Funeral Details

Irv Alper, age 102 1/2.

Loving father of Jill (Brad) Friedman and the late Jeffrey Alper. Proud grandfather of Lindsay (Tom) Bosch and Jordan Friedman. Dear brother of the late Edith (the late Milt) Cohen. Cherished uncle of Neil (Susan) Cohen, Janis (David) Cohen, and Ronald (Sherry) Rubinstein.

Basketball was his passion. He earned a scholarship to DePaul University, but after two weeks as a Blue Demon he was drafted into the US Army Air Corps during WWII, where he continued to play basketball with the Air Force Bombardiers team. He credits that for keeping him stateside teaching soldiers to become Norden bombsight experts on B17 bombers.

After the war, he worked for Levi Strauss. Irv continued to play basketball, he practiced with the globetrotters and the Chicago Bulls. He also won the Senior Olympics free throw shooting contest at the age of 85. His other passions were Comedy and magic. He was the life of every party. He was telling jokes until the end.

Graveside services, Friday, 11:00 AM at Shalom (Section II Makhpela), 1701 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans charity of your choice. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Buffalo Grove Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com