John's niece posted on Facebook on March 22 that John passed away after a couple years of fighting kidney disease and cancer. I don't remember seeing any mention of this sad news on this forum and only found out about it today. As most of you know, for many years John posted a daily digest of links to Fire news and soccer news in general. Most were posted without comment, but it was always a highlight when John added a snarky addendum, then you knew he'd really had it. Kudos and thanks to Penn Dave who has resurrected John's daily digest and named it in his honor, I knew John as a fellow Chicago soccer fan for 40 years, going back to the glory days of the Sting. John and his wife Kris were heavily involved in the Fanaddicts, then called a fan club, today they'd be a supporters group, that organized very well attended bus trips to away games and usually three or four get-togethers each year including a Christmas party and summer picnic where the whole Sting organization including every player showed up to mingle with and get to know the fans. It was a special time, the most fun I've ever had as a sports fan. Of course John and Kris continued to support every incarnation of Chicago soccer clubs both indoor and outdoor throughout all these years, and I shouldn't have to educate anyone about John's devotion to the Fire all through the great early years and not so good recent years. Most important of all, John was a 100% good guy, always ready for some soccer and sports conversation and always ready for a laugh. Unlike John my attendance dwindled over the years and I only saw him maybe once a year but it always was a great feeling to see him and talk old times and grouse about the current situation. I will miss him personally and the Chicago soccer community has lost one of its brightest lights. Gotta believe that John is up there watching.
Thank you very much for the update, sad as it is to hear. We all knew he was in very poor health, as he stated when he was winding down his updates. I did not know that he had passed. Very sad, kidney disease is an awful thing to go through. Condolences to his family and close friends. He is certainly missed 'round these parts!
I'm sad to hear this and will copy/paste this in tomorrow's news thread if you don't mind. I never met John in person but was a long time Big Soccer lurker before joining these boards and commenting and in that time before I was joined it became my morning ritual to check out his posts daily with my morning coffee. Of course I would prefer John was doing it still and seeing his comments, alas he cannot. Now it's me doing it and knowing by the number of views they seem to get every day that aside from us regulars, somewhere out there are lurkers doing the same thing I was doing so long ago. A day will come when I go by the way as well so in the mean time the Fire family steps in and covers for his absense. RIP John.
FanAddict did yeoman-like work in tirelessly presenting the daily Fire news. Rest in Peace, John. Thanks for sharing your love with us. We didn’t deserve it. We’ll have a cold one when next we meet.
Thank you for everything, John. The last time we met it was because you offered up four seats to a Red Stars game. I brought my family and they were lucky enough to be able to meet you. Thank you. Just joy and enthusiasm all around. Every minute pushing to help push the sport. If anyone knows of a memorial, or a way to help his widow, please share.
Truly sad. I love hearing about the stories about old and original soccer fans in the USA. To have that level of dedication throughout the years is remarkable.
My condolences to John's family. Very thankful for the work he did and glad we got to share, at least a little, in the joy he brought to the game.
Very sorry to hear this news. Sympathy, condolences, and prayers to John’s family, and may he rest in peace.
I havent popped in here in a while and rarely go to games in person anymore . i saw Dave was doing the newsfeed and named them FANADDICT news i assumed he passed And decided to search for my info in here sorry for being late with this and rehashing John was a good guy and class act who bridged old school Chicago soccer with the “old” Fire and into the new era of MLS. he frequently gave tickets to fans and never asked for anything in return, he generally had good things to say and was pretty positive in his view . I dont think in twenty five years i ever saw him cut someone to the bone with his words. The sting guys are leaving us and all us young guys of 98 are entering the pasture. John Keller was a good man and he is missed