Cheryle Nancy Yallen, of Chicago, died October 25, 2026 at age 74.

Born in November 28, 1951 to Betty and Stanley Yallen, Cheryle spent her childhood in the Boston area, moving to Chicago after college. She received her BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her MA in Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Cheryle devoted more than three decades of her professional life to not for profit sector. A President of CNY Enterprises, consulting practice through which she provided volunteer training and management, strategic planning, board development, fundraising and marketing services locally, nationally and internationally.

She has served as Executive Director of Special Kids Foundation for nearly 30 years, as well as Executive Director of the One in One Hundred Camp, both of which focus on services for children with developmental disabilities. In her early professional career, she provided training and consultation to the Association of Volunteer Administrators both locally and nationally.

In her personal life, Cheryle enjoyed neighbors and neighborhood gatherings and an array of diverse friends. Her celebrations of the Jewish holidays were favorites of all.

Cheryle is survived by her brother Michael Yallen and his wife Meghan, her sister Debbie McCann, her niece Stephanie Drum and husband Michael and their two sons Matthew and Jacob, her niece Shannon Schomburg and husband Fred and their son Freddy JR.

Cheryle was cremated, and per her wishes, no services are planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Special Kids Foundation online at https://specialkidsfoundation.org