Craig R. Strom

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Craig R. Strom on November 4th, 2024 after a record breaking battle of exactly 45 months to the day he was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer. Born on April 20, 1959 in Evanston, Illinois, Craig grew up in Lake Forest and graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1978. He went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a degree in Radio and Television Engineering. Craig’s career took him to Greenville, SC (WHNS-TV), Boston (WHDH-TV) and back to Chicago where he worked for WFLD-TV for ten years. In 2000, Craig joined WLS-TV, the #1 news station in Chicago and never looked back. Craig considered it an honor to work with such an accomplished team. He especially enjoyed being a part of the Chicago market where the comradery between the stations made his projects all that more fun. One of Craig’s many accomplishments was when he was awarded Broadcast Engineer of the Year in 2008-2009 by the SBE (Society of Broadcast Engineers). This designation was in recognition of his contributions to the broadcast industry and to furthering the goals and objectives of the society. Craig could not get enough of the industry so he started The Chicago Switch on March 1st, 2005 and brought his dear friend, Steve Robinson, along for the ride. Together they built a thriving broadcast connectivity platform on the 97th floor of the Hancock Building. Craig was known for his passion for conservative politics and greatly admired the author Thomas Sowell. A proud lifetime NRA member, Craig was greatly relieved to survive long enough to vote for Donald J. Trump in his last national election. He is happily debating anyone he can find in heaven and would be heard saying “I’d agree with you but then we’d both be wrong.” Growing up in Lake Forest, Craig met many people he admired. Craig was blessed to have crossed paths with Peter and Linda Smith who were Youth Pastors at the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest. Craig spent much of his childhood and adolescence with his life-long friend Chip Stride and his family in Lake Forest and at Lake Geneva where they spent their summers. Herbert Stride Senior (“Herb Senior”) was an influential person in Craig’s life and was inspired by his professional drive and commitment to his family. Craig also had a special place in his heart for his wife Dolores Stride. Craig is survived by his wife of 34 years, Kristin (Jesion) Strom, his children Morgan of Pleasant Prairie, WI, Annie and Dacota Sanor of Littleton, CO, Marina of Lake Forest and Spencer of Oklahoma City, OK, and brother Brad. Craig has survived the last 45 months with special thanks to Sweet’s of Lake Forest (ice cream shop), The Fresh Market (more ice cream) and The Left Bank (hot dogs). A very special thanks to Northwestern Hospital’s brilliant team of neurologists Dr. Adam Sonabend, Dr. Karan Dixit and Dr. Jessica Templar for the exceptional care and their ability to tolerate all of the detailed questions and interrogations of the most recent medical literature. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Jessica Reich, Chaplin Tim Lankford and Donna Duray for without their compassion and humor we would not have survived. Visitation will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest, 700 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, on Friday, November 8, 2024 starting at 10 AM followed by a Funeral Service at 11 AM. Interment will be at Lake Forest Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed at https://firstchurchlf.online.church/ . In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in Craig’s name. https://dogood.t2t.org/IMOCraigStrom For more information, contact Reuland & Turnbough Funeral Directors of Lake Forest at (847) 234-9649 or www.RTfunerals.com .

Craig R. Strom

April 20, 1959 - November 4, 2024