Former South Elgin Mayor Rolando loses cancer fight

It was not out of the ordinary for Tom Rolando to walk to his South Elgin pharmacy in the wee hours of the night to fill a prescription for the child of an anxious parent.

Or to take a call from a concerned resident at his home around dinner time.

Such was the busy life for Rolando, a pharmacist who served as South Elgin's village president from 1968 to 1997, guiding it from a small town to formal village.

Rolando's wife of 51 years, Deanna, said her husband never complained about the time he invested to have streets paved, sewer lines installed, critical land along Randall Road annexed or alerting people to the dangers a nearby landfill posed to drinking water.

"He liked to help any way he could," she recalled. "He loved it."

Rolando died Tuesday night after a two-year struggle with bone cancer. He was 72.

Family members and village leaders recalled Rolando as a dedicated public servant and devoted family man.

Rolando also was humble and modest. Early this year village leaders wanted to rename a park after him, but he quietly declined and the plan was scrapped. "A lot of people probably don't know all the things he did for South Elgin," said his son, Mike. "He didn't want the spotlight."

Village President Jim Hansen said Rolando's job was demanding because the village didn't have that many staff members. "Tom was a good guy and he worked real hard for the village," Hansen said. "He was the most pleasant person who saw the positive side of things."

Still, Rolando found time to coach baseball and football. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren. "He had a lot going on," recalled another son, Dave. "He was never one to sit still. He was always there when someone needed him."

Kenneth Cornelissen, president of the South Elgin Fire Protection District, said Rolando was a "class act." "He was a wonderful person for South Elgin and did a great job as village president," he said.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St., Elgin. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 215 Thomas More Drive, Elgin.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the football program at St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin.

• Staff writer Larissa Chinwah contributed to this report.