# Bill 'Captain Fun' Linden Dies at 79

> Former Sun-Times designer Bill Linden, known as 'Captain Fun', died at 79 after a life of playful creativity.
- Title: Bill 'Captain Fun' Linden Dies at 79 · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: Former Sun-Times designer Bill Linden, known as 'Captain Fun', died at 79 after a life of playful creativity. Bill Linden, a former Chicago Sun-Times page…
- Keywords: bill linden, captain fun, sun-times, chicago, obituary, graphic designer, fun activities, rhythmic dancing, bean-a-palooza, news, local, Bill
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2026/09/23/bill-captain-fun-linden-former-sun-times-page-designer-dies-at-79
- Published: 2026-09-23T20:12:50.41+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bill linden, captain fun, sun-times, chicago, obituary, graphic designer, fun activities, rhythmic dancing, bean-a-palooza, news, local
## Bill 'Captain Fun' Linden
Bill Linden, a former Chicago Sun-Times page designer, died at 79.
## Creative Playful Spirit
Linden loved making people smile with clown noses, pirate eye patches, and silly hats.
## Sun-Times Designer
He worked for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1969 to 1996 doing graphic design and page layout.
## Riccardo's Social Hub
Linden frequented Riccardo's, a now-closed bar at Rush and Hubbard streets, where he played games and sang.
## Spoons Challenge
He tried to hang 13 spoons on his face, his personal best, at Riccardo's.
## Tap Dancing Game
Linden collected loose change from patrons to tap dance and tip his bartender.
## Unsanctioned Ride
He once took a Sun-Times delivery truck for a brief joy ride.
## Comic Strip Creator
Linden wrote for Jeff MacNelly’s 'Shoe' comic strip, featuring newsmen as birds.
## Disco Guide
He created a 1978 guide to disco dancing with step-by-step photos.
## Photo Enthusiast
Linden took photos of city scenes and helped tourists with pictures.
## Banana Headdress
He encouraged people to wear Chiquita banana headdresses for photos.
## Bean-A-Palooza
Linden organized annual 'Bean-A-Palooza' gatherings at Millennium Park.
## Family Legacy
He taught his nieces and nephews to appreciate Tim Burton movies and light matches.
## Death and Legacy
Linden died Sept. 15, 2026, at 79 from natural causes, leaving a legacy of joy.
## Key takeaway

Bill Linden, a former Chicago Sun-Times page designer who died at 79, was celebrated for his humor and creative spirit.