Michael J. Vitale 1950 - 2022
Michael Joseph Vitale passed away peacefully on July 28, 2022, at the age of 71 years old.
In his final days, he was surrounded, as he had been for many years prior, by his loved ones who will honor his legacy by living life as he did, with unwavering love for family and friends, as well as a commitment to hard work and good times.
Michael was a lifelong native of Chicagoland and showed his hometown pride through his support of all his beloved sports teams: the Bears, Cubs, Blackhawks, and Bulls.
Michael attended Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1975. He then earned his JD from Loyola University School of Law in 1981, followed by an L.L.M. in Child and Family Law also from Loyola in 2002. He started and ran his own law practice for many years, where he represented clients with a variety of legal needs and always treated everyone he encountered with compassion and respect.
Many things in life brought Michael great joy, chief among them, his family. He adored his wife, Susan Vitale, who was always by his side since they married in 1987. He loved coaching and watching his children play sports, from youth through college. He was immensely proud and overjoyed to watch all his children start families of their own and to meet his many grandchildren. He also loved hosting and attending family parties, ensuring everyone enjoyed lots of good food, good music, and good times.
Michael was an endlessly generous man who treated all who met him like family, even strangers on the street who he randomly invited to games with him when he had extra tickets. If he loved something, like he did Jersey Boys or Italian food, he made sure that everyone around him had a chance to love it as much as he did. He was also deeply committed to his faith and attended church regularly. He radiated kindness and compassion in all that he did, which made him an excellent role model as a husband, father, brother, son, uncle, and cousin.
Michael is predeceased by his loving parents, Frances (nee Fico) and Joseph Vitale, and his beloved older sister, Rose Walker. He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife, Susan Vitale (nee Vidovich); his children, Jennifer (Timmy) Brewer, Michael (Laura) Vitale, and Jessica (Chris) Groenendyk; his grandchildren, Gianna, Jonathan, Jakub, Zion, Landen, and Amelia; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.