Ernie E. Stinsa

Published in the Chicago Tribune on 12/23/2007.

Ernest E. Stinsa, 74, passed away Dec. 19, 2007 at the University of Chicago Hospital.

Ernie was born on March 3, 1933 to Ernesto Enrico and Josephine, nee Vecchio, Stinsa in the Bronx, NY. After a brilliant 38 year career at International Harvester and Navistar, Ernie created and managed a career training initiative in the Chicago Public Schools at Chicago Career Vocational Academy (CVCA). Students in the program learn technical skills to prepare them for higher education and aid them in finding positions in industry after high school.

Ernie was a renaissance man with many interests. He lived his life to the fullest and his star burned brightly and intensely.

Ernie was a veteran and a professional baseball pitcher prior to employment with IH, pitching for the Washington senators organization during the 1950s.

After retiring from Navistar, he rediscovered his passion for art and completed the certificate program at the Art Institute of Chicago (www.erniestinsa.com).

He is survived by his beloved wife, Shirley, nee Herring; his four sons, Gregory (Christina), Paul, Anthony (Leah) and Robert (Lena); beautiful grandchildren, Gabriella, Gianna, Samuel and Sophia. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ernest E. Stinsa Scholarship Fund may be made to Navistar, attn. Greg Elliott, 4201 Winfield Road, Warrenville, IL 60555.

Visitation Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007 from 3 to 9 p.m. at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory, 950 South Bartlett Rd. (at Stearns), Bartlett. Funeral Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, 9:15 a.m. to St. Isidore Catholic Church. Mass 10 a.m. Interment Assumption, Wheaton. 630-289-7575.