Melinda R. Foys

Melinda R. Foys, age 85, a resident of Chicago, IL, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

Melinda was born and raised on the north side. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University and a master’s degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She had a 30 plus year career in secondary education teaching English, reading, and journalism.

During her tenure at Conant High School, she was a nationally recognized award-winning newspaper adviser for The Crier. She earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Journalism Education Association and the Dow Jones Outstanding Adviser Award. Her students consistently won local, state, and national journalism awards under her guidance. In 2000, the Chicago Tribune highlighted her impact, noting how she quietly inspired young journalists by focusing on the story rather than the glory.

She also served as President of the Illinois Journalism Education Association, the Kettle Moraine Press Association and the Northern Illinois School Press Association, and was a newspaper contest judge for Quill and Scroll, the National Scholastic Press Association, and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Melinda advocated for the passage of the Illinois Student Publications Act to protect high school student journalists from censorship. The bill passed with overwhelming support from the Illinois House and Senate, but was vetoed by Governor Edgar.

After retiring, she became involved in the Garden Club of Inverness serving in many roles including president. During her time with the club, she organized memorable events for members such as a book signing with Nancy Clarke, Chief Floral Designer at the White House for over 25 years, and a visit to Chicago chef Rick Bayless’s rooftop herb garden. Her own home was featured on their Garden Walk.

Melinda had a deep and abiding love for gardening and flowers, finding immense joy in hosting friends and family in her garden on summer afternoons. Her greatest devotion was to her family, especially relishing her role as a grandmother.

Survivors include her daughter, Susan Santoro (Anthony) and her granddaughter, Sabrina. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert, her parents, Eugene and Estelle Doman and her siblings, Madeline, Melissa, Melita, and Eugene Jr.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 4, at 9:00 a.m., followed immediately by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m., at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.

Holy Name Cathedral is located at 735 N. State Street on the northeast corner of State and Superior Streets. You may park in the parking garage at 14 W. Superior Street, between Dearborn and State Street, located below the One Chicago high rise on Lower Level 1 and Lower Level 2. Validation is available in the Cathedral vestibule. For more information: https://holynamecathedral.org/directions-parking/

Entombment will follow at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery.

As no arrangements can be kept or left at Holy Name Cathedral, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Melinda Foys to the Northwestern Memorial Foundation online at: https://nmgive.donordrive.com/events/619/donate or by calling, 833-443-8663.

For further information please call Michalik Funeral Home at 312-421-0936.