, Brittney M. Sullivan & Sascha R. Sullivan; two stepgrandchildren, Luke A. Sullivan & Bailee R. Whitaker; cousin L. Leatherberry; "Chicago family" Scott A. Jones, Steve Hiltebrand, Matt Moder, Kevin McKee, Rob Lehnhoff, Ric Clark, Jeff Giffin, Brandon Edwards, Chris Newman, Collin Kurth, Jorge Quintero, Molly Callinan, Dawn and Paul Magyer, and numerous friends.
Also surviving are his mother, Jamie L. DeYoung Boos; sisters Melissa Yager, Christie Boos and Donnaleigh Christie; nieces & nephews Jamie Yager, Kimber & Keenan Boos-Harless, Maxine and Jessie Christie. D.J. is preceded in death by nephew Brandon Boos; maternal and paternal grandparents; and biological parent Danny W. Boos Sr.
A memorial took place March 16 at the Herderge-Brieske Funeral home officiated by Brooke Benjamin of the Chicago Cremation Society. A Life Celebration with dispersal of D.J.'s ashes will take place on Sunday, May 18, at 11 a.m. at Lake Michigan's Hollywood Beach. Donations in DJ's honor should be made to Test Positive Aware Network ( www.tpan.com/ ) .
See related article at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/PASSAGES-DJ-Boos/46633.html .
