Michael Joseph Vitale, 71, died peacefully on July 28, 2022. In his final days, he was surrounded, as he had been for many years prior, by his loved ones who will honor his legacy by living life as he did, with unwavering love for family and friends, as well as a commitment to hard work and good times.
A lifelong native of Chicagoland, he showed his hometown pride through his support for the Bears, Cubs, Blackhawks, and Bulls.
He attended Northern Illinois University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975. He earned his JD from Loyola University School of Law in 1981, followed by an LLM in Child and Family Law also from Loyola in 2002. He started and ran his own law practice for many years, always treated everyone he encountered with compassion and respect.
In addition to his wife, Susan Vitale, who was always by his side since they married in 1987, he loved coaching and watching his children play sports, from youth through college. He was immensely proud and overjoyed to watch all his children start families of their own and to meet his many grandchildren. He also loved hosting and attending family parties, ensuring everyone enjoyed lots of good food, good music, and good times.
He treated everyone like family, even strangers on the street whom he randomly invited to games with him when he had extra tickets. If he loved something, like Jersey Boys or Italian food, he made sure everyone around him had a chance to love it as much as he did. He was deeply committed to his faith and radiated kindness and compassion.
Michael was predeceased by his parents, Frances (nee Fico) and Joseph Vitale and his older sister, Rose Walker. He is survived by his wife, Susan Vitale (nee Vidovich); his children, Jennifer (Timmy) Brewer, Michael (Laura) Vitale, and Jessica (Chris) Groenendyk; his grandchildren, Gianna, Jonathan, Jakub, Zion, Landen, and Amelia; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 3 to 9 p.m. at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home 3847 Prairie Ave., Brookfield. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., August 4, at St. Barbara Church.
