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Comforte

Victor Comforte

Comforte

Victor Comforte

Victor Comforte Obituary

Comforte, Victor August 19, 1915 - June 20, 2005 age 89, Victor Comforte Founder and Chairman of Climatemp Inc., a prominent Chicago HVAC contracting firm, passed away on Monday, June 20, 2005, with his family by his side. Mr. Comforte was born August 19, 1915 in Trinidad, Colorado, the fourth of six children of Angelo and Francis Comforte, immigrants from Calabria, Italy. Angelo worked as a coal miner in the coke mines in Cokedale, Colorado. In 1923, Angelo and Francis moved their family to Chicago to provide a better life, and they settled in an area on the near west side of the city known as "Little Italy." Victor attended grade school at Reese Elementary School and graduated from McKinley High School in 1933. During his youth, he worked as a busboy, construction laborer, truck driver, and roofer as well as performed other various jobs to help provide for his family. In 1940, he married Martha Ruth James, and enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps to serve his country in World War II. As a master sergeant, he fought in the European Theatre and participated in the liberation of Italy. After the war, Victor pursued a future in the construction industry specializing in residential heating systems. Over the years Climatemp grew from 5 employees to over 350. The company also progressed from residential heating systems to providing commercial and institutional heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems in some of the largest and most prestigious buildings of their kind. As a union contractor and the largest employer of Local 73 sheet metal workers, Climatemp has fabricated and installed ventilation systems in such notable buildings as Chicago's Water Tower Place, 900 North Michigan, Olympia Center, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, O'Hare International Terminal, Sears Corporate Headquarters, Ameritech Corporate Headquarters, AT&T / USG Corporate Headquarters, Sohio Corporate Headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Navy Pier, McCormick Place North and South Expansion Projects, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Lucent Technologies Corporate Headquarters. Climatemp is currently fabricating and installing the ventilation systems in the new McCormick Place Expansion, Northwestern Prentice Hospital, and Trump International Tower and Hotel in Chicago. Victor was a leader in the HVAC industry and was a member on numerous local and national boards. Together with the Chicagoland Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Mr. Comforte created the Testing and Balancing Institute for Certification (TABIC). Under Mr. Comforte's guidance, TAB, a nationally recognized training and certification program was established. In 1998, Victor was recognized for his leadership and vision when the nations largest state-of-the-art testing and balancing training center located in Bellwood, Illinois, was dedicated in his name. Mr. Comforte was one of the founding board members and largest contributors to Special Children's Charities (co-sponsor of Chicago Special Olympics) and received the Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian Award for his dedicated efforts to help special children. He also contributed to numerous other charitable organizations. His compassion and generosity for those less fortunate was recognized and admired by all who knew him. Whenever anyone asked Vic, of all the accomplishments in your life what are you most proud of, he would answer, "MY FAMILY!" Victor is survived by Marty, his loving wife of 65 years, his four sons, V.J., John, Tom, and Bill, daughters-in-law, Kathleen, Cheryl, and Carmella, grandchildren, Victor J. II, Ashley, Kristina, and Jacqueline, and brothers, Albert and Bill. Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at Old St. Patrick's Church located at 700 West Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois. 312-648-1021 In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Special Children's Charities, 541 North Fairbanks Ct., 7th FL, Chicago, IL 60611. 312-527-3743

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chicago Sun-Times from Jun. 26 to Jul. 3, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Victor Comforte

15 Entries

Frank and Carmen Keane

July 20, 2005

To the Comforte Family,

We join you in celebrating your dad's life. We honor his memory as he had such an impact on our own lives.

May God's holy light shine upon him and your family.

Respectfully,

Frank, Carmen and Boys

Jan Dillon

July 6, 2005

Comforte Family,

While working in the 13th district I had the honor of meeting, working with and getting to know the Comfortes. Four wonderful, outstanding men; exceptional for their caring, their manners, and impeccable business and social skills. How could they all turn out so good? What was the secret? And then, on Christmas Eve, at the annual Xmas party, I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Victor Comforte and I instantly knew why these four men stood out in a crowd. They were part of this brilliant man, a man who knew everyone's name, where they worked, what they did and always went out of his way to make everyone feel special. He had the gift of loving life, enjoying his family, and passing these traits on to his boys. How lucky you all were to call him Dad and how fortunate for the rest of us to know him. If even for a brief moment, this charismatic man could teach us all a little something.

My deepest condolences to all.

Jan Dillon

Gerry Galloway

July 5, 2005

My deepest sympathy and prayers go out to all the Comfortes.

Sincerely,

Barbara Lee Cohen

July 5, 2005

Longellow wrote:

"Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time."

Vic left behind magnificent footprints for all to follow...

footprints representative of

integrity, kindness, love, faith,

friendship, family, business ethics,

leadership and all those other attributes which make a person stand

out among his peers...which make him

a beautiful being...whose warmth and

goodness will endure in our hearts

for many many years to come.

He was a fine man and a humanitarian

who blessed in particular, Special

Children's Charities, co-sponsor

of the Chicago Special Olympics with

his devotion and generous donations.

And as I've said so many times before..he was a gentleman....and

a gentle man.

May he live in peace in eternity,

and may his family find solace

knowing his love remains an integral

part of them for all their lives.

With sincerest prayers and fond

thoughts for the whole Comforte

family,

Barbara Lee Cohen

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Brian Siedlecki

July 3, 2005

Dear Tom,

I was saddened to hear of the passing of your father. Please accept our condolences. You and the entire Comforte family are in our prayers during this difficult time.

vince daley

June 29, 2005

both Vince and Hon. Vi Daley wish to extend our deep sympathy to the entire Comforte Family.

David Heltmach

June 29, 2005

Mrs. Comforte, John, VJ, Tom and Bill. Our deepest sympathy and condolences from our family to yours. You are in our prayers.

Dave Heltmach and Family

STEVE KLOSS

June 28, 2005

WITH DEEPEST SYMPATHY,OUR CONDOLENCES.

STEVE AND LAVERNE KLOSS

BOB AND BARB KLOSS

CRAIG AND BETSY KLOSS

RAY KLOSS (PATRIARCH)

John and Joanne James

June 28, 2005

Dear Marty.....It was great to see you last Thursday and have the opportunity to reminisce with Bill and Tom (and Carmy and the girls). We didn't get to see V..J., Cathy and kiddos and John and Cheryll. Only 58 years ago Victor was "best man" at our wedding! Remember? Take care of yourself and we will remember Vic in our prayers!

Charles Johnson

June 28, 2005

I'm so sorry to hear of Vic's passing. I didn't know him well, having only met him once so many years ago. However, I have heard so much good about him. I truly regret his passing. Please remember, as with my father who passed at the age of 47, he is always only a thought away....

Laurayne (Laurie) Dalsimer

June 27, 2005

Dearest Marty, my dear sister, and sons V.J., John, Tom & Bill . . . Marty, your family will miss Vic very much. We will miss his dry sense of humor, his formal dignified manner, and his aura & mein of strength & distinction. We will miss his presence among us. Vic was a handsome man and, with your beauty, Marty, you brought into life four strong & handsome sons to fulfill his legacy to life. My thoughts, Prayers, sympathy and love are with you all.

Marty's sister, Laurie, & the boys, Aunt Laurie.

Don D'Agostino

June 27, 2005

Mrs. C, VJ, John, Tommy & Billy,

I'm truely sorry to hear of Mr. C's passing. Having lost my Father, I feel in my heart your loss. I have so many wonderful memories of all of you and the times when we spent together. I am still grateful of the many times when you welcomed me into your home and your kitchen! May God bless all of you and help you to remember all you shared as a family as well as all the good Mr. C did for everyone.

Love Always,

Don

Terry & Diane O'Brien

June 27, 2005

Dear Billy and Kim, Please accept our condolences on the passing of your Dad. We will help you to remember him with our prayers. Terry and Diane

Carole Giovacchini

June 26, 2005

Bill,

So sorry to hear about your dad. I read the news in the Tribune. He sounded like a neat man. It is always difficult when we lose a parent. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Carole Giovacchini

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