Pontarelli, Thomas D.

Thomas D. Pontarelli age 93, born Chicago, Illinois, resident of Glenview, Illinois since 1954. Loving husband to the late Gerry Pontarelli (nee Harte) for 60 years. Dedicated father of seven children Tom (Hilary), Eileen (Lynn) Wodder, Larry, Patrick (Ann), the late Dan (Alison), Tim (previously Becky) and Mary Beth (Jim) Krautsack. Beloved grandfather of 17, Mandy (Jon) Chiarieri, Tyler (Lizzy), Noelle Pontarelli, Lindsay (Michael) Ferber, Alison (Dean) Lakoff, Kate (Conor) Filter, Zach, Aidan, Will, Paige, Matt, Jack, Anna and Charlie Pontarelli, Lexi, Kendall and Delaney Krautsack. Adored great-grandfather of 10, Madaket, Bella and Keenan Chiarieri, Tatum and Sal Pontarelli, Emerson and Knox Ferber, Loa and Auggie Lakoff and Griffin Filter. Tom was born and raised on Chicago’s Northwest side. He graduated from Steinmetz High School in 1946 where he was an All-State baseball player. He attended Wright College and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and assigned to their farm team in Clinton, Iowa. Tom met his high school sweetheart Gerry Harte at 17, after a 3-year courtship she accepted his proposal of marriage. They were wed in 1949 at age 20 and 21. Their loving marriage lasted 60 years. Tom’s business career began at the age of 20 when he cofounded the Chicago School of Tailoring. He later began and owned a men’s clothing store called The House of Casuals, with both Northside and Loop locations. He then went into the life insurance business representing many companies as a broker specializing in estate, pension and business planning. He became a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table, President of the Lake County Life Underwriters Association and delegate to the Illinois Life Insurance Association. He stayed in the life insurance business until 2014, age 84. Tom’s philanthropic and community work began when he co-founded and was president of the Men’s Club at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glenview. The Men’s Club honored Tom with its prestigious Mario Zanoni award in 1979. Tom went on to become a board member at Loyola Academy in Wilmette and was twice chairman of the school’s major fundraiser, The Ramble. In addition, Tom was a member and president of the board at Regina Dominican High School, also in Wilmette. Tom was an avid baseball and hockey coach, instructing and motivating hundreds of kids in Glenview during his 18 year coaching career. Details of services for Tom have yet to be determined. Please see Tom’s posting at www.donnellanfuneral.com for dates and times as they become available. In lieu of flowers please contribute to Sister Paulanne’s Needy Family Fund, information is on the Donnellan website.

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