CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chief, the Rogers Park cat who endeared himself to just about everyone who called the Far North Side neighborhood home, died Tuesday night.
"Chief was a tough little guy," said Jenni Spinner, a Rogers Park resident.
Spinner was among many who were in mourning on Wednesday over Chief's death. The black and white cat was often referred to as the "Aldercat."
Chief, the 'Aldercat' of Rogers park, enjoying a drink of water.Natt P.
"God decided to bring him to the great litter box in the sky after many, many years on earth," Spinner said.
Rogers Park Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) shared a message on social media and said Chief gave many years of "love and sage advice" to neighborhood residents.
"Chief, you will always be our No. 1 Rogers Park mascot," Hadden wrote.
Chief passed away on Tuesday night, Alderwoman Maria Hadden wrote on social media.Ald. Maria Hadden
Spinner said she believed Chief lived somewhere on Farwell Avenue.
He belonged to everybody in the neighborhood, she added, and had the run of the neighborhood — accepting pets and occasional treats from passersby. Spinner said the cat was quite a character and knew how to avoid trouble.
"He was smarter than some of the neighborhood kids about cars, apparently," Spinner said. "He did occasionally hide underneath cars, just for giggles, but yeah, he made it to a nice, old age, which is great because we got to enjoy him that long."
"When I'd come home really late sometimes, I would see him out and he would just kind of 'meow' at me and walk along with me back home," said Rogers Park resident Natt P.Natt P.
A Rogers Park resident, who asked to be identified as Natt P., said the cat kept Rogers Park safe.
"When I'd come home really late sometimes, I would see him out and he would just kind of 'meow' at me and walk along with me back home," they said.
"Rest in awesomeness, Chief," wrote Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) on social media.Alderwoman Maria Hadden
Some even suggested the neighborhood hold a memorial or create a plaque for Chief.
"Rogers Park is something like 50,000 people, but it feels like a tiny little neighborhood," Spinner said. "We're really close knit, so a loss like that is deeply felt,"
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