Obituary
Darren Lamont Mason – also known as D-Mase, Preacher, Babe, Cuz, Pledge Club Jesus, and many other names – was born on October 20, 1963, in Chicago, IL, to Albert Mason Jr. and Barbara Jean (Pass) Mason. He grew up in the Woodlawn neighborhood, a place that he often referred to as just 66th Street. Darren’s mother passed away when he was 3 years old, and his many aunts, uncles, and cousins surrounded him and his sister Janet with loving support. Aunts Joanne and Alice held a special place in his heart. In the summers, Darren and Janet went south to Tennessee where big cousin Terry and many other family members nurtured them.
The 66th Street neighborhood was rough and tumble, and also filled with love. Darren attended Holy Cross grammar school, where he played tackle football on the concrete playground, and wooed all the girls. When they weren’t on 66th Street, Darren and Janet were at their dad’s dry cleaners on 87th street, sleeping on a palette amongst the clothes over the weekend while their father worked late.
Darren loved to tell stories about the things he shouldn’t have gotten into, like jumping off the roof of their apartment building, and joining in neighborhood scuffles. His extended family was always there to protect him, and he always had their backs too. “D-d-d-don’t forget to beat ’im up!” was one of his famous instructions, delivered with his trademark childhood stutter.
Darren went on to Hales Franciscan High School, where he distinguished himself as a diligent student and a scrappy basketball player. Known for his intensity on defense, he once guarded future NBA All-Star Isaiah Thomas. Darren successfully walked the line between being smart and cool, good and sneaky. From an early age, Darren was committed to making (and saving) money. He worked throughout high school; his favorite job was being a unionized cashier at Vito’s grocery store. He graduated from Hales in 1981.
Bradley University was Darren’s next stop. Initially planning to major in Engineering, Darren eventually found his niche in Computer Science—an exceptionally marketable field in the early 1980s. While Darren was a conscientious student and budding professional, his college years were defined by his bond with “Da Bruhs” of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Darren pledged the Xi Epsilon Chapter in Fall 1982 and served as president and anchor of his line: the Thunderous Dog Pack 11 Strong. Bradley’s chapter is known as Hard Stompin’ Xi E, and Darren was one of the hardest of them all. Known for his lifelong commitment to fitness, hopping was another way to show just how high he could get his knees, how tight he could get his spins, how loud he could bark, how good his cardio was, and how many pieces of clothes he could take off in the process. Darren was always loyal to the frat, even if he was also independent and contrarian. He gave generously to bruhs in need, and to the Omega Psi Phi scholarship fund at Bradley.
Darren’s career was as dynamic as he was. A computer programmer, consultant, personal trainer, Beachbody rep, commodities trader, marketing rep, and salesman of many things—Darren did it all. His curiosity and willingness to take risks made him a serial entrepreneur—founding ventures like Future Tense, Physical Finesse, and Patient Capital Group. He was also a consummate investor, always ready with tips and new ideas—Bitcoin, anyone?
Darren was both a rooted Chicagoan and a free-spirited nomad. His commitment to becoming fluent in Spanish took him to Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Panama, and Chile, where he charmed new friends with his determination to speak Spanish no matter what actually came out of his mouth. In Cartagena, he was like the unofficial mayor, known and loved by so many.
Darren was generous beyond measure with advice and treasure. He showed love for young people by supporting everything college related. He encouraged and invested in friends and family with promising business ideas. And he cheered on everyone in their efforts to get right again after life’s challenges. He made people believe they could do things they never thought they could do.
Darren was lucky to experience profound love twice in his life. He married Cristel Turner in 1994, and though the marriage ended, their beautiful friendship remained strong. Darren cherished his bond with Cristel's mom (Mrs. Turner), her daughter Blaire, her sister Jennifer, and the extended Turner family. In January 2004, Darren met Mary Pattillo, and they built a life together filled with shared passions for health, fitness, travel, afternoon walks and talks, and each other. Through Mary, Darren gained another loving family of sisters and brothers, a niece and nephews, Ms. P., and especially his Miami roomie Sheri.
Darren’s outgoing nature meant he never met a stranger. He couldn’t step into an elevator without striking up a conversation or end an Uber ride without knowing the driver’s life story. He frequently asked his doctors how they were doing at the end of his appointments. He also had a way with words, often dropping gems like “They talked about Jesus Christ” to brush off gossip, “What people don’t understand” to explain his point of view, or “Focus on Why” to help others block out distractions. There was, of course, his self-hyping moniker—The Clo$er. Towards the end, his mantra and message was simple: “Keep it Light.”
Darren made his transition on March 5, 2025, after a battle with an aggressive cancer—a fight he kept private from everyone but his partner, Mary, because he didn’t want anyone to worry and he wanted to focus on life. Darren was the product of his family, schooling, neighborhood, relationships, and countless jobs—but above all, he was his own man, with the six-pack abs of a 20-year-old, an independent mind, and a spirit that was relentlessly positive, incredibly outgoing, and unapologetically loud and talkative. He faced his illness with the same strength and fearlessness that defined his life. Though his book closed much too soon, the chapters he wrote were filled with passion, generosity, and an unyielding zest for life—leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and lessons for all who knew him.
Darren was preceded in death by his mother Barbara Jean Pass and stepmother Rosa Mason. He is survived by his life partner, Mary, his loving father, Albert Mason Jr., his sister Janet Mason, his aunt Alice Beard, his beloved big cousin Deborah Lewis, and countless nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, cousins, the Brothers of Omega Psi Phi, and so many friends whose lives he deeply touched.
Travel well, Darren.
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Memories
I am deeply sorry to hear about the loss of Darren. It is a profound and difficult time for you all, and I want you to know that my thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with you during this challenging period.
Darren was an amazing individual, full of joy and character. Even though our interactions were somewhat limited to the time we spent on the renovation of your home, every moment was well spent and enjoyable. His positivity and enthusiasm made the project not only smoother but also a pleasure to work on.
The R&M Team extends our blessings to you and your family. We are here for you in any way we can be, and we hope that the memories of Darren will bring you comfort and strength during this time.
Please accept our deepest condolences and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
My condolences to Mary, family/relatives, and friends. He will be missed!
You have always felt to me like the perfect balance of an ‘old soul’, a sage, a wisdom teacher with a magical youthful hunger for life, experience & learning. A beginners mind, curious, excited to learn, all with a deep knowing. I think you saw every interaction as a portal to greater connection to another & hence greater connection to yourself.
Your physical body a walking testimony to your discipline & dedication to you & how freely you’d share your wisdom, experience with others. You are truly a beautiful man inside & out. You are deeply missed brother & your lessons continue… life is short, unpredictable, live it to the full. You did!
My heart goes out especially to you Mary & Darren’s family in this moment of loss. Deep Gratitude. 🙏🏻 Tim.
Life took us in different directions, but a few years later, I reconnected with him and his partner when they stopped by my open house. It was like no time had passed. Just recently, Steven mentioned that he had been talking to Darren about getting together again. We always think we have more time, but sometimes life gets away from us, and we don’t get that chance.
Darren was a kind, funny, and genuine person who made an impact on everyone lucky enough to know him. I’ll always be grateful for those moments we shared, and I’ll carry his laughter and spirit with me. Rest easy, my friend.
I knew you as a trader, trainer, brainiac, mentor, smart a$$, friend & big bro- I will miss our 3 hours conversations and you like crazy.
For his family I grieve for you. He is someone I am forever grateful
Having someone who believed in me, who I could look up to, meant everything. He was the closest I’ve ever felt to success and aspiration, and the drive he instilled in me is something I will never take for granted. I’ll carry his lessons, his belief in me, and his legacy forward. Rest easy, Uncle Darren. Thank you for everything.
Beyond that, Darren was an invaluable resource when it came to derivatives trading, particularly in the evolving world of crypto. His deep knowledge, willingness to share insights, and passion for the industry made him someone I greatly respected and appreciated.
He will be deeply missed, but his impact and the wisdom he shared will continue to resonate with all of us who had the privilege of knowing him. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
Rest in peace, Darren.
Celebration of Life
We’ll have food, drinks, music, and plenty of time to celebrate Darren’s spirit. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please post a story, memory and/or photo above; and/or contribute to a cause that was close to his heart: the Omega Psi Phi Student Scholarship at Bradley University. Information on how to make a donation is below.
We hope to see you at the PARTY!
Donate
To donate, please visit: https://bit.ly/DarrenMasonMemorial. When making your donation, select Omega Psi Phi Scholarship in the Designation field. Additionally, please type Darren Mason (Class of 1985) in the In Memory of field.
Thank you for helping us honor Darren's legacy in such a meaningful way.
