Paul Gazillo

1947 - 2022

Paul W. Gazillo

St Charles, IL - 6/28/1947 ~ 9/20/2022 Paul Gazillo passed recently after waging a five-year battle against ALS. His wife Donna – the love of his life - died within hours, on the same day, at their home in the Chicago area after a long illness. Throughout their marriage, they shared a bond of love and lived life to the fullest with their son Scott. Their family and friends have many happy memories of their warmth, hospitality, kindness, and humor.

Born in Boston to the late William & Theresa Gazillo (Agawam), Paul grew up in Agawam and played football at Agawam High School, where he was recognized as an All-Western Mass. lineman and was part of an AA conference championship team. He went on to play football at Syracuse University and after graduation played a season with the Hartford Knights, an Atlantic Coast minor league team.

Paul built a successful business career which began at the Ludlow Corporation in Holyoke, MA, a national firm in the packaging and paper industry. As his career progressed, he relocated to the Chicago metropolitan area where he went on to establish his own company. His business grew and he became involved in many charitable endeavors, including becoming a member of the Columbian Club of Chicago, an organization whose limited membership includes many of Chicago's top business leaders of Italian American heritage. Paul also served as the Columbian Club's President.

Paul was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), known also as Lou Gehrig's Disease, and was able to live his final years at home. ALS caused him severe pain and immobility, yet during the time of his illness, he maintained a great sense of humor, stayed true to who he was, and always put his family first. But it was Donna's wit, humor, support, dedication, and unflinching love that made all the difference. To paraphrase a famous movie line, "she made Paul want to be a better man," even in his darkest hours. Paul is survived by his son Scott; his brothers Mark (Cumming, GA); Stephen and his wife Joan Reardon Gazillo (Longmeadow); Joseph and his wife Kim Montague (Chesterfield,MA); and his sister Mary Ann (Agawam); Donna's siblings Sandra and James Jarvis; Cynthia and Philip Lamkay; Ralph and Maureen Finlayson; and the Gazillo and Finlayson extended families.

ALS Research is vastly under-funded. To join in efforts to raise awareness of ALS, our family has set up a tribute page to honor Paul (including a video of his life and accomplishments) and to help raise funds to treat and cure ALS. A particular focus is to develop tools for earlier diagnosis of the disease and to slow its progression. To make a donation in Paul's memory, please click on the following link to access this site: http://www.GazilloTribute.com

A tribute video can be viewed here: http://www.PaulGazilloVideo.com , and a condensed version here: http://www.GazilloVideo.com

Donations can be mailed to:

ALS United Greater Chicago

Paul Gazillo Tribute

5315 N. Clark Street, #650

Chicago, IL 60640