Thomas (Tom) Garibaldi, 84, of Mount Prospect, IL, died at his home on Friday night, August 23, 2024, surrounded by his family.
Beloved husband of Barbara (Albano). Loving father to Lori Jo Honaker (Toney) and Cindy Helms (Bill). Proud grandfather to Nicholas and Tommy Jean (Alex); and his great-grandson, Grayson. Cherished uncle and friend to all. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Mary, in-laws, Joseph and Lena, and brother, William (Janet).
Tom was born on August 21, 1940, in Brooklyn, NY, the first of Joseph and Mary (Molinelli) Garibaldi's two sons. After graduating from Saint Francis Xavier High School, Tom went on to serve in the Marine Corps where he was stationed at Base Camp Lejeune and Quantico. In the early 1960s, Tom moved from New York to Chicago to close the Schiller Park offices of Schmidt Pritchard & Co. Upon seeing an opportunity, Tom worked hard to turn the custom house brokerage firm around and ended up buying it himself in 1965. In Chicago, he met the love of his life, Barbara Albano, and they married September 4, 1965 at Saint Catherine Laboure in Glenview, IL.
Barbara was Tom’s partner in life and business. During their 58-year marriage they welcomed two daughters, Lori Jo and Cindy, while simultaneously growing their relationships with corporations across the country including Crate & Barrel, Weber Grill, and Paper Source. Tom’s success in business fueled his generosity. He was a fervent supporter of Saint Benedict Abbey in Boston and his favorite charities included St. Jude, Toys for Tots and Tunnels for Towers. He was also a devoted member of Saint Thomas Becket Catholic Church in Mount Prospect.
Tom loved to travel and counted Africa, Italy, Costa Rica, China, Egypt, Spain and Israel amongst his favorite places. Many of these adventures resulted in photos of him with a huge catch - he loved to fish - or a new culinary delight as he could often be found in the kitchen prepping food to share with family and friends.
Today and throughout his life, Tom’s legacy is characterized by a tireless commitment to family, friends, community, and business. He was a man of few words, but, when he spoke, people listened. He worked tirelessly to provide for his family and friends in need and everyone had a friend in Tom. He was a remarkable man who lived life to the fullest.
The funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Thomas Becket in Mount Prospect. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Benedict Abbey in memory of Tom Garibaldi. Payable to: Saint Benedict Abbey, c/o Father Peter Connelly,
252 Still River Road,
Still River, MA 01467 or online: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/saint-benedict-abbey/general-donation-form under In-Kind Donation Fund. |