Chicago officials rename street to honor George Wendt

CHICAGO (NBC, KYMA) - Chicago officials honored the late George Wendt Sunday by designating the street where he grew up in the city as "The Honorary George Wendt Way."

"We love this community, absolutely love it. Couldn't be happier," said Marti Wendt Doherty, Wendt's sister.

Lifelong friends, family members, schoolmates and neighbors reconvened on the block where Wendt's former home still stands. They were there to celebrate his life and legacy.

"He had great humility, but he deserved to be loved because he was a wonderful person. He was just like so generous and so kind and really so funny," said Bernadette Birkett, Wendt's wife.

Wendt died in May at the age of 76.

Wendt was best known for playing Norm Peterson on the hit comedy sitcom, "Cheers," which ran from 1982 to 1993, and he appeared in all 275 episodes.

He also starred on the famous Saturday Night Live skit where he played a Bears superfan, introducing the world to the iconic catchphrase, "Da Bears."