Gaspare "Gary" Pirrello

Gaspare Joseph-Antonio Pirrello born April 20, 1955, in Brooklyn, NY; passed away peacefully in Des Plaines, IL. he was 70. He was preceded in death by beloved parents Dominic and Aurelia (nee DeCillis) Pirrello, God-Mother Grace Fratali, God-Father Anthony Orlando, beloved Uncle Frank and Aunt Millie (nee Pirrello) Urso; brother-in-law Peter Anthony Scalia, and his dear niece Annalisa Marie Scalia.

A visitation for Gary will be held at Calvert-Metzler Funeral Home on Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 3PM-5PM

Gary, as he was affectionately nicknamed by his mother, was a die-hard New York Yankee fan along with childhood friends Jackie Orlando and Phil Brischoux. He graduated with honors from Monroe-Woodbury High School in NY. He went on to Orange Community College and earned a scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and received his Bachelor in Industrial Engineering in 1979 – his dream occupation. He was always on top of all the latest technologies that came along. He married and moved to Connecticut shortly after Graduating from RIT and started a family, eventually settling in the Midwest to further his career.

Gary will be remembered for his love of God, The Blessed Mother, his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and country (he was a proud patriot). He embodied a spirit of generosity for anyone who had the privilege of meeting him. He was fond of being Santa at Christmas parties hosted for family, friends and neighbors, carefully assuring Santa left boot prints in the snow for the children. He had a smile, a piece of candy and gifts for each. His outside decorations were outstanding, winning him the “best decorated of Round Lake Park” with his handmade painted signs that said “Merry Christmas” in every language he could. He was Santa at many events in the Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin area to spread more joy at Christmas. You could even find him in grocery stores from Thanksgiving on in Santa fashion passing out candy, kind words and joy to children shopping with parents. As a hobby, he enjoyed designing sheds, refinishing furniture, fixing and building things with his children.

He is survived by his God Father Joseph DeCillis, his siblings Katherine Marie Scalia and Mario Joseph (Michele) Pirrello, his ex-wife Mary Renee (nee Sigismondi) Pirrello, Brother-in law Tim Baker and Edward Baker, his beloved children Catherine Jeanette (Brian) Wettengel, Dominic Peter Pirrello, Alexander Michael (Samantha) Pirrello and Christopher Leonard (Brittani) Pirrello; grandchildren-James Thomas, Liam Wayne, Allison Kathleen and Emma Aurelia Wettengel and Amara Scott Pirrello.

He will be remembered by extended family in Texas, Indiana, New York and California, and many friends in New York, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Illinois.