Charles “Chick” Graffy, 85, of Hanover Park, was the devoted husband of 62 years to Betty; beloved father of Don (Martha), Jeanne (Guy) Grassmick, Mike, Joyce (Greg) Brown, Ken (Susan), and Liz (Jim) Kopitke; doting grandfather of nine and loving great-grandfather of six. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents Charles and Eileen and sister Carol. Chick was a U.S. Army veteran with service in Korea and worked as a power engineer for Western Electric and AT&T over 35 years. 

He was enthusiastic about sports, from St. Rita of Cascia High School, through college at IIT, to Chicago 16” softball leagues. Chick was a longtime member of the Hanover Park Boys’ Baseball Association (HPBBA) Board of Directors, later Hanover Park Little League, and the Hanover Park Boys’ Football Association (HPBFA). Spanning five decades, he umpired IHSA and Little League baseball, refereed basketball, and volunteer coached for Hanover Park baseball and football as well as Hoffman Estates High School football, basketball, and baseball. The Illinois Athletic Directors’ Association recognized Coach Graffy’s years of service with the Friend of Athletics Award in 2010. 

Chick also deeply valued academics, working to support all six of his children to graduate college and establishing an annual scholarship at HEHS for Scholar Athlete nominees. He enjoyed bowling and golf leagues with friends and traveling with Betty to England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Baltics, Greece, the Caribbean, Alaska, and Hawaii. His greatest joy was watching his children and grandchildren pursue their interests and raise their families. 

Visitation is from 3 PM to 8 PM Wednesday, at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral Home, 330 W. Golf Road, Schaumburg. The funeral mass will be held at 10 AM Thursday at St. Marcelline Catholic Church, Schaumburg. Interment will be private. In keeping with his tradition of support for high school athletics and students, in lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Hoffman Estates Loyal Partners (H.E.L.P), 1100 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169. Those wishing to donate online may contribute to the HEHS Hawks Nest at http://tinyurl.com/HawksNestDonation.