(JTA) — Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz, the lead Chabad emissary to Illinois, died suddenly at age 59.

Moscowitz was in a Chicago hospital for a routine surgical procedure on Tuesday when he suddenly died, according to news reports.

Born on the north side of Chicago, Moscowitz has led Chabad of Illinois since 1977, according to CrownHeights.info. He expanded the Hasidic outreach movement’s reach in the state, helping open Chabad centers in more than 20 Illinois cities.

Moscowitz is survived by his wife, Esther Rochel Moscowitz, and nine children, as well as three brothers and his parents.

The funeral was slated to take place in Chicago on Wednesday morning.

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