Thomas Arthur Zerega

Thomas Arthur Patrick Zerega, October 28, 1957 – July 18, 2022. Loving brother to Mary Zerega, Peggy Zerega, Joe Zerega (Ellen McCauley), Fred Zerega, Ann Zerega (Garth Cummings) and Barbara Zerega Wolf, fond uncle of Cate Zerega, Chris Zerega, Megan Albrecht (Jordi Rios), Kevin Albrecht, Laura Zerega (Luke Flatgard), Elise Zerega (Nathan Kaplin) and Nicholas Wolf.

Our family would like to express our thanks for the many expressions of care we have received. Tom, the middle of the seven Zerega children, was a witty, intelligent man who will be missed by all who knew him. He was a master of puns and limericks, voracious reader of Max Brand and Louis L’Amour, and arbiter of facts.

As a young man, Tom worked at Ridgemoor Country Club (Chicago) and the Axle Roller Rink. After high school he began his career at Marshall Field’s warehouse in a variety of roles until the Macy’s purchase. He worked for Macy’s for several years after the acquisition.

In his youth Tom was known for his mercurial temper. Our parents wrote this limerick about Tom (luckily he became calmer with age):

There once was a boy named Tom,

Who was so exceedingly calm,

He was Pacific,

To be specific,

He was like an atomic bomb.

Our family will cherish the memories of long car trips and very loud singing, impromptu pick-up football games, and Tom’s favorite yellow cereal bowl we were not allowed to touch. His stories about Marshall Field’s furniture deliveries were repeated again and again --- he said when he retired, he’d write a book and title it “A Couch Is Not a Slinky” due to the requests of North Shore clients insisting the couch they’d just purchased would definitely make it up the stairs at their homes.

We will miss our time with you, Tom, so very much. You are gone too soon and we are the poorer for the loss of your sweet soul amongst us.

Out of respect for Tom’s wishes there will not be a Memorial Service. We ask you to celebrate his life in whatever way you find comforting…argue with a complete stranger about something in the Chicago Tribune, construct a limerick, whack your sister in her head, raise a glass of beer. He knows the love we shared. Complicated, dedicated, eternal.

Memorial donations in honor of Tom would be appreciated to BedsPlus, 9601 East Ogden Avenue, LaGrange, IL 60525. (708) 354-0858 (x15 Molly Price). If sending a check donation, be sure and include a note about the tribute to Tom Zerega 

BEDS Plus provides shelter, housing services and homelessness prevention to reduce and end homelessness in Southwest Suburban Cook County.