Michael Dalicandro

Michael J. Dalicandro, age 64, of Chicago, died on Saturday, August 17, 2019. He leaves behind his best friend and wife of 38 years, Mary Ellen Doherty; his children, Danielle (Luke Scislowicz), Michael John Dalicandro, and his truly beloved grandson Colin Michael Scislowicz. Michael was taken home in the arms of his father, Daniel, and two brothers Laurence and Danny. Michael was the loving son of Marie, nee Iovino, loved brother of James (Eileen Belmonte), and the late Daniel Dalicandro (Donna). On the other side of the family he will also meet in heaven his late father-in-law Daniel Doherty, and late best-ever mother-in-law Nellie Doherty, as well as Julie Ann (Doherty) Sebastian, Daniel Doherty (Lynda Felbab), Patricia Doherty (Thomas Hodge. He was a kind and dependable godfather to Timothy Doherty, Denise Dalicandro, Jennifer Olson, and Matthew dePrinse; and fond uncle to numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.About our Michael Known in his early motorcycle years as “The Fonz,” Michael was a city of Chicago employee for more than 30 years, ending his career as electrical foreman for fire-department vehicles on the “red side.” A mechanical expert in all types of trucks and some special cars, Michael enjoyed numerous types of car shows with his family, his brothers, son-in-law, and many car-enthusiast friends. He loved all things Ferrari, including Formula 1, and especially the F355, and was privileged to meet the designer of that car, Leonardo Fioravanti, at his home in Modena, Italy. As a Ferrari co-owner with his wife, they were members of the Ferrari Club of America, Chicago Chapter, attending fundraisers for the two childrens’ hospitals. To his family, friends, and work colleagues, Michael is an unsung hero, and his tenacious work ethic, while at the Chicago Fire Department repair shops, ultimately led to the lung diseases that killed him. As a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Michael attended all christenings, communions, birthdays, and other joyous family occasions, even learning how to sing “Happy Birthday” in Polish. Straight ShooterMichael was a 134 IBEW member who, after leaving a wellrun shop at 31st and Sacramento went to work for Fleet Management at North and Throop. One of his first memories at that shop is when preventative maintenance (PM) required vehicles to come into the shop. When the call was placed to the engine company that was actively fighting a fire “they” still wanted the vehicles to come in for PM, and not accepting the first NO, they asked again and the vehicles remained at the fire. An expensive and wasteful decision was when the 31st street shop had recently created pits for the very heavy vehicles. Not long thereafter, the fire vehicles moved to North and Troop, they filled in those pits with cement. At North and Throop, when he said the pits weren’t big enough for the heavy fire department vehicles, he warned them that the truck/ladder would tip over despite the outer rigging being deployed. Sure enough, slowly over it went with men underneath until he yelled STOP. He fought for a HVAC System that successfully decreased his co-workers’ exposure to diesel fumes. He told them not to use Brakleen to strip burnt wires or for other off safety data sheet purposes. He took a manager position with the express purpose of making a difference for his crew, for them to receive updated computerized education to properly fix the vehicles, and for them to be safe; however, but the bureaucrats of Fleet Management and later 2FM turned a deaf ear and instead became focused on HR compliance and evaluations that meant nothing because those who did not do a good job or abused the system kept their jobs - especially the “favorites” who kissed up to their bosses. Or those that were exceptional workers he was told that no one could get a perfect score on their evaluation so he had to down grade the eval – he didn’t. Instead, Michael decided to go back to being foreman to work with and train his crew so the vehicles could be fixed right the first time. Even still, Michael fought for such things as ladder trucks to be properly maintained and repaired so people could be rescued safely. The pressure to bend to the lower safety standards was too much for some and they, rightfully so, left that shop. He refused to use the cart at work, when returning to work the day after discharge from the hospital after his first lung collapse, because people abused the use of it. Michael never took time off or did light duty when he could have been considered “disabled” in order to set a good example and discourage people from abusing the “light duty” return to work “policy.” Michael could find parts for vehicles faster than the parts department could, until NAPA took over. All “old” parts were tossed in the garbage including an irreplaceable part for a 25-year-old vehicle that Michael asked them to save – they didn’t. Somehow, those same parts were eventually sold when “miraculously” they showed up on eBay. 2FM, went the way of corporate idealism and rather than having all the part that he might need for any vehicle, they only stocked one. That meant the vehicles were out of service and using old spares for longer than they should, which might have jeopardized the safety and wellbeing of Chicago citizens. Michael was more than disappointed when upper management – who knew little or nothing about vehicle repairs – turned a blind eye to that process, because it was a money maker, or when management went to another shop so they could get another municipal pension. On a hot summer day, Michael took the heat (meaning they would have to write him up instead of the two guys when he sent two of his crew out for cool refreshments). Dedicated solely to his work, Michael didn’t have a side business or spend city time doing personal projects. He never played games, didn’t care if you didn’t respect him because respect from bosses had to be earned after underhanded practices, such as giving answers to test questions to certain people they wanted to get promoted. He knew to keep boundaries while others ingratiated themselves for past and future favors. Michael was a straight shooter by word and action. He taught people how to deal with bureaucrats, how to repair vehicles, and, as a person, saved at least one or two marriages along the way.World Traveler Michael retired earlier than he could have or even wanted, but his health and family were more important. That’s when his wife Mary Ellen dragged him by the hand and led him around the world. Their numerous travels touched down in Ireland for their honeymoon, and for the Neary/Cleary familymoon. He and his wife treasured their time in England (Bristol, Bath, and the Cliffs of Dover), Scotland, Portugal, Rock of Gibraltar, Morocco, West Africa, Cape town, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, South Korea, Australia, Tanzania, and New Zealand. In Italy, they met the Ferrari family, attended the Ferrari museum, and viewed many exotic cars, Italian masterpieces, balsamic vinegar, Pavarotti’s home town, and parmesan cheese that was piled to the ceiling. But on cruises, always no more than a “table for two.”Michael was a Gift of Hope donor, because he knew the importance of organ donation to give others a second chance at life, including vision, for which his brother was a recipient. Michael loved dogs and his son’s dog Jack, brought home from South Korea. Michael thought that was pretty special, until his grandson Colin was born. That was when he truly wanted to live. He endured numerous painful procedures to enjoy more time with the precious new family member, and the rest of his family Visitation, Prayers, and Final ViewingVisitation will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2019, from 3:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels, located at 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, IL. Funeral services and prayers will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home, proceeding to St. Pascal Church, 6199 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, for Mass at 11 a.m. A private interment will be held, at his final resting place, St. Michael the Archangel cemetery, 1185 Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL, 600667. Information and condolences can be shared at www.cumberlandchapels.com or 708-456-8300.In lieu of flowers, consider a plant or a donation to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ways-to-give/donate-now or the American Heart American Association https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageNavigator/donatenow_heart.html