Colorful East Dundee developer Thom McNamee dies at 56
He once gallivanted around the world for photo shoots in exotic locations like Australia and New Zealand, modeling designer labels.
Friends say he even dated a model named Elle McPherson.
But Hawaiian shirts - no matter the climate - unlaced work boots and long shorts became the wardrobe choice for Thom McNamee, the colorful figure behind East Dundee's most popular establishments, like Rosie O'Hare's Public House and Bandito Barney's Beach Club.
McNamee, 56, of unincorporated Dundee Township, died from a brain tumor Thursday night.
"Being an attorney he could get into a suit, and being a model he obviously looked good in a suit," said Frank Scarpelli, a friend and fellow developer. "But in the last 15 years, no matter the weather, he would be in some kind of Hawaiian shirt, boots and shorts."
That theme will continue in death, as mourners are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts and shorts to funeral services scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, Scarpelli said.
McNamee, who recently married Heather Rooney, had been sick for about a year, friends said.
His funeral is sure to bring back memories of the funeral for his twin brother Tim, who was gunned down in the driveway of his Carpentersville law firm - almost 22 years to the day - in 1987.
Like the planned wake for Thom, Tim's wake was far from conventional.
His body was laid atop a Corvette outside the brothers' log cabin off Route 31 in West Dundee as friends and family held an Irish wake around him.
Tim's death tortured Thom for two decades, but it did not slow him down. A few years ago, he campaigned against getaway driver Nadine Walter's efforts to become an attorney.
McNamee grew up in the Meadowdale section of Carpentersville, one of 11 children. After he earned a law degree from the John Marshall Law School, he embarked on a modeling career before returning to the Dundee area, playing an integral role in the downtown area's growth and success.
"He was the driving force behind redevelopment in the downtown area," former East Dundee village president and friend Dan O'Leary said. "Without him and his vision and his willingness to move forward, it is questionable where things might end up. There's no one else knocking on the door saying, 'I have to develop in the downtown area.'"
Thom and Tim McNamee bought the current home of Bandito Barney's at 10 N. River St., in the late 1970s, Scarpelli said. Its original moniker was Wall Street. McNamee opened the Irish pub now known as Rosie O'Hare's at 702 Water St. in 1996 as the Catfish Club.
Additionally, McNamee owned the historic Dundee Lumber yard that was destroyed in a March 2007 fire.
McNamee promoted many civic activities that helped the Fox River and other local causes, those closest to him said.
"He was always a great friend to the village," East Dundee Trustee Michael Ruffulo said. "Not only because of the establishments he owned, but also all of the civic events he participated in, like cleaning up the river and the St. Patrick's Day event he sponsored. He was just a great guy that went way before his time."
McNamee sponsored the village's annual St Patrick's Day Parade when financial issues threatened the future of the event.
"He was an important part of East Dundee and it will be a new era without him," O'Leary said. "He will be missed."
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday, at "The Ranch" 18N951 Route 31, in Dundee Township with a private funeral service on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Timothy R. McNamee Science Foundation at 10 N. River St., East Dundee, IL 60118.