Richard Anthony Pesavento

Our beloved father Richard Anthony Pesavento passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2015 in Rockford, Illinois after a short illness. During his last week he was supported and surrounded by his loving family. Richard was born on February 17, 1923 in Rockford, Illinois to Antonio and Luigia (Vidali) Pesavento. He was a World War II Veteran, serving in the U.S. Army, Blackhawk Division from Fall, 1943 until June, 1946. He was stationed in Georgia, then served in combat throughout Europe and the Phillipines, completing his service as a Senior Staff Sergeant. After the service, he founded Pesavento’s Drive-In with his family on Cunningham Road, which opened in Spring of 1948 and was open for 7 seasons. During this time period, from 1946-1954, he earned his bachelor’s degree at Illinois Institute of Technology in Civil Engineering, through a co-op program with Rockford College, and married Rita Baer in 1953. After graduating, he was hired by DeLeuw-Cather as a design team member for the Washington, D.C. Beltway. In 1957 he returned to Rockford and served as Winnebago County Surveyor for 10 years. Major projects included re-mapping Winnebago County, designing a system to automate tax billing, and assigning house numbers countywide to improve the ability of the Fire Department and the Post Office to locate homes. For eight years, he was the Deputy Commissioner of Public Works in Rockford. He redesigned storm sewer grates to improve bicycle safety and consolidated all Public Works Departments. He was the owner of Pesavento’s Land Surveying for 40 years. He felt his greatest achievement was raising eight children, all of whom graduated from college, and many of whom hold advanced degrees. He is the beloved father of Gregory Pesavento (Elmhurst, IL), Lisa Wiley (Raleigh, NC), Louise (Don) Hinshaw (Richmond, CA), Dr. Julia Pesavento (Dennis) Schaer (Rockford, IL), Anthony (Dianna) Pesavento (River Forest, IL), Dr. Margaret (Jon) Blanchard (Raleigh, NC), Maria (Michael) Walton (Pleasant Hill, CA), and Arthur (Beth) Pesavento (Lemont, IL). He is survived by his sister Antoniette Pesavento (Rockford), and his grandchildren Sarah Pesavento, Sophie Hinshaw, Brent, Margaret, Elizabeth and Mark Schaer, Nicholas, Madeline, and Olivia Pesavento, Benjamin and Emerson Blanchard, Claire Walton, Kathryn and Annmarie Pesavento, and his nephews Gianfranco (Elvia) Zanocco, and Remo (Laura) Zanocco. He is predeceased by his parents, his sister Yolanda Zanocco and his brother-in-law Frank Zanocco. A visitation will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Friday evening June 12 from 5-7 p.m. (Riverside Chapel, 3910 N. Rockton Avenue). The funeral mass will be held at Saint Anthony's Church, Saturday June 13, 2015 at 10 a.m. Burial will take place immediately following the service at Calvary cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boylan Catholic High School, which all eight Pesavento children and 4 grandchildren attended, through the Boylan Imagine Campaign, https://www.boylan.org/advancement/imagine/, (815) 877-8008. Express online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com