04/24/2026
Thomas Charles Vaughan
THOMAS CHARLES VAUGHAN
October 31, 1943 - April 20, 2026
Thomas Vaughan, 82, was born in Chicago on Halloween in 1943. The family lived in Riverside, Illinois, where he attended Central Elementary School and Houser Junior High. He was a proud member of the Riverside Brookfield High School class of 1961. Prior to college, Tom worked for the Kinney Shoe Corporation during their heyday. He was promoted to assistant manager through three increasingly larger stores in the Western Suburbs until college called. Kendall College in Evanston aided his liberal arts credentials, while the American Institute of Banking focused his business skills. His first job out of high school was in the corporate office of Jewel Foods during their migration from Chicago's South Ashland Avenue to their new headquarters in Melrose Park. From there he followed a former boss to Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, where he enjoyed the next 20 years rising to a commercial lending officer and ultimately as a group leader in their private banking department. As a senior lender in their private bank, he was their alternate member of the bank's Credit Committee during the bank's turbulent post-Penn Square fiasco years and participated in many of their meetings. Opportunities outside the recovering bank led Tom to start his own consulting practice, Vaughan and Associates, keeping offices in both Chicago and Del Mar, California for a few years. His main CA client was MJO Enterprises, a diverse group of companies in the vehicle leasing, limousine renting, automotive accessories and high-end vehicle sales. Ultimately, Chicago's opportunities proved more deserving, notably from a referral from Kidder Peabody. Ultra Care, Inc., was a home medical equipment, nursing infusion, respiratory therapy, and the nation’s sixth largest privately held provider of rehab equipment. Also as a fellow investor, Tom represented other outside investors on their board of directors from their initial capital formulation until the company's sale to a Fortune 200 competitor.Tom loved adventures having solo skydived twice from 14,000 feet in Hinckley, Illinois, ran many 5Ks (some with their late dog, Mia), competed in the Respiratory Health Association's 94-story Hustle up the Hancock for eleven years, and rappelled down the 27 story face of The Wit Hotel twice for another RHA fundraiser. In later years, Tom cut back to the Hustle's half climb event's 54-story climb and finished first for his age group in two of those years. For over thirty years, Tom managed the family's Leland, Illinois farm located on the southern edge of DeKalb County. His great grandfather, Richard Parks, began that endeavor in 1863 by buying the first property from an individual that had received it through a land grant for his participation in the War of 1812. Subsequently, grandfather Charles, mother Loretta, uncle Vernon Parks, and cousin Charles Parks, Tom's brother Michael and Tom continued these agricultural responsibilities. Tom, with another partner, Ronald Merkel, today owns the farmstead portion of this agricultural piece of history.He was predeceased by his parents, Mack and Loretta Parks Vaughan, of Riverside, LaGrange, and Leland, Illinois, his wife, Vicki Rosemeyer Vaughan, and his brothers, Myles (Mike) Vaughan of Franklin Village, MI, Michael Richard Vaughan of Madison, WI and Naples, FL, and nephews Michael and Timothy Vaughan.
Tom leaves behind his life partner of 26 years, Melodie Ann Garcia; and mother of his children, Carol Carrino Kissane. Tom is survived by his two sons, Michael Anthony (Kelly Stark Vaughan) and David Charles (Mona Crooks Vaughan). He is also survived by three grandchildren, Finlay David Vaughan (Alexandra Vaughan), Ailis McKenzie Vaughan, and Aidan Michael Vaughan; Great-grandchildren, Ryker, Logan, and Violet Vaughan complete his heritage; Also, Melodie's daughters, Heather (Jason Johnson), and Gabrielle (Brian Connelly), and their children Leo Johnson and Clark Connelly. Tom enjoyed a close relationship with his late wife's Rosemeyer family, Vicki being one of six daughters with many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Miller Funeral Home, 1185 IL 35, East Dubuque, Illinois. On Monday, April 27, 2026, attendees are requested to arrive at Miller Funeral Home by 9:30 a.m., as the funeral procession will depart promptly at 9:45 a.m. The procession will proceed to East Dubuque Cemetery (also known as Dunleith Township Cemetery), Hill Street, East Dubuque, Illinois, where Tom will be laid to rest at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s honor to Autism Speaks (autismspeaks.org), PAWS (pawschicago.org) or Respiratory Health Association (resphealth.org).
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com©
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