Rice, Michael J.

Of Park Ridge, IL, passed away on December 13, 2016 in Chicago. Michael was born on August 14, 1951 in Santa Monica, CA. Prior to moving to Park Ridge in 2012, Michael had lived in the San Diego, CA area for thirty- eight years. Michael joined Air California in 1975, working at Orange County Airport, now known as John Wayne Airport, then later at San Diego International Airport. In 1987, Air California merged with American Airlines. Michael was working for American Airlines at O’Hare International Airport at the time of his death. In May 2015, Michael was honored by American Airlines for his fortieth anniversary with the airline.

Michael was preceded in death by his father, James. S. Rice, of Wilmette, IL, and by his brother, James S. Rice, Jr., of Hemet, CA. He is survived by his mother, Mary K. Rice, of Wilmette, IL; his sisters, Mary Kathleen Rice of Chicago, IL, Sharon Sklansky ( Donald) of Vero Beach, FL, Deirdre M. Rice, of Chicago, IL; his brother, Mark E. Rice ( Susan) of Naperville, IL; nieces, Alexandra Sklansky of New York City and Cordelia Sklansky of New York City, and nephews, Matthew Rice ( Sheri) of Lockport, IL and Scott Rice of San Francisco, CA.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 11: 00 a. m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 524 Ninth Street, Wilmette, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Michael’s memory to the Naperville Area Humane Society, 1620 West Diehl Road, Naperville, IL 60563 or the American Heart Association, 208 South La Salle Street, Ste 1500, Chicago, IL 60604. Info: www.donnellanfuneral.com or ( 847) 6751990.