Master Nolan Phillip Schloemer of Barrington

Nolan Phillip Schloemer, 13, of Barrington; passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on Friday, January 6, 2023. He was the beloved son of Eric and Jaime (Pearson) Schloemer; adored older brother of Emmett and Quentin; cherished grandson of Lynn Pearson, Ernest Hesling, and Pauline (Doyle) and Ken Groh; precious great-grandson of Bernice Forrister; adored nephew of Deanna Schloemer, precious great nephew of Tina Forrister and Spiro Pavlopoulos, Dana (Forrister) and Scott Collum, Diane (Forrister) and Steve Dixon, Steve and Stella Forrister, Lori (Pearson) and Larry Cleary, Brian and Linda Pearson, Michael Pearson, Carl and Karrie Schloemer, Cheryl Doyle, Edward and Cynthia Doyle, Robert Doyle, and treasured cousin to so, so many. Nolan was predeceased by his maternal great-grandfathers, J. Phillip Forrister, after whom he was named, and Ron Pearson, as well as his great-grandmother, Ruth Ann (Penny) Pearson and his great uncle David Pearson. Though born to a family accustomed to people with special needs, Nolan’s birth and his thirteen years of life brought a new level of understanding about how difficult it is to get around in a world made for able bodied people with typical communication skills, and enormous appreciation for van-sized handicapped parking spaces. Nolan endured many medical challenges and was indeed a bit of a medical mystery. His chromosomal abnormality made him one of only a few dozen known people in the world with this diagnosis. However, this did not define his life. From the age of three Nolan attended Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA. He was excited to get on the bus each morning and thrived at school where he made many friends of students and teachers alike. Since moving to Illinois, Nolan attended the Child Development Center at the Chicago Lighthouse and, more recently, the Miner School within the Northeast Suburban Special Education Organization. Both schools welcomed Nolan with open arms and took wonderful care of him. His teachers and therapists all took to him immediately and he made friends easily within his classrooms and the schools as a whole. At one point or another, Nolan has been referred to at each of his schools as the de facto mayor of the school. Everyone loved seeing Nolan and that giant cheesy grin of his! Nolan Noodle / Bear / Smiley Bear was often grinning and had a great laugh. His deep throated chuckle was one of a kind. An easy way to make Nolan smile was to spin his wheelchair or push it along really fast! He also loved bumping over rough ground; commonly referred to as “off-roading” by his family. Esme, Auntie Tina’s cat, would get up in his bed and give his head a bath, much to Nolan’s delight but not necessarily Mom’s. Lucy, the family’s pandemic pet dog, liked to greet Nolan when he returned from school by jumping up in his lap and rolling with him into the house. Nolan loved the color orange and accumulated quite a number of items in his favorite hue including his ever-necessary wheelchair. He liked being held in the coolness of a pool, and enjoyed changing/flashing colored lights. Nolan was the centerpiece around which many family Halloween costumes were designed. This past October, Nolan starred as Oscar the Grouch, with his wheelchair made up as Oscar’s trash can, and the family as other Sesame Street characters. In years past, he trick-or-treated as Fred driving The Mystery Machine, the conductor of the square-wheeled train with all of Rudolf’s Misfit Toys, an ice cream man and his truck, and the Wizard of Oz in his hot air balloon. He loved the noise and chaos of daily life with his devoted brothers and gatherings with extended family and friends. As a small boy, Quentin would often ride on Nolan’s lap while Emmett pushed them around the house or neighborhood. Emmett and Nolan would have mini concerts on the toy pianos while baby Quentin listened. His brothers could always get Nolan laughing by raising a ruckus and zooming about. Nolan could get your attention by swinging his arm out toward you, at which time you would usually grab both of his hands, move his arms, and pretend to dance. Nolan would recognize a familiar voice and start with an infectious smile, then follow that voice with his eyes through the room - which got everyone else in the room smiling, too. Nolan loved his weekends with his Grammies and Auntie Tina; story time with Auntie Dana; wiggly, noisy, and flashing toys from Aunt Deanna; and holding hands with his GG Bernice and Grampa Ernie. Beautiful Nolan, we knew our time with you would be limited, but we were not prepared for you to leave us. Our world is rocked and we miss you desperately. We are somewhat comforted to believe you are now with G-Papa, Penny, Gavi, and (too) many of your other young friends, in a place where there are no more limits. Rest easily, our dear, sweet Noodle Bear. Special thanks to all the doctors, nurses, therapists, and teachers in Massachusetts and Illinois who gave such loving care to Nolan over the years, especially Boston Children’s Hospital and Lurie Children’s Hospital in Illinois. Nolan spent many weeks and months being cared for by the outstanding medical professionals in the “penthouse” (ICU on the top floor of the hospital) at BCH. Lurie Children’s took over Nolan’s care without hesitation. His few hospitalizations at Lurie brought many new, wonderful members to his care team. Visitation will be Saturday, January 14, 2023, from 2:00 pm until time of service at 4:00 pm at Morizzo Funeral Home, 2550 West Hassell Road (northeast corner of Barrington Road), Hoffman Estates, IL, 60169. A memorial service is also being planned for a later date in Massachusetts; likely Sunday, February 19th. Details will be shared as plans are solidified. If you are unable to attend the visitation in person but would like to attend virtually please CLICK HERE and click on the WEBCASTING VIDEO link. The livestream will start at approximately 2:00 P.M In lieu of flowers, donations in Nolan’s memory may be made to Perkins School for the Blind, the Chicago Lighthouse and/or NSSEO Foundation all of whom provide education and services to individuals with special needs. The family has created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories, photos, and videos. For further information please contact the Morizzo Funeral Directors at 847.752.6444. For those of you that would have attended services and would like to express your condolences to the family, please click on the link above and you can leave the family a message, with the share a memory link. If you wish to send a Sympathy Card to the Family, please feel free to send it to Morizzo Funeral Home, 2550 Hassell Road, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, 60169 c/o The Family. We will gladly forward it on.

Master Nolan Phillip Schloemer of Barrington

April 18, 2009 - January 6, 2023