Daniel Peter Toomey

Dan was my second cousin. His Grandfather Con and my Grandfather Dan left Ireland in 1901. Dan's father Dan will always be remembered as "Skokie Dan". Soooo many Dan's. Our deepest sympathy to his wife Maureen and Sister Winky. RIP Dan. From Dan Toomey Scottsdale AZ.

I saw Dan (or Mr. Toomey as I knew him) in Evanston every week for counseling from when I was about 10 to 18 - he was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for children and adults, in addition to everything else. It is no exaggeration to say that Mr. Toomey helped me save my own life. From a young age I had "developmental difficulties" - what we would now call Asperger's syndrome. I didn't understand or relate to most other children, I was lost in my own inner world, I was afraid of new experiences, and I was obsessed with rigid order and repetition. Though I hadn't taken to my previous counselor, Mr. Toomey immediately drew me in by appealing to our shared love of baseball, Chicago-area history and geography, and travel. Having hooked me, he then showed me a whole new way of being and thinking - how to "be one of the guys", how to "roll with the punches", how to see things from the perspective of a "fly on the wall", and how to take people seriously and not literally. As a result I finally began to relate to, and be respected by, other young people, paving the way for a happy and fulfilling teenage and adult life. In short, I would not be the outgoing, peaceful, productive 30something that I am today had Mr. Toomey not "helped me to help myself". I miss Dan dearly and I hope his memory lives on for the ages.

With Dan, it wasn't about him, it was about you. He was empathic, supportive, and a great listener. He was a pleasure to be around.

My condolences! I worked at McKenzie School, with Dan, for many years. He was a wonderful person and loved by many.