Paul A. Rivera passed away on Aug. 1. He was 54.
Rivera, a Chicago native, attended local grade schools and graduated from Lane Tech High School. He attended the University of Chicago Circle Campus to study computer science, and also went to The American Conservatory of Music to study piano. In recent years, he became a prolific writer and his work was recently featured in a Second City production in Chicago.
He worked for the Chicago Board Options Exchange, and started his own network consulting company, Help Desk Resources, Inc.
Rivera was preceded in death by his father, Paul A. Rivera. He is survived—and will be dearly missed—by his mother Betty (Richard, late) Vertz of Casa Grande, Ariz.; sister Patricia (Scott) Wilson of Placentia, Calif.; and sister Pamela (John) Melnick of North Aurora, Ill. He will also be missed by his nieces, Jennifer, Lauren and Elise, as well as his nephew, Christopher. Rivera also leaves behind many close friends and his two beloved poodles, Bedos and Ito.
A memorial service will be held Aug. 25 at the Unity Church of Oak Park, 405 N. Euclid Ave., at 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Second City Foundation Scholarship Fund, www.SecondCityFoundation.com.