May 8, 2009 – Long-time Marina City resident and former condo association board member Jim Panebianco has died.

According to Marina Towers Condominium Association, Panebianco died early this week of pneumonia at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Panebianco was 63 years old. He was the owner of Panebianco Design, a graphic design firm located in the Unitrin Building. His clients included City of Chicago, Leo Burnett, McDonalds, Sears, and United Airlines.

(Left) James F. Panebianco in 2007 photo by Bobbie Burgess for Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Age age 8, he was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, an inherited disease that causes weakness of voluntary muscles in the arms and legs.

Panebianco graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in graphic design. He worked for six years as an art director for an ad agency. After being laid off and running into discrimination while looking for a new job, he started his own firm in the late 1970s.

A resident of Marina City since 1986, Panebianco owned two studio units and two one-bedroom units, all on the 30th floor of the east tower. He was on the MTCA board of directors from 1992 to 2001.

According to an obituary in the Chicago Tribune, Panebianco had one sister, Carol Ann, who is deceased. His funeral is scheduled for Monday at 8:45 a.m. at Belmont Funeral Home.