An adored Chicago teacher is killed by a stray bullet while walking to dinner with her husband
Cynthia Trevillon, a dedicated and beloved 64-year-old math teacher, was a cherished presence in her Rogers Park community and at the Chicago Waldorf School where she taught. Born on September 2, 1953, she dedicated her life to education, having also taught at Waldorf schools in Ann Arbor and Detroit before spending her last 14 years at the Chicago school. She was remembered by loved ones for her belief that kindness was the key to life, a principle she imparted to her students daily, advising them to "practice one random act of kindness every day." Beyond the classroom, Cynthia was an avid gardener, a wholesome cook, and a community volunteer with the Rogers Park Farmers Market and Food Co-Op. She was the beloved wife of John Trevillion, who also worked at the Waldorf School, and a devoted daughter, sister, and aunt.
The evening of Friday, October 13, 2017, was warm, and Cynthia and her husband of 29 years were walking to the Morse station on the CTA Red Line, on their way to a dinner with friends. At around 6:30 p.m., as they walked along the 6900 block of North Glenwood Avenue, they were caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting. According to police, a dark-colored SUV drove by the corner of Glenwood and Morse avenues and someone inside opened fire on a group of young people. Witnesses reported hearing between eight and ten shots. While the intended targets apparently escaped unharmed, a stray bullet struck Cynthia in the head and neck. Her husband, who was walking beside her, dropped to the ground and was uninjured. Cynthia collapsed on the sidewalk.
Bystanders and her husband rushed to her side, attempting to render aid until paramedics arrived. Cynthia Trevillon was rushed to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where she was pronounced dead a short time later. The Chicago Police Department immediately launched an investigation, canvassing the area for witnesses and searching for surveillance footage that might have captured the dark or white SUV from which the shots were fired. Police confirmed that Cynthia was not the intended target, describing her death as a senseless tragedy that underscored the pervasive gun violence affecting the city. She was one of several people killed by gunfire in Chicago that weekend.
The community was left reeling by the sudden and random loss of such a gentle and giving person. In the days that followed, hundreds of students, parents, colleagues, and neighbors gathered for vigils to mourn and remember her. They held candles, shared memories, and discussed ways to combat the violence that had claimed her life. One student remembered her as "an amazing teacher" who "was always there to accommodate for your every need." Her husband John, though devastated, spoke of the immense impact his wife had, saying, "We've lost a wonderful human being... who has touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of other human beings."
A funeral was held at the Christian Community Church in Ravenswood, and the Chicago Waldorf School canceled classes so that students and faculty could attend. Colleagues from her former school in Detroit traveled to pay their respects, with one expressing a hope that her death could lead to conscious action against violence, becoming "part of her legacy." An online fundraiser to help her husband with funeral expenses quickly surpassed its goal, raising over $31,000. A larger celebration of her life was later held at the Waldorf school.
Despite the extensive community response and police investigation, no arrests have been made in connection with Cynthia Trevillon's murder. Area North detectives have investigated the case, but the individuals responsible for firing the fatal shots from the SUV have never been publicly identified. As of the latest reports, her homicide remains unsolved, a painful open wound for her family and the countless lives she touched. The case serves as a tragic reminder of how gun violence can indiscriminately claim innocent victims, leaving a void in a community that continues to mourn a beloved educator and friend.
