ANTHONY GIORGIO

Anthony "Tony" Giorgio, 79, lifelong Chicago resident, passed away on Oct. 31, 2011, at Northwestern Hospital due to complications after open-heart surgery. Tony, as he was known to friends and family, was born in Chicago on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 1932, to Gaetano and Catherine Giorgio. He graduated from St. Phillips High School and was employed most of his career at United Insurance Company in the Loop. While working downtown, he was introduced to the love of his life Eileen Merrill. Tony and Eileen married in Lincoln Park on June 13, 1970, and went on to spend the next 41 years together, during which they raised Eileen's sons from a previous marriage, Steven, Kevin, and Christopher Merrill. Tony retired from United Insurance in 1998, and he and Eileen traveled throughout the Midwest and near-southern states in search for antiques for their home. Tony and Eileen also traveled to Italy three times to visit his father's birthplace in Vieste. Tony was always devoted to his family first and foremost, and had a natural gift of meeting total strangers. With his out-going personality, people felt instantly at ease with him. With Tony, what you saw was what you got, and most everybody liked what they saw. He was totally upfront with people, and appreciated when people were the same with him. Tony had an extremely well-developed sense of humor! He loved to laugh and enjoyed having other people laugh with him, even if it was at his expense. Tony was a wonderful man who deeply affected the lives of those around him as husband, son, father, stepfather, brother, brother-in-law, son-in-law, and uncle. He leaves behind many cherished memories for his wife Eileen; his two sons Gerry and Anthony (LuAnn); grandchildren Nicole and Anthony III; step-sons Kevin Merrill and Christopher (Kristin) Merrill; grandchildren Alexander and Katie; sister Camille (Gus) Spillone; brother-in-law Kenneth (Cheryl) Schulz, and nephews Kurt and Karl Schulz of Florida. He also leaves behind numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a step-son Steven Merrill. Funeral Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, 10 a.m. at Drake & Son Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western Ave., Chicago. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery, Three Oaks, MI. Visitation Thursday from 4 until 9 p.m. Info 773-561-6874