Former Secret Service officer drove popemobile in 1987
Joseph Chiodo spent about 20 years as a special officer with the U.S. Secret Service in both Washington and Chicago, helping to protect presidents, visiting foreign leaders and, on one occasion, a future saint.
That was in 1987, when Chiodo drove the popemobile during Pope John Paul II’s visit to Detroit.
“That assignment was a highlight for sure,” said his son, Theodore. “Here is a Catholic-born son of immigrants from the West Side of Chicago driving the popemobile around the streets of Detroit.”
Chiodo was also a Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient, who dedicated much of his time in retirement to helping veterans. He was commander of American Legion Post 250 in Hinsdale from 2012 to 2017.
Chiodo, a nonsmoker, was 74 when he died Nov. 29 in Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital of complications from lung cancer, according to his son, a former deputy staff secretary for President Barack Obama. Chiodo had lived for about 20 years in Downers Grove after many years in Clarendon Hills.
Chiodo was born in Chicago in 1945. His father — who was an immigrant from Sicily, as was Chiodo’s mother — died when he was 10 years old. While helping to care for his mother and siblings, Chiodo got into Fenwick Catholic high school in Oak Park, graduating in 1962.
Chiodo volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966 and took courses at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in California to become a Vietnamese interpreter. Chiodo was an infantry rifleman assigned to the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.
His wartime service ended when Chiodo triggered an anti-personnel mine with his foot while on patrol with a unit of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, his son said. The explosion threw him into the air. He was seriously wounded and was later awarded the Purple Heart.
According to his family, Chiodo was fond of saying, “Every day of my life after Vietnam is a gift.”
After leaving the Marines, Chiodo coached football at St. Vincent Ferrer School in River Forest, then joined the Great Lakes Police Department. His son said he later became a Customs and Border Patrol agent and transferred from there to the Secret Service in the early 1980s.
He trained on the East Coast, but soon moved to the Chicago field office and spent most of his time there until retiring in 2001.
Tim McCarthy, now chief of police in Orland Park, worked with Chiodo as special agent in charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Secret Service before retiring in 1993.
“He was highly trained, highly disciplined and did an outstanding job,” McCarthy said.
As a special officer, Chiodo drove follow cars and armored limos carrying people being protected and helped maintain armored vehicles and equipment for the office. McCarthy said.
McCarthy, best known as the Secret Service agent shot while shielding President Ronald Reagan during a 1981 assassination attempt, said Chiodo gave him a refurbished antique fishing reel when he retired, a reel he keeps in a display case in his home.
In retirement, Chiodo focused his energies and his leadership skills on helping veterans.
“He was all in it for the veterans,” said Tom Lynch, who served as adjutant during the five years Chiodo was post commander of Hinsdale American Legion Post 250.
“He went and solicited packages at Christmastime,” Lynch said. “Then we’d go to Hines (VA Hospital) and distribute care packages (to hospitalized veterans).”
Chiodo often visited veterans at Hines on his own and was also active helping families of hospitalized veterans, many staying in the Hines VA Fisher House. Fisher Houses provide a home away from home for families and caregivers of veterans and active-duty service members receiving treatment at major military and VA medical facilities.
“Joe was a special person and wonderful supporter of Hines Fisher House for many years,” said Holly Wright, manager of the Hines Fisher House. “He always wanted to make sure that our veterans and their families had everything they would need during their stay. He was a huge advocate of our program and often promoted Fisher House throughout the community.”
McCarthy said he recently attended the annual Secret Service Christmas party.
“There was a huge hole in the room,” McCarthy said, “because everyone loved Joe. He was a guy that got things done.”
In addition to his son, Chiodo is survived by his wife, Kathy; and his daughter, Caroline.
Services were held.