IL SR0644

James "Jim" L. Dooley of River Forest passed away on August 8, 2025, at age 76, and the Illinois Senate extends condolences to his family and friends.

Dooley co-founded The Dooley Brothers musical group with his brothers in 1966, performing thousands of shows over six decades as a Chicago-area institution.

The band performed at numerous Chicago-area venues including the Irish American Heritage Center since 1985, and marked their 40th consecutive St. Patrick's Day performance in Berwyn in 2025.

Dooley was a multi-talented musician, vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, poet, artist, and nature photographer who recorded several albums including "A Place in My Heart" (1983) and a forthcoming posthumous release.

He is survived by his wife Anna, daughter Claire, brothers Mike, Dennis, and Tom, and extended family members.