Carol Stream mourns passing of mayor's son

When Carol Stream Village Manager Joe Breinig chatted with Dominic Saverino at last month's Relay For Life event, Dominic's sense of humor and concern for his family was obvious.

Here was a man who had been in and out of hospitals for several years for treatment of eye cancer and a rare disease that causes a growth on his cerebellum into his upper spine. Yet there he sat, as calm and funny as he could be.

"So much of what made him special was evident," Breinig said. "It was just a remarkable time to talk to him."

On Monday, Dominic, the son of Carol Stream Village President Frank Saverino, died after 31/2 years in and out of hospitals for surgeries for his ailments.

Dominic Saverino, 36, suffered from chiari malformation and died at his St. Charles home.

"It was a life cut way too short," Breinig said. "With his charity work, I can't begin to imagine how much the world has lost by him not being in it."

Frank Saverino said his youngest son died in his rocking chair.

"I can't think of anybody who doesn't love the kid," he said. "I can't imagine what he would have accomplished if he had lived another 30, 40 years or how much better he would have made this world."

Dominic was actively involved in charity work and helped organize a drive that put together food baskets for those in need every Thanksgiving.

He was vice president of the family marketing business, using a skill his father said he first exhibited when he was just 8. At a marketing convention, he sweet-talked a microwave vendor into letting the Saverino business use its products to heat a bag of one of its client's popcorn.

The result was a new customer for the business after the vendor decided to work with Saverino & Associates based on his interaction with Dominic.

In later years, Dominic used his love of remote-control aircraft to fly a blimp around a convention center dropping off business cards and gift cards.

"He loved to create a fun atmosphere for everyone," the elder Saverino said. "Throughout his career with Saverino & Associates Inc. he was the top-selling salesperson because of his unique style and ability to think outside the box."

The realization he might lose his eye because of the cancer devastated him, Frank Saverino said.

"I think telling him he had to have the eye taken out finished him off," Saverino said. "He kept saying, 'I just don't want to be cut into anymore. Every time I come out worse than when I came in.'"

Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today at Salerno's Rosedale Funeral Chapel, 450 Lake St., Roselle. The funeral procession will travel from Salerno's at 8:30 a.m. Thursday to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 6N491 Crane Road, St. Charles.

Dominic has two children, Dominic III, 4, and Isabella, 2, and is survived by his wife Dana Hoenig.