Frank Pellegrini

1956 - 2021

Frank J. Pellegrini, 65, of Yorkville, Illinois, died Sunday, September 12, 2021 at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Illinois. Cremation has been chosen and no public services will be held at this time.

Mr. Pellegrini was born on May 15, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois to Enzo and Ann Pellegrini. He grew up in the Chicago area and graduated from Northern University with a Bachelors in Business Marketing.

Frank began his career with Bally Midwest and Atari, and owned stand-alone video arcades. This prompted him to invent and patent debit card systems in arcades, which were licensed to a variety of companies, including Walt Disney, Dave & Buster's, GameWorks and American Express. He next became a Senior VP of a division of Konami USA, working with engineering teams in Japan and negotiating character licensing for Konami's titles such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons and Lethal Enforcers (in which he is often recognized as a character). He simultaneously worked with his brother in their development company, P&P Marketing, Inc., releasing many popular arcade games. Frank was then recruited by Sega of Japan, becoming Senior Vice President in Charge of New Business Development for Sega USA, where he expanded into other international markets. After five years of global traveling, he decided to work closer to home and founded Team Play, Inc. where he worked with development, marketing, manufacturing and intellectual property licensing for videos including Fishbowl Frenzy and Launch Code. He also worked with a group of partners to establish and manage White Rabbit Game Studio, which developed the PlayporTT entertainment game system, named AMOA's Most Innovative Product in 2008. He continued as President of Team Play in Elk Grove Village, Illinois for several years; but after 40 years in the entertainment gaming industry he developed his most recent company, Dirty Dog Gaming, Inc., which built upon previous work with Team Play.

Frank was married to Sheri Jorgensen on April 9, 1994. The couple lived in St. Charles, Illinois and then moved to a rural area near Yorkville, Illinois, where they shared their home with their horses and assorted family pets. Frank enjoyed working outside, caring for their horses and property, building and upgrading their home, and working with mechanical items of all types.

He is survived by his wife Sheri, father and mother in law, Stan and Launa Jorgensen of Yorkville, brother Ed Pellegrini, nieces Kimberly and Brittany Pellegrini, and numerous other extended family members and cherished friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family is requesting no flowers or plants at this time. Memorials may be sent to the American Humane Society at https://www.americanhumane.org/

For additional information 630/554-3888 or www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com