Thomas P. Vitale seemed to make friends easily, family members said. “He was very likable and fun to be around,” said his daughter, Mary O’Donnell. “He was a strong, big-hearted man with a dry sense of humor that could make anyone laugh.” Mr. Vitale, 77, of Plainfield, previously of Des Plaines, a talented woodworker and former manager with Material Service Corp. in Chicago, died of lung cancer Sunday, Sept. 5, in Edward Hospital in Naperville. The son of Sicilian immigrants, Mr. Vitale was born in Chicago and spent his childhood in Pontiac, Ill. He graduated from Pontiac High School, where he showed a talent for design. “He was very creative and could sketch almost anything,” said his daughter. At age 18, Mr. Vitale joined the Army and served as a sergeant with occupation forces in Europe during World War II. In 1952, he married Marian, who died in 1997. The couple lived on the Northwest Side for a while before settling in Des Plaines in 1966. After working for Vulcan Materials in Chicago for several years, Mr. Vitale became a manager with Material Service Corp., where for 18 years he supervised production of cement at Yard 1 in Chicago and Yard 29 in Elk Grove Village. “He was so hard-working and never once took a day off,” said his daughter. Mr. Vitale later became interested in woodworking and went on to design and build many pieces of furniture, including a grandfather’s clock, curio cabinets, end tables and Adirondack chairs. “When he retired, he took up woodworking because he wanted to stay out of my mother’s hair,” said his daughter. “It surprised even him that he had such a knack for it.” Seven years ago, Mr. Vitale moved to the Carillon, a seniors residence in Plainfield, where he became a member of the woodworking club. He had been working on a walnut desk for the last few months, which family members said he donated to the club for their annual fundraising raffle. “He was always giving away what he made to friends and family,” said his daughter. Other survivors include three sons, Vincent, Joseph and Thomas; a brother, Samuel; and three grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 24021 W. Royal Worlington Drive, Naperville. Services will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in the funeral home.
