NOBLE SQUARE — Albertico "Berto" Mendoza, a Chicago Park District employee who worked tirelessly to run recreational programs for neighborhood kids — including being the go-to guy for Pulaski Park's Halloween Haunted House — has died.
He was 36.
Born on Oct. 11, 1979, in Chicago, Mendoza died Wednesday evening at UIC Hospital after suffering from an illness that came upon him suddenly but progressed rapidly, his family said.
"It all started in February. He was scared to let us know and he felt like it would be a burden, but you could see something was wrong. He lost weight. He went to three doctors and none were able to pinpoint where the cancer had started but it got to his liver," said Yolo Diaz, Mendoza's niece.
At the time of his death, Mendoza, the youngest of four sisters and three brothers, was surrounded by family members, coworkers and friends, including some who drove to Chicago from Detroit to say their goodbyes upon hearing he would be taken off of a respirator, Diaz said.
"Phones were ringing off the hook," Diaz said.
Diaz said Mendoza had two families: his biological one, which includes his nieces and nephews whom he "basically raised" and his Pulaski Park family consisting of six coworkers and a huge network of neighborhood kids and volunteers.
"The type of character and person he was, he cared about everybody else and then himself. If you needed help with moving or getting a sandwich or a kid had to be walked somewhere, whatever it was, he was there for you and he would make you smile. He wanted to see people happy," Diaz said.
An employee at Pulaski Park, 1419 W. Blackhawk St. for 17 years, Mendoza was there so much while growing up in the neighborhood that he ultimately made a career for himself in the park.
"Pulaski Park was his childhood home. Not only is he well known in park, he is known within a 10-plus block radius. Everyone knew him as Big Berto," Diaz said.
Jim Boldt, the park's supervisor, said Mendoza "worked tirelessly with hundreds and hundreds of children."
"He was truly a beloved friend who has touched countless lives of those he taught during the course of his career here at Pulaski Park," Boldt said.
On top of his work hours as a Recreation Leader and Instructor, Mendoza also put in extra service hours, giving much of his time to the park and recruiting kids from the neighborhood to be part of the haunted house.
"The word 'beloved' describes him. It's a tragic loss for all of us," said Boldt, who has been the park supervisor for 12 years.
Bobby Rivera, a friend of Mendoza's since childhood and a coworker, said Mendoza was his right-hand man.
"With programming, with being an assistant camp director, with everything, he was part of the whole community, not just the park. He was a big force behind the haunted house, that was his baby," Rivera said.
Christine Hutton, a Noble Square resident and member of the Pulaski Park Advisory Council, said Mendoza was "the one you always saw during elections, neighborhood cleanups and every event at the park."
"Taken too young, he will be greatly missed," Hutton posted on Facebook.
In addition to Diaz, Mendoza is survived by his mother, Zenaida Mendoza; sisters Leonor Tavoada, Misael Ibarra, Osbelia Rodriguez and Maria Rodriguez; brothers Joel Ibarra, Leon Mendoza and Juan Rodriguez; and six nieces and nephews.
Mendoza's wake will be held from 3-9 p.m. Tuesday at Pietryka Funeral Home, 5734 W. Diversey Parkway, followed by a 10 am. Mass on Wednesday at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 1351 W. Evergreen Ave. A burial will follow the mass at Eden Cemetery, 9851 W. Irving Park Road in Schiller Park.
Mourners are encouraged to wear Berto's favorite Chicago sport team attire (Bears, Bulls or Cubs) to Tuesday's wake, Diaz said.
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