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| (Observer photo/Dan Szpekowski) |
By Pat Szpekowski
Observer Correspondent
Frank Ardito’s strong conviction of justice for the poor, his passion for playing the saxophone, and his strong belief in living his faith have followed him throughout his life. He believes it all moved forward and was bound together by Divine Providence.
It’s been the perfect assemblage that has given him a long successful career and now a busy retirement volunteering at St. Mary Parish in Huntley.
While in the parish narthex, Ardito displays a copy of his first book and brochures from the parish's child sponsorship program in Haiti.
Ardito has chronicled with fascinating details his experiences working with the poor and seeing the ravages of racism, riots and gang violence in Chicago in two books.
“The YCW I Remember” provides a snapshot of his faith journey from the time he was discharged from the army until he joined the Community Organization Division of the Chicago Commission on Youth Welfare.
“The Street Sweeper” offers a deeper look into his work in several inner city communities where he had the opportunity to express his faith and Gospel values in a variety of ways.
“The most important thing I had going for me was my belief in the dignity and worth of every person, every child of God,” added Ardito.
Music, not writing, was Ardito’s early passion. Playing the saxophone was a God-given talent from the time he was in high school. It followed him into the military when he was drafted into the Army and infantry service with heavy weapons during the Korean Conflict.
“I didn’t consider myself a warrior,” Ardito said, “but I couldn’t get to play in the band.”
Then an amazing piece of luck happened. He was recognized by a platoon sergeant with whom he played in a jazz trio at Wright Junior College in Chicago. He asked Ardito why he wasn’t in the band. Next thing, Ardito was playing the sax in the 31st Division Band.
While in the Army, he returned to the church, “I asked God, 'Why am I here?'”
He never forgot who influenced him and his faith.
“The nuns that taught me in school made an impression on me,” he said. “I never forgot them and couldn’t believe that they dedicated their lives to us.” A priest at his parish instilled in him a sense of service. After he was discharged and came back home to Chicago, he tried to advance his career in music, but it didn’t happen. He worked in a variety of sales positions instead.
By another stroke of luck, Ardito was introduced to a young adults club, Lumen Christi, at St. Bartholomew Church in Chicago.
“Its primary focus was service projects. This led to Ardito’s involvement and leadership in the beginning of ‘The Young Christian Workers’ (YCW), a pre-Vatican II movement of the specialized lay apostolate. Members of the movement were considered “salt of the earth” by Pope Pius XII.
Through his involvement with YCW, Ardito volunteered with youth in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Divine Providence stepped in again and Ardito began a new job with the City of Chicago’s new Commission on Youth Welfare in the 1960s. He worked with troubled youth in the Englewood office, an area of the city that still resonates in the news to this day. He moved on to other areas of the city, like West Town and found himself in the middle of the Division Street riots.
“It was a time of discrimination, changing ethnic neighborhoods, poverty and street gang violence,” says Ardito. “I truly believed my vocation was to enable and lift people who had hopelessness written all over their face.”
In retirement, Ardito has picked up his saxophone, enjoys some jam sessions, and has played at Sun City in Huntley, where he and his wife Marnee live. He has recorded a CD of jazz staples.
Ardito enjoys speaking to groups about his life’s journey as a public servant. At St Mary, he has been co-chair of the parish’s child sponsorship program in Haiti with Steve Kubelka for the past six years.
Available from Amazon:
“The Y.C.W. I Remember” by Frank Ardito, Jr. (Acta, paperback, 2014) 81 pp., $9.95
Available from Vesuvius Press:
“The Street Sweeper, A Memoir” by Frank R. Ardito, Jr. (Vesuvius Press, paperback, 2015) 153 pp., $14.95.
Enter by Oct. 17, 2016, to win both books from The Observer Book Club.
