Heidi Stevens: ‘He was such a sweet soul.’ A community grieves the loss of their neighbor Pete, who lived quietly in a big orange tent

For a few years, it’s hard to say how many exactly, a man named Pete lived in a tent near the ramp connecting Addison Street to Interstate 90 in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood. He had a kind heart and a wry sense of humor. (He placed a FOR RENT sign outside his tent.) He was quick to lend a hand, and he made friends easily. He was known, in part, for carrying around a stuffed Alf—furry star of the briefly, wildly popular ’80s sitcom. His friends found a second stuffed Alf when they were cleaning out Pete’s tent recently, in addition to the Alf he kept in his backpack. His friends were clea…