Anthony Franzese

Anthony J. Franzese, 92, passed away on June 21, 2017. Survived by: Daughters Victoria Franzese, of La Grange, and Bonnie (Russell) Jones of Romeoville; and granddaughter Kelly Lynn Christensen. Married to Betty C. (nee Vimont), for 64 years until her death September 12, 2014. Tony was the younger son of Antonio and Teresa Franzese, most recently of Oak Brook, Illinois. His older brother, Guy Franzese, Sr. survives him. The family first moved (from Long Island, New York, then to Philadelphia) to the Italian neighborhood on Taylor Street (near Western Avenue) in Chicago. Antonio then moved the family west to build houses and lay concrete in Brookfield. As a boy, Tony delivered newspapers in Riverside. During the Great Depression, he disassembled and rebuilt cars and bicycles by himself. He graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School in 1942. Tony met Betty at Arnertorp (formerly the American Can Company) , torpedo manufacturer in World War II, at Desplaines Avenue at Roosevelt Road, in Forest Park, where he worked on the manufacturing side. Betty worked in payroll. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Sea Bees (Construction Battalion, Maintenance Unit 558), sailing for New Guinea January 1, 1943. Near Port Moroby, he helped to build a landing strip for the invasion of Japan which (thank God) never happened. In the 1950's and 1960's Tony built houses and apartments in the La Grange Park, La Grange, La Grange Highlands, and Western Springs area, later acting as building manager of his remaining apartments until he retired around 2007. He considered becoming a pro bowler, but gave that up in the early 1960's after attending duplicate bridge games Sunday mornings at the La Grange YMCA. He became a life master after only a year, travelling the country to attend major bridge meets. In his prime, he attended local bridge meets six evenings a week. Anyone who knew him well knew he was a curmudgeon but, as one long-time friend said, "He lived the life he wanted."