Nicholas S. Amatangelo

The life of Nicholas S. Amatangelo, 83, of Barrington Hills, reads like an Horacio Alger story. Nicholas was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, to Lucy (née Schiavone) and Sylvester Amatangelo, immigrants from Northern Italy, on February 12, 1935, the eldest of three sons.  He passed away March 15, 2018.

Nicholas entered first grade not speaking a word of English. He went on to be elected an officer at his grade school, President of his senior class at high school and Student Council President. He received his BA from Duquesne University, where he was a Charter Member of the Century Club of Distinguished Alumni and Chair of the Executive Committee; his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and completed post graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He began a storied quarter century career with Bowne & Co, Inc. as President / CEO of Bowne of San Francisco, then Bowne of Houston, and finally Bowne of Chicago, which included Bowne of Detroit, Bowne of Minneapolis, Bowne of St. Louis and Bowne of Milwaukee.  He ran all the companies with integrity, fairness and generosity, as he lived his life, during a period of revolutionary changes and growth in the financial printing industry. He met the love of his life, Kathleen Mary Driscoll, at the Yale/Harvard Crew Races in 1963.  They married 11 months later, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Connecticut, and began a love affair that lasted more than a half century.  They were a team and they literally danced through life together. He was exceptionally devoted to his daughters and supported their endeavors and dreams unconditionally.  He would travel across the country just to be present at their events, even if it meant he had to take the next plane back! In his retirement, Nick lectured as an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Business at Roosevelt University and served on the Boards of the Associated Colleges of Illinois, the Chicago College of the Performing Arts and as an Emeritus Director of the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.  He was a proud member of the Union League Club of Chicago and served on the Art Committee.  He was also a long time member of the Economic Club of Chicago, the Chief Executives’ Club of Chicago and participated in the Principal for a Day Program of the Chicago Public Schools.

In addition to his adored wife, Kathleen, Nick leaves his beloved daughters, Amy Amatangelo and her husband, Lawrence Shay; Holly Amatangelo and her husband, William Kissane; and his treasured grandchildren, Molly Shay and Nicholas Shay, who brought him happiness beyond measure.  He is also survived by his brother, Anthony and his wife, Allison, and his sister-in-law, Diane Amatangelo, as well as many nephews, nieces, cousins and life-long friends.He was preceded in death by his parents and his youngest brother, Sal Amatangelo.

His was a life well-lived and lived generously.  We are all blessed to have shared this Earth with him.

Visitation will be 4pm-7pm Friday, March 23 at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St.(Lake-Cook Road), Barrington. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30am, Saturday, March 24 at St. Anne Catholic Church, 120 N. Ela Street, Barrington.  There will be visitation at the church from 10:30am until the mass.  Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Union League Boys and Girls Clubs,http://www.ulbgc.org/donate, or to:  Auditorium Theatre, 50 E Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60605 or to Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, http://www.duq.edu/make-a-gift-to-duquesne