Thomas Orlando, 70, a home building and remodeling contractor, died Saturday, March 18, of lung cancer in Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village. Although his occupation centered around houses, Mr. Orlando’s background was in the arts, said his wife, Alyce. Mr. Orlando had received a scholarship for the Julliard School of Music. Upon graduation, Mr. Orlando, who played clarinet and saxophone, and his brother Peter formed a band and played at weddings in New York. Mr. Orlando settled in the Chicago area with Alyce, his second wife, nearly 30 years ago. In the 1970s, a neighbor asked him to be his partner in a construction business. He later opened Orlando Construction and Orlando Kitchens and Baths in Franklin Park with his wife, a designer. Mr. Orlando closed the stores in the 1980s after 15 years but continued working as a consultant. Mr. Orlando, a Korean War veteran, was president of the Sertoma Club and vice president of the Franklin Park Chamber of Commerce. Survivors also include a son, Robert; two stepsons, Thomas Jenkins and Richard Jenkins; two stepdaughters, Trudy Vedral and Mary Lynn Ostrowski; four brothers Frank, Anthony, Charles and William; three sisters, Frances Pedersen, Theresa and Marian Corregal; four grandsons and six granddaughters. Visitation was held Monday.
