Joseph Feldman, 84, Naperville resident and parking lot entrepreneur, dies

Joseph Sidney Feldman, an 84-year-old resident of Naperville, Illinois, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, October 24, 2026. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his death. Feldman had lived in Naperville since 1975, having previously resided in the Canaryville neighborhood of Chicago.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ellen "Lal" Feldman, whom he had married on November 9, 1963, at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Chicago. The couple shared 51 years of marriage. Feldman is survived by his children, Joseph, Mary Carole, Margaret Ann, Colleen, Michaeline, and Timothy Michael, as well as a large extended family including numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Feldman grew up in Chicago’s South Side and attended St. Gabriel parish grade school before graduating from Leo High School. His early work experience began at age ten when he started parking cars on vacant lots to support his family. This early exposure to the industry would define his career. After marrying his wife, the couple moved to St. Bede’s parish in Chicago and later settled in Naperville in 1975.

In his professional life, Feldman worked at Central Steel during the day and for the Chicago Sewer Department at night early in his marriage. He eventually purchased the parking lots where he had worked as a youth. He expanded his business interests to include ownership of the International Amphitheater, the Chicago Stadium, and later the United Center.

Beyond his parking operations, Feldman took over the Bridgeport News, a Chicago neighborhood newspaper, in 1982 following the death of his father. He served as publisher until the newspaper ceased publication in 2020. Colleagues and family described him as a real estate visionary who could identify value in properties that others overlooked, ranging from Chicago buildings to Florida resorts.

The family noted that Feldman’s primary motivation in business was to create opportunities for his family and friends. He frequently worked alongside his children and grandchildren. His interests included wintering in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, where he was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, and spending summers at a home in Montello, Wisconsin, a parishioner at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

His family expressed gratitude to friends in Sunny Isles Beach, specifically Millie and Esperanza, for their support in the years following his wife’s passing. They also thanked caregivers Radka and Martina for their assistance in his home during his final four months.

A visitation is scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Naperville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Aurora. Interment will follow at SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Naperville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Aurora or Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Sunny Isles Beach. Additional information regarding the service can be found through the funeral home’s website or by contacting them directly.