South Elgin village pres. remembered for dedication, leadership

More than 150 friends, family members and local village officials gathered at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Elgin Friday to bid farewell to a well-loved leader.

"Sometimes, simple presence speaks volumes," said the Rev. Geoffrey Wirth, who led the 10 a.m. funeral Mass for Tom Rolando. "This wonderful turnout is a sign of Tom's impact on so many lives."

South Elgin's village president for nearly three decades passed away Tuesday after a struggle with bone cancer. He was 72.

Rolando came to South Elgin from Downers Grove in the late 1950s, working as a pharmacist at State Street's Cook Pharmacy.

After a six-year stint as a village trustee, Rolando ran for village president in 1968. Spending 29 years guiding South Elgin from a tiny town to a rapidly expanding village, he left office in 1997.

A tireless individual, Rolando was known for putting in overtime in various capacities - filling a sick child's prescription, coaching baseball and football, and alerting South Elgin residents to the dangers a landfill posed to their drinking water.

"He saw himself as a true public servant," Wirth said. "... Look at all he crammed into his 72 years."

At Rolando's wake Thursday at Elgin's Laird Funeral Home, a line stretched around the block for about three hours, said nephew James Worth of West Chicago.

South Elgin police officers clad in dress blues flanked his casket, changing guard every 15 minutes.

Dave DeWitt of Elgin said as a child he remembered Rolando as the neighborhood pharmacist, as a local official, and as the father of St. Edward Central Catholic varsity football's "Coach Ro," Mike Rolando.

"Everyone knew him, and everyone loved him," DeWitt said of Rolando.

Rolando leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Deanna, four children and several grandchildren.

After the funeral, Rolando was interned at Mount Hope Cemetery in Elgin.

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