North Shore Neighbors: Jerry Kohl

Welcome to WTIP’s new series called North Shore Neighbors. We’re producing short profiles of people who live in Cook County to learn a little more about their background and maybe learn something surprising about them along the way.

Our first profile is Jerry Kohl, who many folks know as the friendly guy behind the counter at the Grand Marais Circle K and as a vocal cheerleader at Cook County High School sporting events. But did you know about his graduate degree in philosophy, his career as an investment banker, or his huge hat collection?

If you have a suggestion for a North Shore Neighbors profile, email chuck@wtip.org.

Don’t miss the North Shore Neighbors video here. Keep up with WTIP on our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Chuck Olsen January 15, 2026