Thomas J. Accardo, 86

Bemidji Pioneer
Published Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Thomas J. Accardo, age 86, of Bemidji, MN, formerly Cass Lake, MN, entered into rest surrounded by family, Saturday, February 28, 2009 in North Country Regional Hospital, Bemidji.

A Time to Share will be held Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 10:30 a.m., at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji, Minn., with Father Antony Fernando officiating. The funeral service and burial will be held Saturday morning, March 7, 2009 at Cumberland Funeral Chapel, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, IL. Visitation will be Friday, March 6 at the chapel from 3-9 p.m.

He was born August 17, 1922 in Chicago, Ill. to Rose and Vincent Accardo. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Philips Catholic Church, in Chicago and attended school at St. Philips Catholic School in Chicago.

While in school, he was scouted by the Chicago Cubs and signed a professional baseball contract in 1939. Tom played professional baseball with the Cubs organization from 1939 until 1954. He set many records including best batting average and most stolen bases in a season. After leaving baseball, he worked as a foreman at Stewart Warner Corp. In 1956, he purchased property on the west shore of Cass Lake, Minn., which became Tom’s Resort. He built the resort into one of the largest resorts in northern Minnesota.

In 2006, at the time he sold the property, it had 30 cabins, a restaurant, a bar, a pool and a harbor. For the 50 years he ran the business, he touched many lives, inspired many people and was loved by all. He was an avid fisherman and well known guide, personally catching a dozen walleyes over 10 pounds, the largest being 13.5 pounds. He also loved to cook, especially pies, bread and meatballs. His restaurant was famous for Italian night and fish fries. He often remarked that the guests of his resort were like his extended family. In 2006, he moved to a town home in the Vista North development in Bemidji, Minn.

He is survived by a son, Vincent M. (Kris) Accardo of Colleyville, Texas; 3 daughters, Laura M. (Dana) Canty of Minneapolis, Minn., Margaret K. Accardo of St. Cloud, Minn. and Tommi J. Accardo of St. Cloud, Minn.; significant other, Linda Howard of Bemidji, Minn.; and her children, Lorie A. (Donnie) Howard of Bemidji, Minn., Loren J. Howard of Cass Lake, Minn. and James E. Headbird of Bemidji, Minn.; 23 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Rose M. Alm; 3 brothers, Joseph, Michael and Anthony Accardo.