Sheldon Patinkin, a landmark figure of Chicago’s theater scene and one of those who fashioned it into a national force, died of a heart attack in September. He was 79.

Patinkin-a cousin of actor Mandy Patinkin-served as chair of the theater department of Columbia College for nearly 30 years. He also was artistic director of the Getz Theater of Columbia College, co-director of the Steppenwolf Theatre Summer Ensemble Workshops, and artistic consultant at both Steppenwolf Theatre and The Second City.

Patinkin had been a director and cast member of Second City-both in Chicago in and Toronto, where he worked behind the scenes on SCTV. In fact, an early theater troupe he founded at The University of Chicago in the 1950s is considered a precursor to Second City itself. He even wrote the book on Second City, literally- it’s titled Second City: Backstage at the World’s Greatest Comedy Theater– and also a history of the American musical.

Over the decades, Patinkin directed such classics as The Glass Menagerie, Uncle Vanya, Long Day’s Journey into Night and Death of a Salesman, as well as the musical South Pacific and opera scenes for the Lyric Opera at the Grant Park and Ravinia. He provided additional dialogue for an adaptation of an IB Singer novel and even translated a Brecht play. At the time of his death, he was directing Sondheim’s Into the Woods.

Patinkin received two Joseph Jefferson Awards, popularly known as “Jeff Awards”-one for directing the Irving Berlin revue Puttin’ on the Ritz and a special one for his overall contribution to Chicago theater. He also received the Illinois Association’s 1992 Outstanding Contribution Award.

Sheldon Patinkin was the devoted brother of Ida (the late Rabbi Daniel) Goldberger and Norman (Jacqueline) Patinkin, the cherished uncle of Lynn, Karen (Peter Landon) and Phillip (Suzanne) Patinkin, Debbie (David) Beren, Rabbi Menachem (Bracha), and the late David (Helle) and Joel (Marsha) Goldberger, and a great-uncle to many.

Services were held at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home in Arlington Heights, with interment at Shalom Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Sheldon Patinkin Scholarship Fund at Columbia College Chicago.