Joseph Varallo Obituary

Varallo Sr., Joseph Thomas On Sunday, August 17th, aged 80, born Christmas Eve, 1933 at the old Martha Washington hospital, Chicago. He died from complications due to recurrent pneumonia. His last minutes on earth were spent in peace, and without pain. Joe grew up and lived most of his life in Edgewater Beach, City of Chicago (Lakewood-Balmoral/Andersonville), where his parents had purchased a Victorian-styled house during the Great Depression. He attended St. Ita Grammar School, St. George Christian Brothers HS, Evanston, and Loyola University Chicago. Joe served in the U.S. Navy 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean in the 1950s, where it is believed he fine-tuned his lifelong love for the sun and beach. In addition, Joe was a championship swimmer and all-around athlete, having taken up running for health long before it was fashionable. Joe had a very long career in marketing and sales, and spent the last years of his life fund-raising for wounded veterans. But, Joe will always be remembered as a mentor and coach, for his biting wit and humor, and for his great love and passion for ALL things Chicago....especially its lakefront and skyline, its politics, its women and its sports teams, except Joe did have a passion for the NY Yankees. Joe attended the game at Wrigley Field the last time the Cubs reached a pennant race in 1945, and was a Bears season ticket holder for decades. Joe and his brothers grew up riding El trains, streetcars and buses, and Joe was always very proud of his vast knowledge of Chicago. Joe maintained a very active social life and firmly believed life should always be fun and delicious. He often spoke fondly of the old Edgewater Beach Hotel and its retinue of entertainers and big bands, the Saddle and Cycle Club, the Chicago Yacht Club, the Green Mill jazz club, as well as of numerous long-defunct Chicago bars and restaurants. Preceding him death are his mother, Winifred Durkin Varallo (d. 1985),originally from Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland; his father, Frank V. Varallo (d. 1978); his brother, Donald E. Varallo (CPD) (d. 2006); his sister-in-law, Sue Hire Varallo (d. 2013), late of Meridian, Idaho and Salt Lake City. Joe is survived by the love of his life, Sue Cloud, RN, who was his primary indispensable advocate for his health care during the final months of his life. In addition, Joe is survived by his ex-wife, Rosemary Bradach Sullivan of San Francisco; his sons, Joseph T. Varallo, Jr. (J.T.) of Washington, DC, and Danny Varallo (Yasmin Buen) (both Chicago Police); his brother, Col. "Bob" Varallo, USA, Ret., of Las Vegas; his sister-in-law, Maureen O'Brien Varallo of Chicago; his grandchildren, Anthony, Dominick and Francesca; his nieces and nephew, Martina Varallo Cortez (Nick) of Chicagoland, Valerie Varallo Deppe (Gordon), Cara Varallo Lacy (Guy, USA), all of Salt Lake City, and Sean (Erica) Varallo of Boise, Idaho. Joe was grand-uncle to seven. Joe will be deeply missed by his family and friends. All services to be held Saturday, August 23rd, 2014 at the Church of Saint Ita, 5500 North Broadway, Chicago 60640. Visitation/wake from 9:30 to 11:00a.m. Mass to follow immediately at 11:00. Mass will be celebrated by longtime family friend Father Gerald K. O'Reilly. Interment and burial private. Will be held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois.