Peter O'Rourke

1926 - 2017

Peter O'Rourke, of Glencoe Ill, father of 8, stepfather of 10, grandfather of 44 & great grandfather of 4, age 90, died of exhaustion on July 14, 2017. He was born December 4, 1926 in The Bronx, New York to Irish immigrants Rose Jennings & Michael Dennis O'Rourke of County Leitrum, Ireland.   He joined the Navy in World War II & was selected to be a radar specialist. He earned a scholarship to Fordham University, studied under Jesuit Fathers & played basketball. On Feb. 7, 1945 he scored some of the first 3 point shots in collegiate basketball. It was at Fordham he met Vince Lombardi, whose philosophy Pete would incorporate into his professional life as a National Sales Manager for Sunbeam Corp.  He & his lifelong Fordham friends, Danny Lynch, Vin Scully, Ray Rayner, & Larry Joe Miggins were known for their quick wit, sense of humor, impeccable business ethics, & playful storytelling abilities Peter married his neighborhood sweetheart & 1st wife, Cathleen Quinn in 1950. They settled in Glencoe Illinois where they raised 8 children: Barry, Teresa, Mike, Mary, Pat, Tom, Jim & John. They were married 30+ years.   In the 1980s Peter married Joan Doty-Werthman, they lived Wilmette and she had 10 children: Madeline, Mary Joan, Gail, Robert, Hope, Ted, George, Billy, Josephine & Desmond and Pete was a loving stepfather. Peters favorite pew at St. Francis Xavier Church was under the stained glass window honoring  St. Patrick..  He was pre-deceased by his son, Barry, stepdaughters Madeline & Mary Joan and his beloved wife Joan Doty Werthman O'Rourke.  His love for friends, faith, Irish heritage, basketball, community & most important family is what we loved about him. Visitation: 10:00 AM Saturday July  22  St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 524 9th St. WIlmette Funeral Mass: 11:00 Saturday July 22   Reception:  12:30 to 3:00pm,  The Writers Theater, Glencoe Illinois.     Peter will be laid to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorn, New York on July 24th