Edward J. Vertovec, of Elmhurst, died on the 12th of January at the age of 91.

Ed was born in Elmhurst on March 13th, 1923, to Frank and Caroline Vertovec. He grew up in Elmhurst with his 5 siblings: Fran, Frank, Carl, Ray, and Jean.

He later graduated from Elmhurst College and received his law degree from DePaul University. During World War II, he served in the Air Force, specializing in radar navigation training.

Following his service, Ed married his beloved wife Betty J. Pace on June 21, 1947. According to Ed, Betty made their 67 years of marriage total happiness and bliss. Ed lived and maintained a local law practice in Elmhurst where he championed numerous public works projects, including the advancement of the Chamber of Commerce and the Elmhurst Park District, along with Co-Chairing the Underpass Committee. Ed was presented the Thousand Points of Light Volunteer Award by President George H.W. Bush in a ceremony in Salt Lake City.

In 1988 Ed and Betty retired to Skidaway Island in Savannah, Georgia. Ed devoted countless hours to his lifelong love of volunteer work, donating his time to multiple organizations including The Chatham County Victim Witness Assistance Program, The Chatham County Juvenile Court Panels (which assisted judges in caring for minors), The Village Library at Skidaway, and The Howard Young Medical Center in Minocqua, Wisconsin.

When Ed and Betty moved back to Elmhurst in 2013, he began searching for the right volunteer job. After an incredible experience spending a day in Washington DC on the Honor Flight (with his brother, Ray, amongst many other veterans), Ed became involved in aiding local veterans through his work at The Lexington including organizing a lecture from four Battle of the Bulge survivors just last week.

Ed will be remembered for his many great passions including travel, sports, reading, and history. His life-long emphasis on fitness and working out began many years ago at the Elmhurst YMCA with his close friends, The Jolly Boys, and then continued at The Courts where he also played tennis several times a week. He continued playing a bi-weekly game of tennis until he was 90. Over the years he also played numerous sports including softball in an Elmhurst league, volleyball, and (perhaps most importantly) golf, which he continued well into his 80s. After retiring from most team sports, he happily sat in bleachers through rain, snow, sleet, sun and heat watching his descendants play a wide variety of sports.

For the past 40 years, Ed and Betty also spent countless hours enjoying the comforts of their lake home in the North Woods of Wisconsin with family and friends. To know Ed was to love Ed. He was a devoted husband, father, (great) grandfather, and friend. His frequent greeting of, Hello this is sweet and lovable Ed Vertovec, always rang true. Ed was generous, kind, gentlemanly, positive, brilliant, and humble. He always had a smile on his face and a song on his tongue. He wrote amazing poetry for family occasions, his last being his beloved wife's birthday, where he had the entire room in tears. Ed lived his long life with enthusiasm and optimism. He was always thinking of others and what he could do to help them. His sage advice was welcomed even this week. Ed will be missed more than words can express, but he has made the world a better place. His spirit and his goodness will live on in all whose lives he touched.

Ed is survived by Betty and their four children - Kristine (Glenn) Rosenberger, Joe (Nancy Ebaugh), Mary, and Ann (David Audley). Additionally, Ed was an enduring grandfather to nine grandchildren: Tiffani, Brian, Allison, Christopher, Hannah, Sam, Jordan, Ben, and Wil, and three great grandchildren: Hope, Collin and Andrew. He is also survived by his brother, Ray (Anne) and his sister, Jean (Roman) Schmitt.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Honor Flight Inc., 300 E. Auburn Ave. Springfield, OH 45505 www.honorflight.org or The Village Library, 1 Skidaway Square, Savannah GA 31411, (912) 598-1183, www.thevillagelibrary.org. Funeral info 630-834-3515 or www.ahlgrim.com. Savannah Morning News January 15, 2015 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.