Luz Schick

Luz Nuncio Schick, née Nuncio Garza, died on Saturday, April 27th, 2024, surrounded by her beloved family. She was 69 years old. Luz is survived by her husband, William Charles Schick of Galesburg; her children, Emily Nuncio Schick of Galesburg and Robert Nuncio Schick of Brooklyn, NY; and her sisters María Esperanza, Ana, and Cristina Nuncio, all residents of Salem, MA.

Luz is predeceased by her mother, Esperanza Garza de Nuncio of Monterrey, Mexico and her father, Reynaldo Nuncio Armas of Toluca, Mexico.

Luz was born on October 29th, 1954 in Mexico City. Her family first came to Chicago in 1956, but Luz did not start formal schooling in the U.S. until 1963. After graduating from Orr High School in 1970, Luz enrolled at Loyola University of Chicago, majoring in English and French.

In 1976, Luz graduated magna cum laude with honors from Loyola. Her strong work ethic, hunger for learning, and academic brilliance earned her a full scholarship to a post-graduate program at Yale University. This recognition afforded her the opportunity to study abroad in France. She graduated with two master’s degrees in French (1978 and 1981), and minored in Spanish for both degrees.

In her early professional life, Luz worked as a translator at Weidner Communications where, in 1986, she met her future husband, Will Schick. They were married in Evanston, IL a year later. In 1988, they had a son, Robert, and in 1989, a daughter, Emily.

During the next two decades, Luz wrote, edited and translated educational materials for publishers Scott Foresman, Pearson Education, and Pleasant Company. After visiting Knox College with their daughter, Luz and her husband moved to Galesburg in 2008.

Luz was known for her lifelong love of the written word; she also wrote award-winning poetry, and saw storytelling as sacred and essential to the human experience.

The next writing project to capture her interest—and become her proudest achievement—was both deeply personal to her and to the Galesburg community. Luz spent five years writing, narrating, and producing the film Boxcar People (2013), along with her husband. The documentary includes interviews of Mexican-American residents of Galesburg who had lived in railroad communities during the early 20th century.

The film was nominated for a Chicago/Midwest Emmy award, and became renowned for capturing a little-known history and preserving a community’s legacy.

A celebration of life for Luz will be held on August 3 at 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Galesburg Public Library Community Room. Per request, please send donations to Doctors Without Borders (flowers also welcome). The family thanks Northwestern University Memorial Hospital, OSF St. Mary’s Hospital in Galesburg, OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois Cancer Care, and Beacon of Hope Hospice for their wonderful care of Luz. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg, Illinois. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthoms.com.

“Honor every love that ever came your way.” - Luz Nuncio Schick, 1954-2024