Joseph T. Madonia

Joseph T. Madonia, of Hawthorn Woods, passed away suddenly Friday, June 14, 2024 at the age of 77.

Joe was born September 17, 1946 in Chicago, the son of the late Joseph and Frances (nee Strano) Madonia. After he graduated from Maine East High School in 1964, he attended Northern Illinois University, where he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity and where he met his first wife, Donna. When he graduated, Joe taught history to reluctant 8th graders and exasperated the nuns at St. Anne's School In Barrington, IL; it's hard to say which he enjoyed more. After completing his MBA at Northern, Joe started working in sales for American Hospital Supply. Donna gave Joe his first daughter, Dana, and while Joe and Donna ultimately divorced, they remained friendly and Joe remained active and loving father to Dana, spending a great deal of one-on-one time with her. Joe eventually began working in human resources, starting at V. Mueller before moving on to become vice president of human resources for information technology at Baxter, where he met his second wife, Susan. Susan gave Joe his second daughter, Taylor, whom he and Susan raised in Kildeer, IL. Joe continued working in human resources for additional companies, including Rand McNally before transitioning into consulting work. After Joe retired, he and Susan ended their marriage and Joe moved to Hawthorn Woods, where he met his partner, Dee. Joe and Dee together discovered a love of traveling, and pursued that love through California, Italy, and elsewhere. In addition to bringing the world to Joe, Dee brought him the opportunity to take on the role of grandfather to her two granddaughters, Lauren and Hailey, which delighted him.

Joe was a lover of music, shooting, and a good time. Joe exposed his daughters to his wide-ranging musical taste, playing them everything from the Chicago Symphony to The Who (and, because no one is perfect, the Macarena). He learned to shoot skeet and trap from his father and spent a great deal of time shooting at Lincoln Park Gun Club and later in Northbrook. His annual hunting trips were limited to pheasant, but he still often brought home something furry: beards that he experimented with growing on his "guy trips" and that his disapproving daughters killed on sight. He loved a good cigar and the company of fellow aficionados. In retirement, he enjoyed reading historical nonfiction and taking courses in ancient history and introductory Italian. He was an exuberant people person who could strike up a conversation with anyone he met. He was warm and hilarious and never too sophisticated for dumb jokes (or too selfish to keep them to himself).

Joe is survived by his daughters, Dana (Josh Schneider) Madonia and Taylor Madonia; his loving partner, Harriet “Dee” Rosenbloom; his second wife, Susan Walder-Madonia; and his honorary grandchildren, Lauren and Hailey.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Donna (Anderson) Lannom and his sisters, Phyllis Gilligan and Marianne DeCianni.

Visitation will be held Saturday, June 22, from 11am until the time of the memorial service at 1pm at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 149 W Main St (Lake-Cook Rd) Barrington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516; The Special Olympics, Attn: Web Gifts, 2600 Virginia Ave NW, 11th Floor, Washington, DC 20037; The Lincoln Park Zoo, 75 Remittance Drive Dept #92085, Chicago, IL 60675-2085; or to the Field Museum, 75 Remittance Drive, Suite 1093, Chicago, IL 60675-1093