Steven M. Rick

Steven M. Rick, 39, Woodstock, died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge. 

He was born Feb. 19, 1977, to Robert and Marilyn (Rojicek) Rick in Palatine. 

On July 15, 2006, he married Cynthia M. Traskaski at The Church of Holy Apostles, McHenry.

A 1995 graduate of Palatine High School, Steve was active in football, baseball and basketball and was named PHS Athlete of the Year. He attended the University of Iowa for two years and graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. 

For more than 10 years, he taught science at Prairie Ridge High School and coached girls and boys soccer and basketball. After earning a master’s degree and administrative certificate, he was named a coordinator for District 155. In 2014, he became assistant principal at Woodstock North High School. Steve influenced hundreds of students and colleagues with his infectious concern for others, passion for learning and positive attitude.

Steve adored being a father to his young daughters, ages 3 and 5. In addition to being an outstanding, loving father, he was an amazing husband to his beloved Cindy, a supportive and loving brother and a fun loving uncle. He will be dearly missed by his entire family and many friends.

Steve loved nature and hiking and his goal was to take family trips to see all of the national parks. Other interests were playing cards, especially poker, cheering on the White Sox and Seahawks and being a fierce fantasy football enthusiast with many wins to his credit. He was fascinated with dinosaurs – one of his favorite topics when he taught earth science.

Steve was incredibly loyal, always willing to find the good in everyone. He exuded an extremely caring and positive attitude with everything he did and everyone he met. He genuinely cared about people and was a great mentor. Competitive yet compassionate, he worked hard but always had time for people. He pushed people to make them better, but he encouraged them when they fell down. He was a lover but also a fighter until the end.

Survivors include his wife of 10 years, Cindy; his daughters, Evie and Harper; his father, Robert Rick, McHenry; his mother, Marilyn Rick, Huntley; a sister, Suzanne Warren, McHenry; his father- and mother-in-law, Phil and Evelyn Traskaski, McHenry; a brother-in-law, Phil (Nicole) Traskaski Jr., Genoa City, Wis.; a sister-in-law, Julie Traskaski, McHenry; six nieces; and one nephew.

Visitation will be from 2 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at Justen Funeral Home & Crematory, 3700 Charles J. Miller Road, McHenry. The visitation will resume Thursday, Feb. 9, at The Church of Holy Apostles from 9:30 a.m. until the 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass. The cremation rite will be accorded privately. 

Memorials can be made to the Rick Children Educational Fund, c/o Justen Funeral Home, P. O. Box 343, McHenry, IL 60051.