|
Leonard M. Tomaszewski, journalist, comedian, and computer expert who also was a movie and fantasy football aficionado, died May 13 of heart failure at age 45. Born Sept. 20, 1957, he resided in Niles, IL, for most of his life until moving to Chicago's Portage Park community several years ago. A football player and wrestler at Maine East High School, Mr. Tomaszewski was offered a wrestling scholarship to a college in Idaho but declined it to attend DePaul University in Chicago. At DePaul, he was extremely active on the student newspaper The DePaulia, where he served as a political writer and general news reporter, associate editor, and occasional sportswriter and movie reviewer. "Len was one of the people who gave me my start in journalism," said Mark J. Valentino, editor and publisher of the Chicago Near West/South Gazette newspaper. "When I was editor of The DePaulia, I wouldn't have been able to get the newspaper out without him. He was intuitive and knowledgeable about journalism, but he also was tremendously funny, making it enjoyable to be around a newsroom." During the late 1970s Mr. Tomaszewski was a reporter for the Niles Bugle, and he contributed articles to the Near West/South Gazette from 1983 until his death. "When Len wrote an article he was so knowledgeable, but he was never condescending," said Anne Nordhaus-Bike, Gazette features editor. "He make you feel a part of the story, like he was opening up his arms with what he wrote." At DePaul, Mr. Tomaszewski in 1978 started one of the country's first fantasy football leagues, a recreational activity that has since become of nationwide interest. Mr. Tomaszewski served as commissioner of his league throughout its entire existence. After graduating from DePaul with a B.A. in 1980, Mr. Tomaszewski joined the movie projectionists union, working for Spectradyne Corp. and playing movies for several Chicago Film Festivals during the 1980s. During the 1990s he developed an interest in comedy and joined the Second City Etc. and Annoyance Theatre comedy troupes. Mr. Tomaszewski used his girth to great comedic effect in the manner of Jackie Gleason or John Candy. "He had a quirky sense of humor that was full of humanity-a loving humor instead of a hard edge," Nordhaus-Bike said. "He looked at the world sideways. Sending you a Christmas card for your birthday was his take on life. You could always count on him to lift your spirits, and that made him beloved by friends and fans alike." After working for Walden Books for several years, Mr. Tomaszewski joined the workforce of Loyola University Chicago in 1996 as a technical analyst for the Office of Information Services, where he was a troubleshooter on the university's computer help desk. "We'll all miss Len's sense of humor and the way he dominated a room, first by his sheer size, and then by his personality, which was many times bigger than his physical size," said Mike Soriano, a member of Mr. Tomaszewski's fantasy football league. "Mostly though, we will miss his spirit, generosity, and decency." Mr. Tomaszewski was preceded in death by his parents, Lenard and Marian Tomaszewski. Survivors are his sisters Cher Tomas and Sister Dawn Tomaszewski, S.P.; brother James (Kathrine) Tomaszewski; niece Kelly (William) Saunders; nephew James Tomaszewski; niece Elizabeth Tomaszewski; and grand-nephew Carter John Saunders. Visitation will be Friday, May 16, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Mass will be at 11 a.m., both at St. Catherine LaBoure Catholic Church, 3535 Thornwood Ave., Glenview, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mr. Tomaszewski's name may be sent to Woods Day Care, St. Mary Woods, IN 47876. |