Robert C. Mason, 65, a lifelong resident of Tinley Park who worked as a lithographer for more than 30 years and served as a village trustee and community planner, died Sunday, Feb. 17, in Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn of lung cancer.
Born in Tinley Park, Mr. Mason learned the lithography at a technical school in Chicago in the late 1950s. He worked for several companies and then opened his own business, Worthy Litho in Chicago, for about 10 years.
When Mr. Mason tired of working with inks and chemicals, said his wife, Lori, he looked for new things to do.
Mr. Mason especially enjoyed his most recent job as a driver for Liberty Bus Co., which serves the public schools in Orland Park.
“That was a delight for him,” his wife said. “He was good with children.”
Another one of his loves was Tinley Park, where he spent his whole life. Mr. Mason helped direct changes in the rapidly growing southwest suburb, serving as an appointed member of the village’s Long-Range Planning Commission from the late 1960s to the early 1970s.
From 1971 to 1983 he was a village trustee, elected on a local partyslate. Before his election, Mr. Mason was active in the party, which held caucuses to slate candidates for office.
“He was proud of his heritage and proud of his village, and he enjoyed working with the other trustees,” his wife said.
Mr. Mason spent a great deal of time with his children and grandchildren, his wife said, among other things taking them camping. “He was always very confident in his approach to things, and he could be strong-willed, but he was a very caring man,” his wife said.
Mr. Mason is also survived by a son, Scott; a daughter, Melissa Maguire; and two grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Vandenberg Funeral Home, 17248 S. Harlem Ave., Tinley Park, and from 10 until 11 a.m. Thursday when a service will be conducted in Peace Memorial Church, 10300 W. 131st St., Palos Park.
