Obituaries

Thomas DeCaro, 86, rebuilder of Wright’s Hills-DeCaro House

Thomas A. DeCaro, 86, a longtime resident of Oak Park, died on Feb. 4, 2010, surrounded by his family. Born on March 16, 1924 in Buffalo, N.Y., to Sicilian immigrant parents, he moved to Chicago at the age of 10 and spent 72 years in the area.

He served four years in the U.S. Army during WWII. Later, he owned and operated a typesetting/printing firm for 40 years. A 64-year member of the CWA/ITU Union, he was active in the Chicago printing trades, Post 1607 of the American Legion, and Chef de Gare of Voiture 1234, the honor society of the American Legion. He was also active in the Thatcher Woods Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and proudly boasted that his son and three grandsons were Eagle Scouts. He supported Fenwick and Trinity high schools as well as St. Edmund Parish.

His legacy is the rebuilding of Frank Lloyd Wright’s, Edward Hills House following a devastating fire on Jan. 3, 1976. The Landmark Commission voted to rename this home the Hills-DeCaro House, a first in Wright history. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it proudly stands on Forest Avenue as a testament to Mr. DeCaro’s efforts.

Thomas DeCaro is survived by his wife of 56 years, Irene; his children, Thomas Jr. (Mary Ann), and Diane (Bill Runft); his grandchildren, Michael, Thomas III, Frank, Nick, Megan, and Katie; and his great-granddaughter, Kelea.

Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, followed by full military honors and burial at Veterans Park in Rio Rancho, N.M. Those who wish to express condolences may do so at www.danielsfuneral.com or 2400 Southern Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho, N.M. 87124 or 505-891-9192.

Regina Aren, 91, Member of First Baptist Church of Oak Park

Regina L. Aren, 91, of Elmwood Park and a longtime resident of Oak Park, died at her home on Feb. 10, 2010. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Aug. 9, 1918, to David and Jennie Lowry, she attended Moody Bible Institute. She enjoyed gardening, caring for her beloved dogs, and taking long walks. A longtime member of First Baptist Church of Oak Park, she enjoyed singing in the church choir.

Ms. Aren is survived by her daughters, Hannah (Jack) Mathias and Deborah Hopper; her grandchildren, Daniel and Laura Mathias, and Ericka, David and Randy Hopper; her great-grandchild, Madeline Mathias; and her sister-in-law, Bessie Aren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward A., and her brothers, Herman and George Lowy.

A memorial service was held on Feb. 13 at First Baptist Church. Memorials to First Baptist Church of Oak Park, 820 Ontario, Oak Park 60302, are appreciated. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.

Marjorie Good, 84, River Forest resident, Elmwood Park teacher

Marjorie Good, 84, of River Forest, died at home on Jan. 2, 2010. The fourth of five children born to Minnie (Broten) and George Ulvestad and raised on Clinton Place in River Forest, she attended Roosevelt School, Oak Park and River Forest High School, and Drake University. A member of Grace Lutheran Church, she became a gifted pianist; a lover of art, music, and literature; a fine golfer; an independent thinker; a seeker of God’s truth; and a dispenser of warmth and charm.

She married Theodore Baehler and had three daughters. After her divorce in 1960, she immediately went to work completing a master’s degree in literature and pursued her second career as a much-loved teacher of English and Film Study at Elmwood Park High School.

In 1978, she married Fred Good and retired from teaching to embark on the adventure of blending families and friends, joining the extended community of the National Roofing Contractors Association, welcoming grandchildren as they arrived, and pursuing volunteer projects.

A breast cancer survivor in 1974, Ms. Good was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August, 2006. She spent her remaining years surrounded by family and dear friends.

Marjorie Good is survived by her husband, Fred Good; her children, Joan (Evan) Bauer, Barb Dwyer (Tom Greenberg), and Karen Baehler (Jon Foley); her stepchildren, Bill (Laura) Good, Sue (Bill) Cashman, Kally Kucko, and Carl (Vicki) Good; her brother, Edward (Barbara) Ulvestad; and 14 grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Jan. 6 at First Presbyterian Church in River Forest. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park.

Ralph Hageman, 84, Chicago teacher, Oak Park resident

Ralph Anton Hageman, 84, a longtime Oak Park resident, died on Feb. 10, 2010 at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Born on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1925, to Anton and Mabel Hageman, he graduated from Hatch Elementary School and Oak Park and River Forest High School. He later graduated from Kenyon College and Northwestern University and received his MBA from the University of Chicago.

A U.S. Army veteran who served in the Pacific Theater and Japan during WWII, he later taught in the Chicago public schools for over 27 years, retiring in 1985. An avid gardener and naturalist, his summers were spent in Sawyer, Mich. – from his first summer when he was six weeks old through the summer of 2009. He loved the lake and spent many years accomplishing his goal of walking every possible portion of Lake Michigan’s shoreline.

Ralph Hageman is survived by his wife, Margaret; his children, Carrie Hageman (Ed Scheck), Joanne (Richard) Sullivan, Eric (Carol), Alan (Darlene), Anita (Christopher Blake), and Ralph Adam Hageman; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation and funeral services were held on Feb. 13 at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park, followed by interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

James Schwartz, 86, Owned 12 Holiday Inns

James L. Schwartz, 86, formerly of River Forest and Oak Park, died of complications from Parkinson’s disease on Jan. 24, 2010, at his home in Sarasota, Fla. He grew up in Oak Park, where his father was a rabbi at Oak Park Temple. He later served on the temple’s board and the board of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.

After World War II, where he served stateside in the Army Air Forces, he earned a degree in business administration from Northwestern University. He started his business career as a traveling furniture salesman and later opened a furniture business near the Merchandise Mart.

According to an obituary in the Chicago Tribune, he was given a piece of ownership in a hotel by a customer who owed him money. Eventually, he bought a Holiday Inn at North Avenue and Mannheim Road, the first in the Chicago area, and ended up running 12 in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. He served as president of the International Association of Holiday Inns, and encouraged others to go into business, offering his hair stylist and masseuse no-interest loans in order to start their own businesses.

James Schwartz is survived by Francine, his wife of 61 years; his sons Stephen and Daniel; his daughter, Marian; his sister, Ruth Panter; and five grandchildren.

Services have been held.