Elgin shoe store owner dies at 95

Tony White grew up as the impoverished child of Italian immigrants and made himself into a prominent business owner in Elgin’s once-thriving downtown, never forgetting his roots or losing his compassion for others in need. White died Feb. 10 at 95 years old, ending a long life that included 20 years as owner of Tony White Shoe Store.

White, who was born and raised in St. Charles, quit school after sixth grade to help support his mom and seven siblings after his dad left. He eventually got a job at a local shoe store — work that would become his life.

White’s son, David White, said his dad bought Ettner’s Shoe Store with a partner in 1948 then started his own business in 1959. There the two sides of his personality showed through: tough businessman and generous benefactor.

“Every one of his kids knows both sides of his personality,” White said, laughing.

One minute, White said his dad would send a hungry person to a restaurant where he had a charge account and let him order a free meal, or agree to pay the utility bills for a family that couldn’t afford it. But five minutes later, back in business mode, White said he would be “tougher than nails.”

Corky Groeninger, 76, started working for White when he was 19 and worked there off and on for many years, including the final decade before White retired as store manager.

“He was a lot more than a boss,” Groeninger said.

The store thrived in downtown Elgin at a time when there were dozens of other places to buy shoes, Groeninger said. And his boss included his employees when it came to shoe orders and business decisions, running a profitable store for decades.

“He may not have had a lot of book learning but he had business sense,” Groeninger said.

Tony White, a devoted Catholic, helped found St. Thomas More Catholic Church in 1959 to provide a place of worship on Elgin’s west side. He owned apartment buildings and spent much of his 30 years in retirement doing maintenance work. White never stopped giving his money to those in need, writing dozens of checks each month to various charities.

“He never flaunted what he did,” David White said. “He didn’t want the recognition of it. But he really was a compassionate man.”

White said his father’s health declined about four years ago after he broke his hip and developed Parkinson’s disease. He outlived his first wife and many of his friends and fellow downtown business owners. He is survived by his second wife, four grown children and three more generations.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, 215 Thomas More Drive, with burial to follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9:15 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St., Elgin.