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In memory of

Thomas L. McDonald

Elk Grove Village, IL, USA

April 21, 1943 - February 7, 2021

Apr 21, 1943 - Feb 7, 2021

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Thomas L. McDonald was a fiercely loyal husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend who passed away peacefully, with his wife and children at his side, on February 7, 2021. He was 77.

The youngest of three children of the late Julia Kruzsets McDonald and Thomas F. McDonald, Tom grew up in Chicago's Old Town, attending St. Michael Elementary and Central High School (Class of '61), playing baseball under the "L" tracks along North Avenue, fishing at the Lincoln Park lagoon, and drag racing where he wasn't supposed to. His auto mechanic skills were better than those of most professionals—he swapped engines in and out of cars the way kids today change shoes.

His big heart, the strong moral compass he gained from his grandmother Bertha Retzler’s faith, and his time at St. Mike's, provided his entire family guideposts on how to live, love, forgive and strive to be a better person each day.

Although they grew up just blocks from each other on Cleveland Avenue, Tom did not meet his wife, Rosemary Shepherd McDonald, until 1962. They married a few years after when she was just 18 and he only 21. It was a marriage that got stronger as time went on, and the family grew. The love they shared in their later years is one we should all hope to have.

A fierce provider for Rosemary and their two children, Carrie and Tommy, "Big Tom" was an extremely strong man, working for over 40 years at Hanna Cylinders, not far from where he grew up. In the physically tasking job as an assembly worker, he would leave for the plant every weekday morning well before sunrise from the family home on Chicago's far Northwest Side, and he chose to work overtime nearly every Saturday. Yet Tom still found plenty of time for the family, helping the kids with their homework, taking care of their cars, captaining trips to the beach, and ensuring regularly scheduled family time by taking them all to one of their favorite family restaurants on weekends.

Tom busted his butt every day to ensure his family never wanted for anything. He succeeded.

Tom's second act as a grandfather will be the stuff of legends. Carrie's children, Jacki and Gino, had a second home at Nani and Papa's house, with endless adventures and countless sleepovers, plus personal cheering sections at home and away ball games. Tommy's daughter, Molly, came along right around the time Tom retired, bringing intense joy to his face with every visit, dance concert, and fishing trip. Tom became a great-grandfather in late 2019 when Jacki and her husband, Mike Bucci, welcomed Vincent Thomas into the world. There are no words to describe what Vinnie meant to Tom in the last months of his life. It was magical, and undoubtedly gave Papa the strength to fight off cancer long enough to be here through Christmas and his 56th wedding anniversary to Rosemary.

My dad was a mountain of a man to everyone who knew him. He will be greatly missed by his entire family, including his devoted sister Pat and her family (Frank, Scott and Kelley), his late sister Shirley's family (Marty and Sherri), and his friends of 60+ years, Al, John, Jim, Jerry, Harry, and Bob.

Someday soon, we will gather at St. Michael's Church to celebrate his wonderful life and the love and care he gave us all.

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