Mike DeBartolo

Mike has lived with Parkinson’s for fifteen years; the first six years, frustratingly undiagnosed. Since diagnosis, Mike sees his Parkinson’s as opportunity to inspire and engage our Parkinson’s community. 

In partnership with Team Fox and his local Winnetka Park District, Mike and family host an annual “Play for Parkinson’s” event raising community awareness and $850,000 in gifts over the past seven years for Parkinson’s research and programs. The Illinois Association of Park Districts selected us 2025 Volunteers of the Year for the good we do in our community.  

Three years ago, in partnership with Northwestern Medicine, Mike and NM Parkinson’s team leader Linda Egan, co-founded Parkinson’s Players.  The program provides weekly play-based instructional activities – ping pong, golf and tennis – at four Chicago area locations free of charge for the over 200 registered players with Parkinson’s. The program keeps us active in play and fosters friendship.  

Beginning last year, in partnership with the Winnetka Public Library, Mike organizes monthly “Parkinson’s in Conversation” get togethers.  Participants informally share their experiences living with Parkinson’s to learn from and encourage one another. And recently, Mike and webmaster friend Caryn, whose brother lives with Parkinson’s, launched the website, “Touched by Parkinson’s,” to inspire our Parkinson’s community and those who love us.

Professionally, Mike had leadership roles with some of America’s largest magazines during their peak years; notably, TV Guide, Reader’s Digest, Glamour (Condé Nast) and Parade as Executive Vice President when Parade was America’s most circulated and read magazine. During Mike’s seven-year tenure there, Parade recorded an industry leading $1.4 Billion in advertising revenue.   

Mike keeps fit through exercise, adapting to play activities he enjoys, and doing marathons with family and friends representing Team Fox. Mike has finished fourteen marathons across the USA over the last seven years plus a Half Iron Man and overnite relay trail run with an all-Parkinson’s team in the swamps of central Florida for good measure. Mike is grateful his three children – Anna, Joe and Peter – join him in enjoying marathons as have niece Lauren, nephews Robert and Tommy, neighbors David and Ryan, and dear friends John, Scott, Bill and Mark. Our marathon stories are here.

Mike encourages the newly diagnosed to lean into sources of strength, be treated by a movement disorder specialist and exercise regularly.  Mike is grateful for faith in God, loving family and caring friends. He looks forward to continued advocacy through good works advanced by The Michael J. Fox Foundation's Patient Council.