Mt. Prospect resident was constantly motivated, always in motion

A Mount Prospect resident known throughout the insurance industry and the village for his boundless energy and positive approach to life, has died.

Bruno Pinkos passed away on Saturday, at the age of 94.

"He was the most interesting person I ever met," said Mount Prospect Police Officer Bill Roscop, who called on Mr. Pinkos frequently. "He had such enthusiasm and zest for life, that after every visit I walked out of there wanting to do a little more and work a little harder. He was that inspiring."

Colleagues in the insurance industry agreed. What began in 1937 led to a more than 70-year career with Prudential, during which he would become a top salesman, sales manager, district manager, trainer, and chairman of the Chicago and state territories.

"He was our champion," says Jeff Martinath, managing director of the Chicagoland Agency of Prudential. "He called everyone 'Champ,' but he was our true champion."

For the last 20 years, Mr. Pinkos worked with his grandson, Blake Cosentino of DeKalb, in offices in Oakbrook, Palatine and Mount Prospect.

"He worked well into his 90s," Cosentino says. "He split his time between writing business and calling on clients, with giving motivational talks to clients' sales forces."

His granddaughter, Nina Burkert of St. Charles, points to two of his favorite expressions: "PMA" or positive mental attitude, and "Go, go, go."

"Those were his mantras," Burkert said.

Mr. Pinkos' only son, Richard, took many of his father's traits and applied them to his chosen profession, teaching acting. Richard (Pinkos) Pinter is director of the acting department of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York.

"I never set out to be, but it's amazing how much like my father I am," Pinter says. "I use many of those same attributes to motivate students. I'm very positive, very forceful, very interested in moving people forward and empowering them."

Another love Mr. Pinkos helped to move forward was the growth of 16-inch softball in Chicago. He was inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame in 2003 as one of the sport's "pioneer players."

Mr. Pinkos played second base on the team that won the Windy City Championship team in 1938, and later would promote a fledgling Chicago league from 16 to 64 teams.

"I was a Pete Rose type of player," Mr. Pinkos said in a 2003 Daily Herald interview. "One time we needed one run to win so I bunted to get on first base and then I stole second base, third base and finally, home so that we would win. I was so competitive that way."

A photo of Mr. Pinkos in his 1938 uniform is memorialized on a marble monument in the new Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame Museum and Inductee Park unveiled in July in Forest Park.

Mr. Pinkos was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, and daughter, Dorothy Cosentino. Besides his son and two grandchildren, he is survived by his grandchildren Suzie Cosentino of Chicago and Chris Cosentino of Geneva, as well as two great-grandchildren.

A 10 a.m. funeral Mass takes place today, Oct. 7, at St. Raymond de Penafort Church, 301 S. I-Oka Avenue in Mount Prospect.