Paul “Pia” Anthony Piaskowy 77, of Elmhurst, IL, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Sept. 6th, one day shy of his 78th birthday, after a long tough battle trying to recover from a stroke.
He was the loving partner of Jill Bennis for the last 31 years. Born to Anthony and Dorothy (Dvorak) in 1946. Father of Joseph and Natalie (Raymond) Weiss with Marilyn (Nelson) Piaskowy and Bonus Dad to Sean (Melissa), Todd (Natalie) Bennis and Brooke (Adam) Pringle.
Grandfather “Pia” to Halle, Hayden and Jordan Weiss, Briana, Lexie, Alison, Lila, Erin and Evelyn Bennis, and Ben and Avery Pringle. Furbaby Grandpa to Sadie and Sonora.
Paul was a graduate of St. Ignatius High School and the Univ. Of Illinois. He was a loyal friend, wonderful storyteller, great dancer and super athlete. He spent a lot of his youth barnstorming the U.S. and Canada playing baseball. He started college at Santa Clara, was drafted by Houston, tore his rotator cuff and was sent to the U.of I. for rehab, where he stayed.
After college, he went to Law School, but his low draft number required him to join the Army. After Ft. Campbell, San Antonio and the Presidio in San Francisco he got his orders to go to Vietnam. Luckily his group was cancelled as the war was winding down.
He returned to the U. Of I., got his Masters and became a school counselor. During that time he and some friends bought the college bar “Kams” plus a few others. Eventually, he moved back to Berwyn to help take care of his parents and partnered in “The Collision News” and “Bobo’s Big Dog Saloon”. On opening night there, he met Jill and moved with her to Elmhurst a few years later. He opened the “Prairie Cafe” with partners and then “Maple Tree Restaurant”. After retiring he worked for Enterprise Car Rental.
Paul loved coaching baseball, betting the ponies, playing sports, vacationing at Ft. Myers Beach but most of all just being with family and friends. He was a really great guy and will be missed by many.
A Celebration of Life was held on Sunday, 9/15 at the Renaissance Room of the KC Hall, 537 S. York Rd. Elmhurst. Hawaiian shirts, Pink or Plaid sport coats, or his favorite sports team stuff were welcome!
In lieu of sending flowers please hug your loved ones tight and cheer extra hard for the Bears and Illini this season.
