Leonard "Ski" P. Struglinski

Leonard P. "Ski" Struglinski of Alsip, IL, Air Force Veteran, Polish American , photographer, safety consultant , potato chip connoisseur and lover of lamb chops, died Saturday, March 29, 2014 at the age of 68. He passed away from complications related to cancer treatment at Manor Care Health Services in Palos Heights East, two days before his 69th birthday.

Len was born on March 31, 1945 in Chicago, IL to Vincent and Helen (Mrowczynski) Struglinski. Shortly after, his family moved to Three Oaks, MI, where he lived until around 1958 before moving back to Chicago's southwest side. His parents and all siblings proceed him in death. He married his high school sweetheart Dianne (Urban) Struglinski on Dec. 7, 1968 at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Chicago. She survives. He graduated from Lindblom High School in 1963.

He is also survived by his twin daughters Suzanne (Wayne) Struglinski Broadfield of Gaithersburg, MD and his grand- English bulldog Wrigley Corona (9) along with Sandra (Kostantinos "Dino") Kostouros of Peoria, IL. and their two children, his grandchildren, Zoe Noelle (6) and Elias Kostantinos (2) and grandcat Belle (13).

Len was a storyteller who also loved to shoot photos, take videos and collect electronic gadgets. He was a proud veteran who loved displaying the American flag , the Polish flag, honored Native Americans and wanted to save the lives of wolves. He enjoyed going to the shooting range and keeping his car clean.

Len enlisted in the Air Force in 1966 where he received electronics training. He spent three years, three months and 27 days, in the service, stationed at Keelser Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS and Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. He traveled to Rome and Turkey and other foreign places such as "the South."

The Struglinskis moved back to the southwest side in 1969 and Len started a 43-year career with the phone company. Len started working at Illinois Bell as a phone installer and moved onto a career in safety, teaching drivers for Illinois Bell and later Ameritech and then AT&T how to drive trucks and other vehicles. He starred in Smith System Driving training videos shown throughout the Midwest.

He taught his daughters, Suzy and Sandy, important life lessons such as how to properly frame and stand for a photo and smile, the brilliance of Monty Python, the differences between Star Wars and Star Trek, the names of the members of ZZ Top, the delicious combination of potato chips and cream cheese, but most of all how to care about friends and family all around you. They were his favorite photo subjects, with Suzy always on the left side of photos.

There was nothing small about Len, but the little things mattered to him. Imagine a 6'1" man with a beard and a mustache eating a freeze pop with his grandchildren right after a game of horsey back or coloring Easter eggs. He would drink O'Doul's but was quick to whip up a pitcher of Margaritas or Slippery Nipples if the occasion called for it. He loved country music, cooking and was amazed by the internet. Right now, we are pretty sure he is somewhere eating warm pecan pie with vanilla ice cream, along with a slice of key lime pie and a pile of crab legs with a side of crawfish etouffee, all washed down with a glass of wine.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home, 11333 S. Central Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453. Visitation will be Monday, March 31,2014 from 3 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, April 1,2014 at St. Terrence Church, 4300 W. 119th Place, Alsip, IL (119th & Kostner), Mass 10:00 a.m. Closing prayers will begin at the funeral home at 9:15 a.m. Reverend Barrett will officiate with the homily being given by Robert Morris, husband of Janel (Terri) Morris, a close friend of Suzy and Sandy from Maria High School. Ski will be inurned at a later date at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery,located in Elwood Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be made to Bright Directions, an education fund for his grandchildren Zoe and Eli. Checks can be made out to Bright Directions, account number 950812371 and sent to Sandy Kostouros at 5508 W. Brookmere, Edwards, IL. 61528.