Anthony J. DeVito, realtor and former business owner, dies at age 47 

By Mark J. Valentino 

Anthony J. DeVito, a life-long resident of the Near West Side community, died on Dec. 24, 2006, after a three-month battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

  Mr. DeVito was active in the Near West Side community as a real estate agent for more than 20 years, primarily with New West Realty, Inc. Known for his generosity, Mr. DeVito supported several local churches and charitable organizations.

  He also was involved for many years with his family-owned business, J. Falbo Cheese Store, which was located at 1335 W. Taylor St. The Italian deli and specialty goods store was established on Taylor Street in the early 1930s and was well-known for its homemade cheeses, Italian sausage, and pastas. Mr. DeVito began working at the store as a young boy and helped out his uncle, Thomas “Tommy” Falbo, who operated the store until his death in 1981. Among those also involved in the store’s operations over the years were Mr. DeVito’s parents, Joseph and Anne, his sisters, Grace and Rosemary, and long-time friend and neighbor, the late Lucille “LuLu” Frulla.

  Upon his uncle’s death, Mr. DeVito took over ownership of J. Falbo Cheese Store at age 22 and kept it in the family for most of the next 20 years. The store was sold in the mid-1990s for a short while until Mr. DeVito reacquired it. Shortly after his mother’s passing in 2001, Mr. DeVito closed the doors to J. Falbo Cheese Store for the last time.

  Mr. DeVito had a prolific interest in music and photography. He learned to play the drums as a youngster and dabbled with local bands. His style of play was greatly influenced by legendary Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr. In his teenage years, Mr. DeVito set-up a darkroom in the basement of his family’s home on south Bishop Street and excelled in black and white photography. From time to time, his photos ran in the Near West Gazette—the precursor to the Gazette newspaper of today.

  In later years, Mr. DeVito took up golf and enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas and to southeastern Michigan where he had a second home in New Buffalo.

  Mr. DeVito graduated from Our Lady of Pompeii elementary school and later attended St. Ignatius College Prep before graduating in 1977 from Gordon Technical High School on the North Side of Chicago. He went on to pursue an associate degree in business from Triton Junior College.

 "Anthony was very family oriented and enjoyed most of all having his family and friends over at the house,” recalled his sister, Grace. “He was godfather to more than ten children and looked after them as though they were his own.”

 Five years ago, Mr. DeVito purchased the rowhouse next to where his sister, Grace, lived and, as part of the remodeling project, connected the two homes together so that family and friends could enjoy one another’s company in a larger setting.

 In the mid-1970s and throughout the 1980s, the DeVito home on Bishop Street often was filled with Anthony’s friends.

 “It was a great time growing up in the Taylor Street community and although we didn’t have many places to gather socially, we enjoyed one another’s friendship, and Anthony was the glue that brought us all together and kept us together throughout the years,” said long-time friend and Near West Side resident Joe Sisco. “There were countless nights both winter and summer when Anthony and his family extended their warmth and hospitality by opening the doors of their home to us.”

 “Anthony had a great heart and a wonderful sense of humor,” added another life-long friend, Anthony Saviano. “He was one of the most generous people I’ve ever known and whether it was at Falbo’s Cheese Store or at his home, he enjoyed nothing more than having the company of family and friends with him all the time and enjoying a good meal together or a cup of coffee.

  “Anthony loved sports and would often sponsor our local hockey, baseball, and football teams at Sheridan Park and other locations. He even served as assistant coach helping Joe Sisco when our teams won two Niles Park District floor hockey championships in the early 1980s,” said Saviano.

 Peter Barbato was a friend of Mr. DeVito’s for more than 25 years and often was amazed by the many facets of his life. He described Mr. DeVito as a “self-made man.”

  “Even though Anthony had the family business growing up he made a success of himself in other ways in the business world and really found his niche in real estate,” Barbato explained. “He was always seeking out new things and when he had an interest in something—whether it was music, computers, electronics, appliances—he would do his research and could tell you anything about a given product.

  “In many ways, Anthony also lived the life of a celebrity and was a ‘Sinatra-type guy’ who was a great storyteller and loved the cabaret lifestyle. He seemed to know everyone no matter where he went in Chicago and in places like Las Vegas and in Mexico, and when he walked into a room he lit the place up. In his later years, Anthony settled down more and loved nothing better than staying at home and watching old black-and-white movies.”

 Barbato recalled Mr. DeVito’s love of nostalgia, especially the era of 1950s Americana. “In a touching way, Anthony was the kid that never grew up and he loved to collect toys, music, movies, and other things that represented that era,” Barbato said. “But above all else, Anthony loved his family and his friends and God was a very important part of his life.”

  “Anthony did find a great home in real estate, and for a couple of reasons,” said Ted Mazola, co-owner of New West Realty Inc. “One, he loved numbers and two, he enjoyed working with people. In real estate he got to do both. Anthony approached the real estate process as a way to help people solve either an investment problem or a housing problem. He really enjoyed that—he enjoyed being around people and helping them find a place to live. Anthony also was a joy to work with and he always made people laugh. He had that crusty facade, but deep down he loved people and he found so many ways to help them.”

 Barbato, Mazola, Saviano, and Sisco agreed that all were going to miss him very much.

 Mr. DeVito fought bravely during the fall of 2006 against the cancer that would ultimately take his life and wanted more than anything to be home for Christmas. It was said by friends that he loved Christmas so much that he celebrated it in his heart 365 days a year.

 After several extended stays at Northwestern Memorial Hospital beginning in August 2006, Mr. DeVito went home to celebrate Christmas on Dec. 21. Later that same evening, however, he experienced difficulty breathing and was taken to the University of Illinois Hospital. Although he was gravely ill, Mr. DeVito remained steadfast in his desire to be home for Christmas and with the compassionate support of the medical staff at the U of I, he was discharged into hospice care on Dec. 23.

 On Christmas Eve day, Mr. DeVito enjoyed the presence of his family and many friends at his home. He died later that evening at Rush University Medical Center.

“Anthony was so appreciative of the support that he received from his family and friends and was touched by all those that came to visit him at the hospital and at home those past few months,” said Grace DeVito.

 A Funeral Mass, attended by more than 300 family and friends of Mr. DeVito’s, was said at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii on Dec. 29. It was a poignant service with the Shrine decorated in Christmas splendor. During his homily, Rev. Richard Fragomeni, rector of the Shrine, spoke of Mr. DeVito’s generosity towards others and his passionate love for Christmas and all that it represented. Fr. Fragomeni tied together three important aspects of Christmas and how they were woven into Mr. DeVito’s life: faith, family, and friends.

 Mr. DeVito is survived by his sisters Grace DeVito and Rosemary (Lawrence “Lonnie”) Norman; niece Tonia Norman; and cousins and godchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Anne (nee Falbo) DeVito.

 Services were held at Salerno’s Galewood Chapel, Frank Reda & Son, Directors. Interment is at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside.

                Visit the Guest Book at the Chicago Sun-Times at www.suntimes.com.

 

 

Dr. Donald Rice, associate dean at UIC, dies at 81 

By William S. Bike 

Donald W. Rice, DDS, associate dean for student affairs from 1977 to 1999 at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry, passed away Jan. 9.

            In his time in charge of the Office of Student Affairs at the college, Dr. Rice met and advised more than 4,000 students and was known for remembering almost all of them by name.

            Donald W. Rice was born July 15, 1925, and grew up in Elgin, joining the Army Air Corps after high school graduation.

            He earned his DDS degree from the UIC College of Dentistry in 1959 and joined the faculty in 1960 as an instructor, and later assistant professor, in restorative dentistry. He served on the faculty of the University of Kentucky from 1966 to 1969.

In 1969, Dr. Rice returned to the faculty of the UIC College of Dentistry to teach four-handed dentistry to dental students and assistants; he also taught restorative dentistry, oral anatomy, and dental materials classes there until 1987. He was named associate dean for student affairs in 1977 and served in that position until his retirement in 1999.

Dr. Rice for many years was the faculty liaison to the UIC Dental Alumni Association Board of Directors and later served as a member of the board. He also was faculty secretary for the UIC College of Dentistry for many years. He received the UIC College of Dentistry’s E. Lloyd Du Brul Faculty Achievement Award in 1977, its Distinguished Dental Alumnus Award in 1987, and its Advisor of the Year Award in 1992.

 “Few individuals went above and beyond the call of duty to the extent that Dr. Rice did,” said Daniel Uditsky, DDS, a 1969 graduate of the UIC College of Dentistry and member of its Dental Alumni Association Board of Directors. “Whenever there was an event in which an alumni or faculty presence were needed, Don Rice could be counted on to be there.”

“He wanted to know how you were doing, not your grades,” recalled Matt Faith, DDS, a 1997 graduate of the college. “He’d build your confidence that you could get through dental school or get through a problem. The consideration he showed was real.”

“His warmth, wit, and wisdom helped innumerable students deal with special challenges in their lives,” said Dale R. Eisenmann, DDS, a 1965 graduate of the College and a former associate dean. “He handled a very delicate role with the utmost degree of professionalism and integrity.”

“Dr. Rice was very intelligent and so kind—always calm and collected in his soft-spoken, pleasing disposition,” said Tom Lakars, DDS, a fellow faculty member and a 1967 graduate of the college. “So very easily approachable, he would listen quietly and carefully before sharing his thoughts or recommendations—superb qualities that fitted him for his role as counselor to our college’s students and faculty. We lost a most gracious, kindly, and gentle friend.”

“Dr. Rice was a generous benefactor to the College,” said Dr. Bruce Graham, dean. “His donations of funds to the Rice Family Fund provided critical assistance to dental students in financial need.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rice Family Fund at the UIC College of Dentistry, 801 S. Paulina St., MC 621, Chicago, IL 60612. The fund provides low-interest loans to UIC dental students to help them meet tuition and living expenses during dental school. For more information, call (312) 996-8495.



Mary C. Saviano dies at age 94

Mary C. Saviano (nee Tellone), a long-time resident of the Near West Side community, died on Oct. 26, 2006. Mrs. Saviano resided in her later years at the Villa Scalabrini Center in Melrose Park, IL She was 94 years old.
Mrs. Saviano was the wife of the late Daniel; mother of Gerald (Ginny) and Lorraine (the late Clarence) Priebe; sister of John (Grace) Tellone and the late Angelo, Curley, Jerry and Augie Tellone and Josephine Trubery; grandmother of Danny (Pam), Vince (Liza) Saviano and Jeffrey Priebe; great-grandmother of Juliana and Carlina Saviano.

Services were held at Salerno’s Rosedale Chapels. A Funeral Mass was said at Holy Ghost Church. Interment is at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside.
 

 

 

 

We Remember Anthony DeVito 

Eulogy for Anthony DeVito by Mark J. Valentino

Friday, December 29, 2006

Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii  

As we gather this morning at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, decked out in all of its Christmas wonder, we do so with conflict in our hearts. 

On the one hand, we know it is our moral and faith-based obligation as a Christian community to come together to celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial for Anthony J. DeVito, our brother, uncle, and friend.  Yet, I know that I speak for each of us here present when I say:  “We aren’t supposed to be here.” 

For it’s Christmas-time.  And, we should be out celebrating Christ’s birth in the company and warmth of family and friends. 

No one would have understood that more than Anthony. 

Anthony lived for Christmas and I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that he lived Christmas in his heart 365 days a year. 

On behalf of Anthony’s sisters, Grace and Rosemary; brother-in-law Lonnie; and niece Tonia; I want to express their appreciation to all of you for being present here this morning.   

By now, all of us are keenly aware of all that Anthony went through over the past several months: The trips back-and-forth to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for tests and consultations and his extended stays as a patient there.  His brave fight to make it home for Christmas and an unexpected stay at the University of Illinois Hospital as well.

Through it all, so many of you showed your deep love and affection for Anthony by constantly being at his side.  You made daily and weekly visits to his home, called constantly to check in on him, and even slept at his bedside to offer some relief to Grace and Rosemary. 

More importantly, you let Anthony know how much you loved him and that he wasn’t alone in his battle against cancer.

In one display of true Christianity, several of you came together on that morning of Christmas Eve at his home, to help Anthony prepare for the company that was to visit him later that day—the day Anthony had been looking forward to for so long.  What transpired that morning was exactly what Jesus asked us to do when he knelt before his Disciples on the evening of the Last Supper and washed their feet.  It was one of those rare and special moments when our human world and the spiritual world come together as one.  

For all that you did, and for all that you continue to do, Grace and Rosemary want to express their heartfelt thanks and to also let you know how truly grateful and touched Anthony was by all that you did for him.

“We aren’t supposed to be here.”

And, in a very real way I know that I am NOT supposed to be here offering words that eulogize Anthony.

How do I know this?  Because he gave Gracie and Rosemary strict orders that I NOT do the very thing that I am doing now!

Why?  And, if so, then, why am I here?

I’ll give you one simple word that I know will shock you, knowing how well all of you knew Anthony. The word is:  HUMILITY.

Humility:  of which we also derive the word HUMBLE.

Can any of us here say truthfully that Anthony was Humble?

Well, no AND yes!

You see, Anthony didn’t want me, or anyone else to get up here and start saying warm and fuzzy things about him.  That wasn’t his nature and it certainly didn’t fit his personality. 

Anthony wasn’t a saint and he knew it.  So, he didn’t want any of us to paint him in that light.

Yet, Anthony was so good to so many that it would be a shame if we didn’t spend a moment or two recalling all that he meant to us.

So, at the risk of him letting me know at some later date that I went against his wishes (and believe me, I know how real that risk is), I’ll continue.

There are a million and one stories about Anthony that we can share this morning, and hopefully during the luncheon later today, some of you will do just that.  But, here in this sacred place, with the sights and sounds of Christmas all around us, let me share two brief stories with you:

The first one speaks of the side of Anthony many of us did not see, or if we did, it was only because we caught a passing glimpse of his enormous heart and the way he lived a Christian life.

One day, not too long ago, when Anthony was still able to get around well, he called his friend Peter Barbato and asked him to go to the casino boat with him. 

As you know, Anthony used to make a trip once in awhile to the boats, not to gamble of course, but to, (ahem), “study human nature.”

Anthony was driving and before they could get on the Dan Ryan Expressway, a poor fellow, down on his luck, drew near the car, and extended a cup, asking for a handout.

Whenever Anthony came across someone like this, he always stopped and reached into his pocket to help.  And, Anthony never offered just a dollar bill or some loose change.  It was always $5 or $10.

It just so happened that he was completely out of cash, and wouldn’t be able to get some money, to (ahem), “study human nature” until he got to the boat.

So, Anthony asked Peter to lend him five dollars.

As Anthony put the $5 bill into the man’s cup, he noticed something oddly familiar.  He said to the fellow: “Hey, buddy, let me see that cup.”

The man actually offered up the stainless steel coffee mug, and there in front of his own eyes, Anthony read the inscription:  “New West Realty—Anthony DeVito.”

“Where did you get this cup?” Anthony asked the man.

“Some fellow gave it to me about a year ago,” the man answered.

Not only did Anthony come across this same fellow a year prior, but he literally gave him the coffee mug out of his car so that the man could have something to put his money into.

Something tells me that someday, Anthony and that poor fellow along the side of the highway are going to meet up again.  Only this time, that silver coffee mug with Anthony’s name inscribed on it won’t be used to collect the loose coins and dollar bills that extend from the hands of others. It will be used to share in the cup of faith at God’s table in Heaven.

The second story has to do with Anthony’s love of Christmas.

In a world where Christmas has been over-run for so long now by Madison Avenue hype, there has been an effort underfoot recently to “put the Christ back into Christmas.”

Now, truth be told, Anthony loved ALL sides of Christmas.

He loved Christmas trees and garland adorned with red bows and lights and movies such as “White Christmas” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but he also loved Nativity scenes and the depiction of the Christ-child lying in a manger.

If you visited his hospital room you saw both his Christmas tree and his Nativity scene.

Anthony also loved in the giving part of Christmas:  the giving of gifts to those he loved and the giving back to those less fortunate. He always found a way to do both.

Last Thursday, as Christmas was drawing near, Anthony checked himself out of Northwestern.  He wasn’t giving up hope on a treatment plan or the will to live, but he knew there wasn’t much the doctors could do for him over the next several days and he wanted to get home to prepare for Christmas. There was just so much still to be done.

Little did Anthony know that his health was deteriorating so quickly.

The very same night he came home from Northwestern, less than six hours later, he was being rushed by ambulance to the U of I Hospital because he was having trouble breathing. The next morning he awoke to find himself in the Intensive Care Unit with a team of doctors huddled around him.

It was a frenetic scene with doctors who were not familiar with his history trying to asses his condition and frantically reaching out to their counterparts at Northwestern.

Two things were clear:  the docs at U of I were tending to a very sick man and Anthony was focused on only one thing:  getting back home for Christmas.

This was a collision course of monumental proportions brewing in our midst.

The doctors were firm in their decision: Anthony could not go home.

Anthony was not to be out swayed.  He WAS going home for Christmas.

As Gracie and Rosemary tried to figure out what to do and whether to heed the doctor’s advice or grant Anthony what was to ultimately be his final wish, something miraculous happened.

By Saturday morning, Anthony’s condition had not improved.  His breathing was becoming more difficult and the efforts to remove the fluids building up in his lungs were not successful.

Anthony and his sisters were told the bad news:  it was only a matter of time.

Now, one would think the doctors would be digging in their heels to keep Anthony in that hospital and trying every heroic, yet futile, measure to keep him going.

But, as they met with Gracie that morning, they turned to her with a great deal of compassion and understanding and said:  “We will do everything humanely possible to get this man home for Christmas.  We now understand how important it is for Anthony to be home with his loved ones this Christmas.”

You know the rest of the story.

Anthony made it home that Saturday night under the care of a hospice team.

He settled into his favorite chair in Gracie’s living room, and although he knew all that was to transpire, he had a smile on his face.

He was home and he was surrounded by those he loved most in this world. 

Although Anthony couldn’t easily get up from his chair, he saw all that was around him and he was happy.

He perked up when Cousin Sammy and his wife, Nancy, and his nephews Peter, Mark, and Paul came to visit with their children.  His eyes sparkled when the children opened their gifts and he took in all the love that surrounded him.

Anthony, in his brave fight to be home for Christmas had found what so many of us are yearning for:  He found the Christ in Christmas.

And as Christmas Eve quietly moved into the dawn of Christmas morning, Anthony was able to let go.  He must have told God that he was ready to move on.  The pain and suffering was finally over.  Mom and Dad were waiting and so was Lulu.

“We aren’t supposed to be here.”

It’s still Christmas, you know.

The garland still has its twinkling lights and there are unopened presents left under the tree, waiting for latecomers to arrive.

There are still plenty of homemade cookies to eat and the Feast of the Epiphany, the arrival of the three wise men, has yet to take place.

There’s still so much to do and so much to celebrate.

The Christ-child has been born.  Emmanuel!  God with us!

“We aren’t supposed to be here.”

Or are we?

Anthony now is in the best care anyone can possibly have:  He now is in God’s care.

And, he had a bird’s eye view of what Christmas is like from Heaven’s perspective.  I guess if you are going to make it to Heaven’s gates, what better time than on Christmas Eve?

And, although we will miss Anthony greatly, we do have a very real way to keep him in our hearts forever.

You see, Anthony lived Christmas 365 days a year.

He did so by loving his family and friends and finding ways to reach out and help others.

And he did so by never letting go of the child within him.

Let us take those lessons to heart.

In closing, let us also look our eyes to Heaven and say “thanks Anthony” for all of the wonderful things you did for us.

For your laughter and sense of humor.

For your generosity and friendship.

We will always love you, Anthony.  We will never forget you.

We will always keep you in our hearts and we ask that you do the same.

I guess we ARE supposed to be here.

Merry Christmas, Anthony.  Merry Christmas.