CARDILLO, Dominic V. P. 'Dom' Beloved husband of Mary Wunder for 54 years. Died peacefully at Sunnyside Home in Kitchener with his family at his side on Sunday, April 14, 2013. Dear father of Patrick and Nancy, Michael and Karen, Maureen and John Doran, Lisa, Maria and Alan Diemert, Paul and Tamara. Loving grandfather of Matthew, Andrew and Kristin, Erin; Amy and Jeff O'Gorman, Tracy; Vanessa, Rebecca and Ryan Diemert; Hannah and Lauren. Proud great-grandfather of Daniel Cardillo; Nathan and Lucas O'Gorman. Fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews. Dear brother of Dr. Peter and Dale Cardillo, Tony and Noreen Cardillo and Luigi and Ralph Cardillo. Dom will also be missed and remembered by his in-laws Tom and Gloria Wunder, Carol Wunder and June and Herb Fleiger. Predeceased by his parents Antonio and Maria, grandson Daniel Cardillo, sister Josephine, sister-in-law Susan McKillop, father and mother-in-law George and Doris Wunder, brothers-in-law Robert and James Wunder. Dom came to Kitchener in 1954 and taught for 25 years with the Waterloo District School Board at KCI, Forest Heights and Laurel /University Heights. His political life spanned 32 years for the City of Kitchener, starting as a councillor, sat on Regional Council and was elected Mayor of the City of Kitchener, holding office from 1982-1994. He served on numerous municipal boards, committees, commissions and associations including the Police Services Board, St. Mary's and K-W Hospital Boards, K-W Big Brothers, Kitchener Minor Hockey Association, Parks and Recreation Committee and Kitchener - Wilmot Hydro. He was a honourary member of the Canadian Fire Chiefs Association and was the first to be honoured at what is now the Annual Mayors' Dinner for the Working Centre. Dom was made a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and was an avid supporter of the Kitchener Rangers. Dom is forever remembered for the commitment he made to his community and was proud to let everyone know Kitchener was his home. Dom distributed 'City of Kitchener' pins and pens from coast to coast, even as far as the rice fields of Japan. He lived his philosophy, 'People are what it is all about.' Dom's family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, April 16 from 7-9 p.m. and on Wednesday, April 17 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Henry Walser Funeral Home , 507 Frederick St., Kitchener 519-749-8467. Parish prayers 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening. Prayers will be offered in the funeral home chapel at 10:10 a.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2013 followed by procession to St. Anthony Daniel RC Church, 29 Midland Dr., Kitchener for a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Fr. Earl Talbot officiating. A reception will take place in the Parish Life Centre of St. Anthony Daniel Church following the Funeral Mass. A private family interment will take place at Woodland Cemetery. Family expresses sincere thanks to Pioneer Tower staff at Sunnyside Home for their compassionate care given to Dom over the last 2 1/2 years. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Sunnyside Home Foundation, Parish Life Centre of St. Anthony Daniel and Juvenile Diabetes Association would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home). Visit www.henrywalser.com for Dom's memorial.
Editorial, Waterloo Region Record, April 16, 2013
Cardillo served the people well
"Canadians want to be led, not ruled," a jubilant Justin Trudeau proclaimed as he became the federal Liberal party's new leader on the weekend.
Former Kitchener mayor Dom Cardillo saw things differently and the young Trudeau could learn a lot from this remarkable and deservedly loved civic leader who has just died at the age of 82.
Canadians, according to the Cardillo philosophy, want to be served by the politicians they elect. And so he did.
This wisdom guided Cardillo over a remarkable 32-year-year political career that began with his election to city council, culminated in his four terms as mayor and ended with his retirement in 1994. Cardillo was famous for going out of his way to help ordinary citizens. He didn't order. He didn't cajole. Nor was he the most visionary mayor Kitchener has ever had.
But Cardillo was a public servant extraordinaire. And he showed how a committed politician could make a huge difference through a seemingly endless series of small and considerate actions. When a citizen called the mayor's office with a problem, Cardillo was never too busy to lend a hand. Was a landowner too slow clearing the snow from a sidewalk? Cardillo would see that the job got done. Was someone confused by an upcoming piece of city business? Cardillo would personally drop the explanatory papers off at a resident's home on his own way home from work.
Were parents worried about the safety of children who had to cross a busy street where the traffic lights had just been removed? Cardillo's door was open and he would patiently explain how to go to city hall and persuade council to arrange for a crossing guard.
When someone's home was hit by fire, Cardillo would show up with words of kindness and support. On Saturday mornings, his was a ubiquitous presence in the downtown. Sauntering through the farmer's market, strolling down King Street, he shook hands, talked and listened, answered questions, heard concerns, smiled and waved at passersby. Over his 12 years as mayor, he made a growing city filled with strangers and newcomers feel like a small town where everyone knew and cared about their neighbour. The city's favourite sports team, the Kitchener Rangers, had no more true-blue fan than Cardillo who was a fixture at years of their Ontario Hockey League games.
Cardillo was legendary for handing out City of Kitchener pens and pins to pretty much anyone he met, whether they were local or from out of town. And yet he was prudent with taxpayers' money, believing in a pay-as-you-go approach that led to balanced budgets.
The physical legacy of the Cardillo years is there for everyone to observe. An alderman when Kitchener's iconic city hall fell to the wrecker's ball in the 1973, Cardillo was the mayor who helped manage the construction of Kitchener's iconic new city hall in 1993. Back then, naysayers complained that the city had spent far too much on its new headquarters. Today, citizens can appreciate the city hall for what it is, an architectural jewel and one of the catalysts for Kitchener's downtown revival.
Even before that, as Kitchener's population grew rapidly during the 1960s, Alderman Cardillo championed the expansion of the city's recreational facilities and played a role in the opening of new swimming pools and tennis courts.
These are impressive things you can touch and see even today. But Cardillo's most important legacy is the way he treated people and gave of himself to others. To local journalists, he was renowned for the way he could mangle the English language in a way that made him unquotable.
But as for the people of Kitchener, they understood his warmth, his decency, his lack of pretension and his unquenchable commitment to do something positive for them. He made Kitchener, and Waterloo Region, more human and humane places.
Justin Trudeau and a lot of other politicians today, federal, provincial or municipal, could take a page from Cardillo's playbook.
Editorial, Waterloo Region Record, April 16, 2013
Cardillo served the people well
"Canadians want to be led, not ruled," a jubilant Justin Trudeau proclaimed as he became the federal Liberal party's new leader on the weekend.
Former Kitchener mayor Dom Cardillo saw things differently and the young Trudeau could learn a lot from this remarkable and deservedly loved civic leader who has just died at the age of 82.
Canadians, according to the Cardillo philosophy, want to be served by the politicians they elect. And so he did.
This wisdom guided Cardillo over a remarkable 32-year-year political career that began with his election to city council, culminated in his four terms as mayor and ended with his retirement in 1994. Cardillo was famous for going out of his way to help ordinary citizens. He didn't order. He didn't cajole. Nor was he the most visionary mayor Kitchener has ever had.
But Cardillo was a public servant extraordinaire. And he showed how a committed politician could make a huge difference through a seemingly endless series of small and considerate actions. When a citizen called the mayor's office with a problem, Cardillo was never too busy to lend a hand. Was a landowner too slow clearing the snow from a sidewalk? Cardillo would see that the job got done. Was someone confused by an upcoming piece of city business? Cardillo would personally drop the explanatory papers off at a resident's home on his own way home from work.
Were parents worried about the safety of children who had to cross a busy street where the traffic lights had just been removed? Cardillo's door was open and he would patiently explain how to go to city hall and persuade council to arrange for a crossing guard.
When someone's home was hit by fire, Cardillo would show up with words of kindness and support. On Saturday mornings, his was a ubiquitous presence in the downtown. Sauntering through the farmer's market, strolling down King Street, he shook hands, talked and listened, answered questions, heard concerns, smiled and waved at passersby. Over his 12 years as mayor, he made a growing city filled with strangers and newcomers feel like a small town where everyone knew and cared about their neighbour. The city's favourite sports team, the Kitchener Rangers, had no more true-blue fan than Cardillo who was a fixture at years of their Ontario Hockey League games.
Cardillo was legendary for handing out City of Kitchener pens and pins to pretty much anyone he met, whether they were local or from out of town. And yet he was prudent with taxpayers' money, believing in a pay-as-you-go approach that led to balanced budgets.
The physical legacy of the Cardillo years is there for everyone to observe. An alderman when Kitchener's iconic city hall fell to the wrecker's ball in the 1973, Cardillo was the mayor who helped manage the construction of Kitchener's iconic new city hall in 1993. Back then, naysayers complained that the city had spent far too much on its new headquarters. Today, citizens can appreciate the city hall for what it is, an architectural jewel and one of the catalysts for Kitchener's downtown revival.
Even before that, as Kitchener's population grew rapidly during the 1960s, Alderman Cardillo championed the expansion of the city's recreational facilities and played a role in the opening of new swimming pools and tennis courts.
These are impressive things you can touch and see even today. But Cardillo's most important legacy is the way he treated people and gave of himself to others. To local journalists, he was renowned for the way he could mangle the English language in a way that made him unquotable.
But as for the people of Kitchener, they understood his warmth, his decency, his lack of pretension and his unquenchable commitment to do something positive for them. He made Kitchener, and Waterloo Region, more human and humane places.
Justin Trudeau and a lot of other politicians today, federal, provincial or municipal, could take a page from Cardillo's playbook.
CARDILLO, Dominic V. P. 'Dom' Beloved husband of Mary Wunder for 54 years. Died peacefully at Sunnyside Home in Kitchener with his family at his side on Sunday, April 14, 2013. Dear father of Patrick and Nancy, Michael and Karen, Maureen and John Doran, Lisa, Maria and Alan Diemert, Paul and Tamara. Loving grandfather of Matthew, Andrew and Kristin, Erin; Amy and Jeff O'Gorman, Tracy; Vanessa, Rebecca and Ryan Diemert; Hannah and Lauren. Proud great-grandfather of Daniel Cardillo; Nathan and Lucas O'Gorman. Fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews. Dear brother of Dr. Peter and Dale Cardillo, Tony and Noreen Cardillo and Luigi and Ralph Cardillo. Dom will also be missed and remembered by his in-laws Tom and Gloria Wunder, Carol Wunder and June and Herb Fleiger. Predeceased by his parents Antonio and Maria, grandson Daniel Cardillo, sister Josephine, sister-in-law Susan McKillop, father and mother-in-law George and Doris Wunder, brothers-in-law Robert and James Wunder. Dom came to Kitchener in 1954 and taught for 25 years with the Waterloo District School Board at KCI, Forest Heights and Laurel /University Heights. His political life spanned 32 years for the City of Kitchener, starting as a councillor, sat on Regional Council and was elected Mayor of the City of Kitchener, holding office from 1982-1994. He served on numerous municipal boards, committees, commissions and associations including the Police Services Board, St. Mary's and K-W Hospital Boards, K-W Big Brothers, Kitchener Minor Hockey Association, Parks and Recreation Committee and Kitchener - Wilmot Hydro. He was a honourary member of the Canadian Fire Chiefs Association and was the first to be honoured at what is now the Annual Mayors' Dinner for the Working Centre. Dom was made a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and was an avid supporter of the Kitchener Rangers. Dom is forever remembered for the commitment he made to his community and was proud to let everyone know Kitchener was his home. Dom distributed 'City of Kitchener' pins and pens from coast to coast, even as far as the rice fields of Japan. He lived his philosophy, 'People are what it is all about.' Dom's family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, April 16 from 7-9 p.m. and on Wednesday, April 17 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Henry Walser Funeral Home , 507 Frederick St., Kitchener 519-749-8467. Parish prayers 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening. Prayers will be offered in the funeral home chapel at 10:10 a.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2013 followed by procession to St. Anthony Daniel RC Church, 29 Midland Dr., Kitchener for a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Fr. Earl Talbot officiating. A reception will take place in the Parish Life Centre of St. Anthony Daniel Church following the Funeral Mass. A private family interment will take place at Woodland Cemetery. Family expresses sincere thanks to Pioneer Tower staff at Sunnyside Home for their compassionate care given to Dom over the last 2 1/2 years. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Sunnyside Home Foundation, Parish Life Centre of St. Anthony Daniel and Juvenile Diabetes Association would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home). Visit www.henrywalser.com for Dom's memorial.
Editorial, Waterloo Region Record, April 16, 2013
Cardillo served the people well
"Canadians want to be led, not ruled," a jubilant Justin Trudeau proclaimed as he became the federal Liberal party's new leader on the weekend.
Former Kitchener mayor Dom Cardillo saw things differently and the young Trudeau could learn a lot from this remarkable and deservedly loved civic leader who has just died at the age of 82.
Canadians, according to the Cardillo philosophy, want to be served by the politicians they elect. And so he did.
This wisdom guided Cardillo over a remarkable 32-year-year political career that began with his election to city council, culminated in his four terms as mayor and ended with his retirement in 1994. Cardillo was famous for going out of his way to help ordinary citizens. He didn't order. He didn't cajole. Nor was he the most visionary mayor Kitchener has ever had.
But Cardillo was a public servant extraordinaire. And he showed how a committed politician could make a huge difference through a seemingly endless series of small and considerate actions. When a citizen called the mayor's office with a problem, Cardillo was never too busy to lend a hand. Was a landowner too slow clearing the snow from a sidewalk? Cardillo would see that the job got done. Was someone confused by an upcoming piece of city business? Cardillo would personally drop the explanatory papers off at a resident's home on his own way home from work.
Were parents worried about the safety of children who had to cross a busy street where the traffic lights had just been removed? Cardillo's door was open and he would patiently explain how to go to city hall and persuade council to arrange for a crossing guard.
When someone's home was hit by fire, Cardillo would show up with words of kindness and support. On Saturday mornings, his was a ubiquitous presence in the downtown. Sauntering through the farmer's market, strolling down King Street, he shook hands, talked and listened, answered questions, heard concerns, smiled and waved at passersby. Over his 12 years as mayor, he made a growing city filled with strangers and newcomers feel like a small town where everyone knew and cared about their neighbour. The city's favourite sports team, the Kitchener Rangers, had no more true-blue fan than Cardillo who was a fixture at years of their Ontario Hockey League games.
Cardillo was legendary for handing out City of Kitchener pens and pins to pretty much anyone he met, whether they were local or from out of town. And yet he was prudent with taxpayers' money, believing in a pay-as-you-go approach that led to balanced budgets.
The physical legacy of the Cardillo years is there for everyone to observe. An alderman when Kitchener's iconic city hall fell to the wrecker's ball in the 1973, Cardillo was the mayor who helped manage the construction of Kitchener's iconic new city hall in 1993. Back then, naysayers complained that the city had spent far too much on its new headquarters. Today, citizens can appreciate the city hall for what it is, an architectural jewel and one of the catalysts for Kitchener's downtown revival.
Even before that, as Kitchener's population grew rapidly during the 1960s, Alderman Cardillo championed the expansion of the city's recreational facilities and played a role in the opening of new swimming pools and tennis courts.
These are impressive things you can touch and see even today. But Cardillo's most important legacy is the way he treated people and gave of himself to others. To local journalists, he was renowned for the way he could mangle the English language in a way that made him unquotable.
But as for the people of Kitchener, they understood his warmth, his decency, his lack of pretension and his unquenchable commitment to do something positive for them. He made Kitchener, and Waterloo Region, more human and humane places.
Justin Trudeau and a lot of other politicians today, federal, provincial or municipal, could take a page from Cardillo's playbook.
Editorial, Waterloo Region Record, April 16, 2013
Cardillo served the people well
"Canadians want to be led, not ruled," a jubilant Justin Trudeau proclaimed as he became the federal Liberal party's new leader on the weekend.
Former Kitchener mayor Dom Cardillo saw things differently and the young Trudeau could learn a lot from this remarkable and deservedly loved civic leader who has just died at the age of 82.
Canadians, according to the Cardillo philosophy, want to be served by the politicians they elect. And so he did.
This wisdom guided Cardillo over a remarkable 32-year-year political career that began with his election to city council, culminated in his four terms as mayor and ended with his retirement in 1994. Cardillo was famous for going out of his way to help ordinary citizens. He didn't order. He didn't cajole. Nor was he the most visionary mayor Kitchener has ever had.
But Cardillo was a public servant extraordinaire. And he showed how a committed politician could make a huge difference through a seemingly endless series of small and considerate actions. When a citizen called the mayor's office with a problem, Cardillo was never too busy to lend a hand. Was a landowner too slow clearing the snow from a sidewalk? Cardillo would see that the job got done. Was someone confused by an upcoming piece of city business? Cardillo would personally drop the explanatory papers off at a resident's home on his own way home from work.
Were parents worried about the safety of children who had to cross a busy street where the traffic lights had just been removed? Cardillo's door was open and he would patiently explain how to go to city hall and persuade council to arrange for a crossing guard.
When someone's home was hit by fire, Cardillo would show up with words of kindness and support. On Saturday mornings, his was a ubiquitous presence in the downtown. Sauntering through the farmer's market, strolling down King Street, he shook hands, talked and listened, answered questions, heard concerns, smiled and waved at passersby. Over his 12 years as mayor, he made a growing city filled with strangers and newcomers feel like a small town where everyone knew and cared about their neighbour. The city's favourite sports team, the Kitchener Rangers, had no more true-blue fan than Cardillo who was a fixture at years of their Ontario Hockey League games.
Cardillo was legendary for handing out City of Kitchener pens and pins to pretty much anyone he met, whether they were local or from out of town. And yet he was prudent with taxpayers' money, believing in a pay-as-you-go approach that led to balanced budgets.
The physical legacy of the Cardillo years is there for everyone to observe. An alderman when Kitchener's iconic city hall fell to the wrecker's ball in the 1973, Cardillo was the mayor who helped manage the construction of Kitchener's iconic new city hall in 1993. Back then, naysayers complained that the city had spent far too much on its new headquarters. Today, citizens can appreciate the city hall for what it is, an architectural jewel and one of the catalysts for Kitchener's downtown revival.
Even before that, as Kitchener's population grew rapidly during the 1960s, Alderman Cardillo championed the expansion of the city's recreational facilities and played a role in the opening of new swimming pools and tennis courts.
These are impressive things you can touch and see even today. But Cardillo's most important legacy is the way he treated people and gave of himself to others. To local journalists, he was renowned for the way he could mangle the English language in a way that made him unquotable.
But as for the people of Kitchener, they understood his warmth, his decency, his lack of pretension and his unquenchable commitment to do something positive for them. He made Kitchener, and Waterloo Region, more human and humane places.
Justin Trudeau and a lot of other politicians today, federal, provincial or municipal, could take a page from Cardillo's playbook.
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