Kent A. Mazique Sr.

Kent A. Mazique Sr., 71, resident of Arlington Heights, IL passed away suddenly on January 14, 2024.

Kent was known to be a kind, humorous, intelligent, spiritual, athletic, health and environmentally-conscious man; a loving parent; and an amazing grandpa with the brightest smiles for everybody. His love of God, life, and family was central to his being.

Born in Chicago on July 3, 1952 at University of Chicago Hospital, he was the second-born son of Dr. Douglas Mazique and Shirley (Ryan) Mazique. Kent graduated from St. John’s School for the Deaf in Wisconsin in 1972. He obtained his Bachelor's degree at Gallaudet University in Washington DC in 1977 before spending most of his adult life working for U.S. Customs, Department of Homeland Security. After retirement, he wanted to work part-time for the Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA). He always had an inclination to teach Deaf children and took an opportunity to work for the Illinois School for the Deaf, a job almost 250 miles south of his home to work with Deaf children. 

He was a devoted father, grandfather, and a loving partner of 11 years to Jorjan Stoops of St. Charles, IL. Spending time with his family was his greatest joy. He enjoyed a memorable trip with his family this past holiday and loved travelling around the world, including Spain, Morocco, France, Germany, and the Netherlands while he was a college student; annual road trips across the country with his family; as well as more recent cruises to Alaska, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas; he had plans to travel to Ireland and the Scandinavian countries this summer.

In addition to his parents, Kent was predeceased by his son, Kent A. Mazique Jr. on September 30, 2013, his brothers Doug Mazique on September 2, 1992, and James Mazique on June 30, 2001.

He is survived by his two daughters, Rachel (Chris) Mazique-Brucker, and Rosie Mazique of Rochester, NY; his grandchildren, Jacob and Jasmine Mazique-Brucker, three grandcats; sisters Diane Mazique-Elliston of Atlanta, GA, and Adrienne Mazique of Palatine, IL; and several grandchildren of the Stoops family.

The family is welcoming relatives and friends for a wake and visitation on Saturday, January 27, 2024 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at Kerry Funeral Home, 7020 W 127th Street, Palos Heights, IL. There will be a service at 3:00pm at the same location. A green burial will occur at White Haven Memorial Park in Rochester, NY on January 31, 2024, at 2pm. Friends are welcome to meet at the entrance of White Haven at 2pm.