Friends take trip down memory lane in honor of former Winnetkans Jim Irsay, Warren Meyers

Approximately 30 longtime friends reunited in Winnetka on July 18 to celebrate the lives lived by two of their own.

Childhood friends and former Winnetkans Jim Irsay and Warren Meyers died this spring within two days of each other (Irsay on May 21; Meyers on May 19), providing the backdrop for the special gathering at the Winnetka Paddle Hut.

Jeff Kopp, Andy Aldrich and Rick McNerney spearheaded the reunion, which consisted mostly of graduates of New Trier East’s class of 1977, Kopp said; though, Irsay was a Loyola Academy alumnus.

“It was a lot of memories, some great stories, some tears, and it was really special and an amazing come-together,” Kopp said.

Irsay, Meyers, Kopp and company forged a lifelong bond as Winnetka teenagers. In those years, Irsay’s family home on Sheridan Road was the place to be, Kopp said, especially late into the night.

The friend group — after sneaking in through a bathroom window — spent plenty of memorable hours enjoying their youth in that home, an experience they have long referred to as “late night action.”

And so, on July 18, prior to the paddle hut celebration of life, a number of them stopped by the house for a photo to commemorate the good times, complete with signs — including LNA (late night action) — in tribute to Irsay.

Warren ‘Waro’ ‘Renny’ Meyers

Warren Jackson Meyers Jr., 65, died on May 19 in Aurora, Colorado. An interment ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sept. 1 at Winnetka Congregational Church, 725 Pine St.

According to his online obituary, Meyers was born in Evanston before attending Winnetka Public Schools and New Trier East High School, where he played hockey and golf.

His obituary refers to him as a “cockeyed optimist” with “charm and enthusiasm.”

Kopp said he, Meyers and others took a two-week trip to Colorado in the summer of 1976, creating forever memories along the way.

Jim ‘Jimmy’ Irsay

James Stephen Irsay was 65 years old when he died on May 21 in Indianapolis.

He was born in 1959 in Lincolnwood, grew up in Winnetka and attended Loyola Academy, from which he graduated in 1977.

Irsay went on to Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas. After, he quickly got involved in the family business, the then-Baltimore Colts, an NFL franchise his father, Robert Irsay, acquired in 1972 and moved to Indianapolis in 1984.

That year, Irsay became the club’s general manager at age 24. Thirteen years later, following his father’s death, Irsay became the youngest NFL franchise owner at 37.

Irsay became involved in several philanthropic projects, providing generous support to the Irsay Family YMCA, Indianapolis Zoo, Riley Hospital for Children, Wheeler Mission Center for Women and Children, and others.

With his family, in 2020, he launched Kicking the Stigma, an initiative that has contributed millions of dollars toward mental-health awareness, research and support.

Kopp said he remained friends with Irsay, and when he found out of Irsay’s passing, Kopp had with him a guitar that was a gift from Irsay.

“He’s going to be sorely missed,” Kopp said of Irsay. “Jimmy was an amazing guy. He paid forward so much stuff. … Stories about his generosity will continue to come out.”

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