Today’s must-read
Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Mitch Dudek’s obituary about Amanda Vinicky’s dad…
When Jim Vinicky attended a traditional Swedish Christmas Eve dinner at his high school girlfriend’s house in Hinsdale, he brought a jar of giardiniera.
It was an audacious move. The spiced and brined vegetables clashed with the family’s admittedly bland homemade sausage, pickled herring and hunks of cheese.
It was tolerated by her parents. And secretly heralded by the rest of his future in-laws.
Mr. Vinicky, who grew up in neighboring LaGrange and was under the impression that everyone in Hinsdale was rich, mistook his girlfriend’s mother for the family maid the first time he went to their house, the family recalled.
“We were Cubs and Chicago Tribune people, and he came into the family and was a White Sox guy who read the Sun-Times,” said Brenda Lundstrom, Mr. Vinicky’s sister-in-law.
The Sun-Times lost its great obit writer Maureen O’Donnell when she stepped away from the job last year. Dudek has some big shoes to fill, but he’s really stepping up. And Jim Vinicky sounds like he was one heckuva guy.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 8:06 am:
Amanda, so sorry for your loss.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 8:28 am:
My sincere condolences to the Vinicky family. Jim definitely seems like someone I would have enjoyed having a beer with.
- Jessica R. - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 8:32 am:
Aww. Amanda, your pops was a true-blue legend and will be missed by many. What a monumental loss for humanity and more. Hugs.
- Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 8:34 am:
Prayers to Amanda and her family. May Mr. Vinicky Rest In Peace and with the knowledge he is loved and won’t be forgotten.
- Frumpy White Guy - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 8:52 am:
A life well lived and a remarkable daughter who will continue her father’s legacy of making the world a better place.
- Todd - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 8:52 am:
sorry to hear about this, our condolences Amanda
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 8:55 am:
Sincere and heartfelt condolences to the entire Vinicky family, and the many friends Mr. Vinicky made, truly a wonderful obituary for a man I wish I had met.
Condolences to Amanda, a true pro, one who has embodied many of the traits of her father and we are all better for that.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 8:58 am:
Amanda, I’m sorry for your loss.
“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”
-Maya Angelou
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 9:06 am:
Knowing Amanda a little bit when she lived here in Springfield - you could just tell she was raised by good people. There’s the proof.
Amanda, sorry for your loss, your dad sounds awesome.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 9:07 am:
Amanda and Vinicky family, so very sorry for your loss. thank you for sharing great stories about your dad.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 9:25 am:
My condolences to the Vinicky family. Very sorry for your loss. I loved the reference to the Miiillleer Liiite man.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 9:33 am:
I didn’t know Jim, but I do know that he raised one heck of a human being in Amanda and our hearts go out to her and her family.
- Tony DeKalb - Tuesday, Mar 14, 23 @ 11:28 am:
Condolences to Amanda and her entire family. He sounds like a great guy and a real trip!