Robert "Bob" Proskin

Robert “Bob” Proskin , Age 91 of Deer Park, formerly of Rolling Meadows and Park Ridge, passed quietly on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. He was surrounded by his children, Michael, Tina and Laurie and his little dog, Honey Bun. Bob was loved by so many. He was born on October 23, 1930. From his early days growing up near Wrigley Field, with his younger brother, Basil, stories abounded from sneaking into the Cubs World Series in 1945, to hanging out on the rocks in Belmont Harbor every summer on Lake Michigan. Bob would often go with his dear cousin, Bunny, to the movie theaters on the north side such as the Milford and the Biograph Theater. Bob was such a gifted artist. In his twenties, during his apprenticeship as an engraver at the American Banknote Company, he attended classes at the American Academy of Art. It was in one of these classes that he met and fell in love with a young fellow art student, Lucille Gawel. Very soon after, they got engaged, but as luck would have it, he was asked to move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with the banknote company. Being the city boy that he was, there was not a chance he could leave his beloved hometown of Chicago, so what else does a young man with Greek heritage do but open a hot dog stand! The Triangle Drive-Inn, right across from Schurz High School, was his and Lucy’s first venture into the restaurant business, working hard every day serving up homemade milk shakes and hand-cut French fries to the Schurz high schoolers. A second restaurant, Napoli Pizzeria, was bought and run on Lawrence Avenue. Along the way, Bob also had a hand in reviving the famous, “Sally’s Stage” on Western Avenue with his best friend from high school, Jasper Sanfilippo. But his biggest pride and joy was Casa Luna Pizzeria & Pub, which he and Lucy owned from 1973 -1994. They worked 7 days a week with passion, love and so many great stories to tell of the characters who came through the doors over the years and put a quarter in the nickelodeon. Casa Luna was known for its Italian beefs, gyros sandwiches and of course deep dish, stuffed and thin crust Chicago-style pizza. Anyone who worked there was fondly anointed a “Casalunatic” and became a part of the family.

Once semi-retired, Bob and Lucy spent much time enjoying their grandchildren, spending time with his best friends from Lake View High School: Clarence, George, Ronny, and Jasper and playing cards every Friday afternoon at Jasper’s house, not at all for the pot of gold to be earned or lost but for a chance to take a jab at each other and share more stories and laughter. Sadly, Lucy passed in 2012, soon after celebrating their 50th Anniversary, having been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Bob’s last years were spent at Solana Deer Park, where he and Honey Bun made wonderful friends, sitting at the “Bob” table every day and telling stories over and over again. Bob will be missed for being the best storyteller, always being the life of the party, always generous, kind, charismatic and the most devoted Cubs fan ever. Beloved husband of the late Lucille M. “Lucy” Proskin, loving father of Michael (Wan), Tina (Chris) Carpenter and Laurie Pfister, loving grandfather (Papa) of Bob, Jim, Mike and Nicholas Proskin, Maggie and Sadie Carpenter, Julia and Allison Pfister, and loving great-grandfather of Riyan Proskin. Visitation Sunday, June 26, 4-8 p.m. at Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S. Northwest Hwy., Park Ridge. Funeral Monday, 9:30 a.m. from funeral home to St. Paul of the Cross Church. Mass 10 a.m. Interment will be private. 

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