Paul A. Baffico

Paul A. Baffico, age 77, of Lake Forest, Illinois died suddenly after complications relating to a fall on September 19, 2023. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from both St. Ignatius High School and the University of San Francisco. After completing ROTC in college, he was inducted into the Army as a second Lieutenant. He proudly served as a communications officer in the 101st Airborne division in Vietnam from 1970-71; garnering multiple awards including the Bronze Star. After being discharged with the rank of first Lieutenant, he went to work for Sears Roebuck where he remained throughout his career, culminating as the President of Automotive, Battery and Tire, and CEO of Western Auto. After retiring in 1998, he founded Invisible Intellect, a strategic consulting firm, and the Lake County Veterans and Family Services Foundation, which serves innumerable veterans and their families. Paul devoted his life to service - repairing any object or organization in need, crafting and building furniture, aiding all who crossed his path, and volunteering as a docent at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC every month for over 15 years. Paul is survived by his former wife, Mary (Groom), his current wife Max (Smith); his siblings, James (Joey) and Cristine (Hans) Reich; his sons, Jonathan (Tiffani) and Jeffrey (Brigid); and 4 grandchildren, Ella, Logan, Hailey and Michaelene; as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews and cousins. A Memorial Service will be held at 4 PM on Monday, October 2, 2023 in the John and Nancy Hughes Theater of Gorton Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/mAl35Sck-IY. A reception will follow at Gorton in the Stuart Community Room until 6 PM. ** OVERFLOW PARKING for the service has been organized and is available in the City of Lake Forest parking lot located on the corner of Deerpath & McKinley Roads & in the lot across the street just west of the Gorton Center. Paul will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia at a future date. For information – Reuland & Turnbough Funeral Directors of Lake Forest, 847-234-9649 or www.RTfunerals.com. Memorial contributions in Paul’s memory may be made to the Lake County Veterans and Family Services Foundation at https://www.lcvetsfoundation.org/.

Paul A. Baffico

July 18, 1946 - September 19, 2023