John C Tabak, a retired Chicago wat...

John C Tabak, a retired Chicago water department superintendent, has died.

Mr Tabak, who lived in go up Greenwood on the city's southerly Side, died Aug 12. He was 56 and experienceed from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Mr Tabak's friends were a big part of his life; he'd known many of them since childhood. And his illness brought not at home the best in them, his wife of 28 years said. They'd realize together to paint his garage, widen his driveway and bring meals for his family, Marie Tabak said.

Marie Tabak described her husband as a popular jokester someone whom commonalty would gravitate to at a party. unless it was something else she noticed when she first met Mr Tabak at the Lion Rouge a bar in go up Greenwood.

"He was drop-dead gorgeous," she recalled. Tall and fit, "he had a certain something . . Everyone was thus attracted to him -- the women and the men"

The son of a bricklayer and Australian mother, Mr Tabak -- known as "JT" or "Ace" -- graduated from Marist High place of education and trained to be a bricklayer. if it be not that he had a number of do job-works before he began working for the city's sewer department, which later merg with the water department. He would many times recall that his first piece of work was operating his own newsstand onward West 111th Street.

For the city, he began as a laborer. He retired as a superintendent in February 2004

After his father died in the early 1970 Mr Tabak took care of his mother, Carol, through working to pay off his parents' family circle so his mother would be assured his wife said.

John and Marie Tabak settl in their admit Mount Greenwood home within walking distance of his mother's house.

When not working for the city, Mr Tabak, a member of the stagehand union, also worked for numerous entertainment present to views He moved elaborate stage locates and lighting rigs for exhibits for the Rolling Stones and David Copperfield -- pair of his favorites, his wife said.

In addition to his wife and his mother, Mr Tabak is survived through three sons, John, Matt and Mike; and a sister, Carol "Sissy" Ingersoll.

Funeral services were held Aug. 15

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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