October 2009

William “Bill” DiCianni, a longtime resident of the Near West Side community, died on July 9. He was 92 years old.

A veteran of World War II, Mr. DiCianni was a longtime parishioner of the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, a 35-year employee of the Chicago American and Chicago Tribune newspapers, and a 62-year member of the Chicago Mailers Union.

Mr. DiCianni was the husband of the late Helen (nee Skembare) for 42 years; father of William (Nanette), Robert, Thomas and Anthony; grandfather of Nicholas, Marc, Amanda, and Matthew, Kristen, Ellie, and Jack; and fond uncle and great-uncle to many.

According to his son, William, Mr. DiCianni was a graduate of Andrew Jackson grammar school. He went on to McKinley High School were he was a star football player. “Due to the Depression and my grandfather’s dislike for the pounding my dad was taking from playing football, he was forced to drop out of high school,” recalled William DiCianni. “His high school coach was so disappointed by that decision; he came over to my father’s house to convince my grandfather to leave him in school. Since it was the Depression and the family was having such a hard time making ends meet, it was more important to look for work then to play football.”

Mr. DiCianni was a member of the U.S. Air Force’s 9th Air Division during World War II. “His official job description was ‘airplane armorer’ were his work required precision fitting and thorough technical knowledge of maintenance and performance of weapons,” added William DiCianni.

“While in the Army, his exceptional baseball skills were recognized by one of his officers, who also had a connection to with the Chicago Cubs. After the war, the officer got him a try-out with the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were impressed enough to offer him a minor league contract, but at the age of 28, my dad felt he was to old to spend any amount of time in the minors and if it didn’t work out he would miss out on a opportunity for a good job with so many soldiers returning home after the war. So he decided not to accept the offer.”

Mr. DiCianni’s family emigrated to America around 1905 from the Abruzzi region of Italy. He spoke perfect Italian. “In addition, he was a champion speller,” added his son. “There was not a word he could not spell.”

In the 1950s, Mr. DiCianni took up golf and it became his passion after his wife passed away. He liked to read and especially enjoyed reading books on World War II and golf and poured over the daily newspapers. Services were held at Salerno’s Galewood Chapels, Frank Reda & Son, Directors. A Funeral Mass was said at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii. Entombment is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.