Thomas J. McDonnell

Thomas J. McDonnell was born December 23, 1929 in New Rochelle, NY to Alex and Anne McDonnell. He died August 8, 2023 at Northwest community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

Thomas Joseph McDonnell and Mary Dea Neglia met on the dance floor in New Rochelle, NY in 1956 and were instantly swept off their feet. They were married June 13, 1958 and would welcome their first son Mark Francis McDonnell in October 1960 and their family was born. While working as a Credit Manager for DeSoto Inc. they moved to Beau Drive in Des Plaines, Illinois where they welcomed their second son Christopher Thomas McDonnell in December 1965. They eventually settled on Cedar Lane in Arlington Heights and welcomed their third son Thomas Joseph McDonnell in January 1970.

In 1974, the Arlington Heights Park District first petitioned the US Govt to grant them title to the Arlington Heights Nike Base site and its 65 acres of land to repurpose to benefit the city and its residents. Growing up caddying in NY with his brothers, being a veteran of the US Air Force, and with boundless persistence and charm, Tom was the ideal candidate to lead residents all the way to the White House and the desk of President Gerald Ford to stake their claim. After countless hours and planning, persistence, bumper stickers and picketing, they were granted the land and in May of 1979 Arlington Lakes Golf Course opened its doors for the first time, it is among Tom’s proudest of achievements.

Tom McDonnell could definitely sing and dance, but his artistic talent was most uniquely expressed through his tin can quilling, which he originally dubbed his ‘beer can ornaments’. He took simple flat bottom cans and created beautifully ornate decorations of any shape or size, he designed countless personalized ornaments for friends and family, he was featured in magazines for his work, and annually featured his ornaments at the Arlington Heights Public Library for the holidays.

Besides his golf clubs, his tin cans, his charm, and his two dollar lottery tickets, Tom adored being Irish, and in 1999 established the annual Irish Fest at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum which entertains residents with a genuine taste of Ireland to this day.

To know Tom was to know his generosity of spirit, and if you knew him more than ten minutes, you knew his favorite way to exit any social engagement was marching to the lyrics of ‘Show Me the Way to Go Home’. Pablo Picasso has said, “the meaning of life is to find your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away.”

With a blessed life of meaning and purpose, Thomas Joseph McDonnell has peacefully found his way home.

Thomas is survived by his sons Christopher (Pamela) McDonnell and TJ McDonnell; his grandchildren Riley and Colin and by his siblings, Michael and Claire.

He is preceded in death by his wife Mary (nee Neglia) McDonnell; son Mark McDonnell and by his brothers Jackie, Alex and Donal.

Visitation Friday, August 18, 2023 from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Glueckert Funeral Home Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights and Saturday August 19, 2023 at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, 440 S. Mitchell Avenue, Arlington Heights from 10:00 AM until the time of Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery