Victor Giustino Obituary

Vic has a very special place in my heart.
He was regular at my place of work at the time, Alliance Bakery. Which was appropriate given it´s one of the oldest bakeries in the city and he had such a love for Chicago´s history!
He was kind, goofy, always full of corny jokes and stories. Every holiday he would hand out some kind of small gift to everyone, around New Years it would be a fresh calendar for the coming year. He wrote me a very sweet little letter one year for my birthday that I still have. He was the kind of person who touched many many people in a lot of small ways, and I am very grateful to be one of them!
thank you Vic!
Love,
Aimee

We were so surprised to hear about our friend Vic. About once a month he would call and talk for an hour about anything from soup to nuts, especially politics and the many years at Allstate. I left in 2016 after 49 years. I was fortunate to work with Vic and to be able to attend the Eddie Schwartz show with Vic. He was a genius about Chicago. I would call him if I needed a tip about the neighborhoods, places to go, etc. Vic loved his family and always asked about ours. We will miss you, good friend. Linda and Dave Fanselow.

He was the King of Chicago History and a proud Italian. Vic and I hosted a radio Show "Cop Talk History walk" for 10 years on AM 1530 one of the most popular programs on Saturday Talk Radio. Victorio "Rest in Peace" tell the Angels how great Chicago was. Bill Jaconetti retired CPD and Melrose Park Chief of Police

Vic and my dad Ken were good friends and both appeared on the Eddy Schwartz late night Chicago Trivia show in the 70's and 80's.
I had the pleasure to reconnect with Vic earlier this year and shared many good memories.
May he rest in peace.

Hello:

Professor Victor Giustino age 84 was a giant in the Italian American community of Chicago. He died September 25, 2021. Vic was a walking encyclopedia of Chicago and Italian American history. He was extremely proud to be an Italian American and a Chicagoan. He was a preteen during World War II and visited every neighborhood in Chicago and made the effort to learn about the history of every neighborhood he visited.
He himself lived at in the North Southport Ave, the Lake View neighborhood, where he had gathered and stored a library size collection of books on Chicago history.
Vic took this information and printed out his own pamphlets that were guided tours, and he would hand them out to people he would meet, so they would get a history lesson not taught in schools.

As an employee of the Allstate Insurance Company he made the effort to assist newly employed African American insurance agents and teach, and train them in the insurance trade.

He became a Chicago historian, guide, archivist, lecturer, poet, writer and media commentator,also a radio talk show guest historian "The Sunday Papers With Rick Kogan," 6:30-9 a.m. Sunday on WGN-AM 720.
and on Joe Gentile's 1530 AM show Cop Talk, where he shared his knowledge of the past on the air. This is but a thumbnail sketch of the life of a man truly did his city proud.

Michael Bacarella

I´m so sorry to hear that Vic passed away. I was hired out of college back in 1979 by Allstate to work at the Northwest Metro Claims office in Lincolnwood Illinois and was fortunate to meet Vic on my first days´ morning break along w Joe Zito, Russ Genovese and Sal Dragotta. All of them made a point of giving this Irish kid all the advice in the world . Even though I left Allstate in 1982 I came back in 1984 as an Agent and continued my friendship with Vic for the next 37 years. I always appreciated Vic´s knowledge about everything but really appreciated the advice he gave me also. Thanks for everything Victor and may you Rest In Peace.

I am truly sorry to hear about Victor's death. My condolences to his family and friends. May he truly enjoy his wonderful reward in Heaven where he will be reunited with his loving family.

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Vic--May your memory be a blessing to family and friends. You taught me about history and love for Chicago over a long period of time. I will miss your energy and friendship.
Dave Baum

My sincerest sympathy to the family. My husband,Russ, and Vic worked together for many years.

Rest in peace, Victor.