My dearest friend Art –

We knew each other for 68 years. We shared so much.

We first played together at three years old, & continued to hang around together during grammar school at Lincoln. My parents considered him one of the family, even tho he had his own good one. Both our homes were gathering places for neighborhood kids.

Then high school – far too many good times and so many laughs to try to enumerate here: summers at North Ave & Oak Street Beach, smelt fishing at the Planetarium, The Lombards, tobogganing at Palos Hills, and The Weasels – he left the Weasels because when band practice conflicted with football practice, Coach Vohaska told Art he can sing or he can play football, but he can't do both.

He was often the initiator of impulsive good times, like cutting school to see the new James Bond movie downtown, being live-interviewed for a news broadcast which aired that evening, and suspended the next day because everyone, including the Dean of Students, saw him on the news.

More thoughtfully, as seniors he nominated me for Homecoming Queen, and we won.

My parents took him with us on fishing trips to Wisconsin. As I already said, we were family.

We had long talks on the phone in the evenings and into the nights…questioning anything and everything, trying to figure out what this life was all about.

We went places together but never really dated. We were simply the best of friends.

He went off to school & I moved out of Illinois, but we were not out of each other’s lives.

We married, tho not each other, and our families vacationed together.

Our kids became close. I became Gramma Donna to his babies.

My daughter became very close to Art, and our first-borns carry on our relationship. (They are very much alike, and they mean business – don’t mess with them.)

And in the same manner, their first-born daughters have bonded and will continue the legacy.

Art & I became involved in mini-reunions, sometimes with just a few of us from Lincoln/Morton as well as the formal JSME class reunions. Our same group of friends has remained together over the years, sharing joys and sorrows. We have never forgotten our roots in Cicero.

He was a constant in my life. I never anticipated being where we are now, which is nothing less than short-sighted.

He was a wonderful and sincere friend to all, honest and forthright. He was a universal man with a very large fan base. He will be greatly missed.

He still means the world to me. I’ll always be with him, and he’ll always be with me.

It was all good. His life is epic. He is legend.

Our condolences from my family in Cicero and ofcourse from me here in Munich, Germany.
It was my pleasure being friends with you for at least 55 years: we had some real good times.
Have a good and safe trip up, keep an eye on us all and keep us safe from dangers.
Will be missing you on future visits to Chi.
Love ya Art, take care
sincerely Jay

We extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathies.
Remembering cousin Art’s wonderful and gentle soul.
Your Dad will forever be missed and cherished by all who knew him.
May the love of family and friends provide comfort and strength
during these difficult days ahead..
Holding all of you close in our thoughts and prayers.

I first met Art at Kropp Forge in the early '70's & became good friends. We stayed in touch through various job changes through the years. Later on we had our "Board Meetings" with other Kropp alumni almost every Fri for lunch. And pizzas at Salernos with Art & Starr in Berwyn & after Berwyn closed we moved to Salerno's in Crest Hill. Great memories. We miss them.
RIP Art & Starr.