A long-time member and familiar face at the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tom Myers and his wife Shirley enjoy a few hors d’oeuvres at the ECCI’s annual Gala in 2015. Tom Myers passed away last week at the age of 96. He served on many ECCI Boards and Committees and served as Chairman of the Board (then-President).
By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
Elmhurst resident Thomas O. Myers Jr., owner and president of Thomas O. Myers Real Estate in Elmhurst, passed away on Thursday, April 1 at the age of 96. He was born on Dec. 29, 1924.
Myers, along with his wife, Shirley, is the second generation of family leadership in a real estate business founded in 1920 by his father. He began working with his father following his service in the U.S. Navy as an X-ray technician during WWII.
Myers had five children from a previous marriage – Thomas III, John, Donald, Kathy and Helen — and two sons, David and Paul, with his wife Shirley. His eldest daughter Kathy pre-deceased him.
His nephew Tom Cathcart recalls going to the Rainbow Restaurant about once a month or so.
“We would just sit look out the window and shoot the breeze,” Cathcart recalled. “He always liked to say that he had ‘arranged’ the breakfast for us, or ‘glad you didn’t find a better opportunity to spend your day elsewhere.’ He was a joker like that.”
Cathcart, whose mother was Tom’s youngest sister, also recalls his uncle being there for him when times were tough.
“When I lost my job in 2008, he loaned me money, but I paid everything back in full,” Cathcart said. “He was like that, he always had my back.”
Service to the hospital
Since 1961, Myers has volunteered his time and donated his money in support of Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and its Board of Governors, including 30 years of service on the Finance, Building & Grounds Committee and Public Relations Committee. For almost 25 years, he chaired or co-chaired the Governors’ Fall Benefit Dinner, which brought in as much as $70,000 a year.
The Myers also have endowed a scholarship fund for children of hospital employees who pursue academic studies in a medical or health-related course of study.
Myers was recognized in 1990 with the Governors’ Distinguished Service Award for his contributions and commitment to the hospital.
The late Darrell Whistler, who served as Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Elmhurst Hospital at that time, noted that Myers “goes about his involvement that enhances Elmhurst in a quiet unassuming manner, but when it is all said and done, major accomplishments occur when Tom is involved.”
Service to the College/University
Elmhurst College (at that time) awarded one of its highest accolades, the Founders Medal, to the Myers in recognition of their “lifetimes of building, directing and accomplishing.” Founders Medalists have unique relationships with the College in the areas of personal commitment, service and involvement, and philanthropic assistance.
Ken Bartels, then-vice president for college advancement at Elmhurst College, endorsed Myers as “a leader, doer and difference-maker.”
“Tom Myers is a man of significant achievement and serious dedication to Elmhurst,” Bartels said.
The Myers recently established an endowed scholarship fund at Elmhurst College to provide assistance for students who demonstrate financial need and who serve as managers for the Bluejays’ intercollegiate athletic teams.
Service to a vast community
Myers is a long-time member and Past Commander (1960) of the Elmhurst American Legion THB Post 187, serving as the 11th District Commander in 1969, and a Life Member of the Elmhurst Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2048. In 1983, the American Legion honored him as its Citizen of the Year.
He has been a member of the Elmhurst Elks Lodge #1531 for more than 50 years and is a former member of the Elmhurst Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees).
Myers also is a past president of the Elmhurst Family YMCA Businessman Club and DuPage Family Services’ Board of Directors and was a Director (1971-91) for the Elmhurst National Bank for 20 years.
In 2003, Tom received the Elmhurst Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Award with a lavish banquet held in his honor.
Myers Real Estate has been a member of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 1935. Myers has served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors and is a Past Chairman (then President). Also, he is a three-time Ambassador of the Year recipient (1995, 2001 and 2014) for his outstanding service as a Chamber green coat.
Like his father, Myers is a member and Past President (1956 and 1974) of the former DuPage Board of Realtors, which named him Realtor of the Year in 1978.
Myers Real Estate
Myers Real Estate started in 1920 with Thomas O. Myers Sr. in an office on Lake Street.
“My grandfather was really a mover and a shaker,” Cathcart continued. “He was on the Board of Elmhurst National Bank, and Myers Real Estate was the firm instrumental in selling the homes in the Emory Manor and Brynhaven subdivisions. They sold everyone of those houses. He was also involved in the St. Charles West apartment complex after the war.”
Cathcart recalls the house at 419 No. York.
“My grandfather bought the house across the street from what is now Culver’s, before that it was a Burger King,” he said. “They used it as their offices for years and years. Lots of family members worked for the business, first my uncle [Tom Myers] then his younger sister, then my Aunt Marilyn and my mother Marjorie. Frank Catalano Sr. and Frank Bueller started at Myers Real Estate before they left to start their own ‘Frank’s Real Estate’ office.”
Cathcart said they were always together at the holidays and he will miss that. Most of all, he’ll miss those chats at Rainbow Restaurant.
Thomas O. Myers, Jr. as the beloved husband of Shirley, nee Little; loving father of Thomas O. III (Ruth), John (Marie), Donald (Brenda) Myers, Helen Clair, Paul (Lori) and David (Nickie) Myers and the late Katherine (John) Holt; proud grandfather of nine and great-grandfather of five; dear brother of the late Marilyn Dunn and Marjorie Cathcart; cherished son of the late Thomas O. Myers, Sr. and the late Mary Alice, nee Judge. Visitation Sunday, April 11 from 3-8 p.m. at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road, (½ mile North of Saint Charles Road), Elmhurst. Funeral Services and Interment are private for the family Live Stream of service available through the funeral home website beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 12. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion, post #187, 310 West Butterfield Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126. For funeral information please call 630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com.
A final send-off
“Oh the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear,
“And it shows them, pearly white.
“Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe,
“And he keeps it outta sight.”
Those are the opening lines of Tom Myers’s favorite song, Mack The Knife. Oh, it wasn’t just a favorite tune – he had 17 versions of the song – from Bobby Darin to Dean Martin to Louie Armstrong – on a CD that he played in his car all of the time. Local musician Robert Rose cut a new album with his own version, just so Tom would have 18.
“That line forms on the right babe,
“Now that Macky’s back in town…
“Look out ol’ Macky’s back.”
Rest in peace Tom Myers – it wouldn’t be Elmhurst without you.
