Alphonse Tomaso

Of Arlington Heights

Alphonse R. Tomaso was born on October 24, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois to Alphonse and Lucille (nee Parrillo) Tomaso. He peacefully passed away the morning of Saturday, December 12, 2020, at his favorite place, his home, with his beloved wife, Sylvia, by his side. He left us in the place where he spent his whole adult life building his family and a successful career.

Al was forced to grow up at the early age of 17 when his father, Alphonse, an alderman for the City of Chicago, passed away unexpectedly. He helped his mother Lucille raise him and his brother, Robert while putting himself through Loyola University, where he earned a master’s degree in Education, Administration and Supervision.Later he followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued a career in public service. He attended Kent College of Law earning a Juris Doctorate (Cum Laude). He gave his entire life and career to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He loved it there. The law. The people. Serving the public. It was his passion. Al quickly rose through the ranks as a young prosecutor to become an Assistant State’s Attorney. He held the titles of Chief Attorney of the Narcotics Prosecution Bureau & Chief Attorney of the Child Advocacy Division respectively. He dedicated his career to making sure other families were safe. In fact earlier in his career he authored the first hate crime statute in Illinois and he designed and implemented the first Domestic Violence Unit in the State’s Attorney’s Office. Later on he became a national lecturer for the National District Attorney’s Association and American Prosecutors Research Institute. Once he retired from the States Attorney’s office, Al enjoyed spending his time as an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice educating young minds to pave the way of the future.Al and his wife Sylvia enjoyed 51 glorious years together. They built a lovely life in Arlington Heights where they raised their four children. Al loved the White Sox, gardening and cooking. Cooking was his true passion. On a warm summer night, the whole neighborhood could smell the aroma of the grill filling the air. Many neighbors would say “Smells good Al!” and “What are you cooking tonight?” as they walked by. His famous Tomaso pizza, BBQ ribs, and seafood platter were the hit and talk of many parties. Al spent his golden years spoiling his four grandchildren. He lived for his grandchildren. Playing with them, teaching them to garden, meticulously planning birthday and Christmas presents for each of them months in advance and spoiling them with his love and affection were amongst his favorite things. They brought such great joy to his life and were a welcoming distraction to the realities of his health in which he faced each day.Al fought through dramatic health complications that brought him much pain the last 20 years of his life while ultimately succumbing to the ailments of Lewy Body Dementia. So, while his passing brings on profound sadness for his family, we can take solace in the comfort that he is no longer in the pain that he endured for so long. Alphonse was the last of his immediate family to pass away. Through our grief we can celebrate knowing that for the first time in almost 60 years, he is once again reunited with his loving brother Robert, mother Lucille, and father Alphonse.He was preceded in death by his father, Alphonse Tomaso, and his mother, Lucille Tomaso, and his brother, Robert Tomaso. He is the beloved husband of Sylvia Tomaso, devoted father to Michael Tomaso, Christine Tomaso (Mike Apostolidis), Jaclyn (Alex) Moreno and Jennifer (Chris) Troupis; loving “Papa” to his grandchildren Ava, Theodore, Giada and Dean, fond brother in law of Helen (the late Robert) Tomaso, Joseph Vocca, Debra (Paul) Obos; Uncle of Bob Tomaso, Laurie Tomaso, David Tomaso, Amanda Obos, Samantha Obos and Emily Obos.A private funeral service and interment will be held on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at St James Church in Arlington Heights, IL. A live stream of Al’s service, beginning at 10:00am, will be available on St. James Church’s website for friends and family to pay their respects and join us in the celebration of his life. Please click on this link to view the service: http://www.stjamesah.org/In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lewy Body Dementia Association in Al’s memory would be appreciated. Your contributions will help raise awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting people with LBD, their families and caregivers and promoting scientific advances. https://www.lbda.org/For information and condolences please visit www. GlueckertFuneralHome.com.