Tom Randall

Tom Randall was born 7/2/1941 in Kalamazoo, Ml, the only child of Ivan and Edna Randall.

He had fond memories of growing up in Otsego, Ml, such as the Scout House dances, soap box derbies and graduated from Otsego High School in 1959. He enjoyed playing many sports including hockey, running track and as quarterback on the Otsego high school football team.

He graduated from Michigan State University in 1963 with a BA in advertising. After graduation he went to work at Sears Roebuck in Chicago to be a copywriter for the catalog. He moved to marketing for several departments including fencing, guns, sporting goods. On the Sports Advisory staff he worked with Ted Williams and Sir Edmund Hillary.

Tom left Sears to start his own advertising agency and then worked for a think tank in DC writing articles for newspapers such as the Chicago Sun Times and Miami Herald. After retiring he spent hours woodworking, even continuing to do so in a small workshop in his condo.

He was active in Glen Ellyn Jaycees, served on several condo and church boards. While living most of his adult life in Glen Ellyn, IL and Chicago, he maintained a second home in Pentwater, Ml for many years indulging in his love of all things Michigan.

He is survived by his wife Gretchen, a daughter Julie (Kerry) Petertil, and a granddaughter Charlotte Petertil.

Donations may go to First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church at 1301 N LaSalle Drive, Chicago, IL 60610.

Free parking is available at the Franklin School parking lot two blocks west of the church. Download a parking pass to put on your dashboard HERE.