Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
From World War II veteran and accomplished dentist to community leader and generous philanthropist, Dr. Sam Cascio has seemingly done it all. And yet, as he approaches 100, he remains a lively and active member of his community.
Cascio was born on Aug. 27, 1924, to Joseph and Josephine Cascio. His father was born in Baltimore, Maryland, while his mother was born in Cefalù, Sicily, and immigrated with her family to the United States.
His parents came from modest means and worked hard to make a living, says Cascio, who grew up on the Northwest Side of Chicago and attended Our Lady of Victory Grammar School, followed by St. Mel High School, run by the Christian Brothers.
When World War II broke out, Cascio enlisted in the Navy rather than being drafted into the Army. He served three years in the Pacific on the USS LST-281, a landing ship tank, as a radioman, island-hopping from the Philippines and Okinawa and finally Japan.
“I learned a lot of things being in the service,” Cascio says. “You learned what a dollar is, and you also learn the true meaning of love.” Sleeping, eating and doing absolutely everything with his shipmates formed unbreakable bonds that represented true brotherly love, he explains.
After the war, Cascio earned a bachelor of science degree from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, and a doctorate in dental surgery from the Loyola University School of Dentistry. The G.I. Bill gave him these opportunities, as neither he nor his family would have been able to afford the cost of schooling.
“My dad used to tell me I gotta go to school, no matter what,” says Cascio, who is a huge proponent of education.
Cascio always knew he wanted to work in the medical field, and once he embarked on that path, he never had a second thought.
“I wanted to be in the medical field, whatever it might be,” he explains. “I was thrilled that I was able to get into dental school.”
Cascio practiced dentistry for 56 years from offices at the intersection of Addison Street and Neva Avenue on the Northwest Side of Chicago.
When asked about the biggest impact he has had on his community, Cascio said he believes it’s his dentistry. He enjoyed the positive impact he made on others, and loved nothing more than seeing a discomfort-free patient walk out of his office, grateful for the work he’d done, he says.
Cascio is well-known for his humanitarian efforts. He was given the Mel Man of the Year Award from St. Mel High School in 1966 for his fundraising efforts, and earlier this year, was honored as the high school’s first-ever Distinguished Mel Man of the Year. He also received the Marshall H. Samuelson, D.D.S., Humanitarian Award from Ed Kelly Sports Inc. in 2015 and was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Italian American Executives of Transportation in 2018.
Over the years, he has been an active member of numerous organizations. He was a charter member of St. Mary’s President’s Council from 1974 to 1994 and served 10 years on the university’s Board of Trustees.
He co-chaired a $100 million campaign for the Dental Alumni Association of Loyola University and was a vice president and 26-year member of the University of Illinois Eye Fund Board.
He is a past president of the Illinois State Dental Society, Chicago Academy of General Dentistry, Illinois Academy of General Dentistry, Loyola Dental Alumni Association, Progressive Club of the Chicago Dental Society, Northwest Branch of the Chicago Dental Society, Arcolian Dental Arts Society and Columbian Club of Chicago.
Cascio says he has enjoyed every moment of serving others throughout his life.
“I made a point that I would attend all the meetings possible,” he says.
Nowadays, Cascio is still very involved with the Columbian Club, of which he is a lifetime member; the Arcolian Dental Arts Society; and the Chicago Dental Society. He attends all meetings of the Northwest Branch of the CDS and the mid-winter meeting of the main organization.
Cascio has four children, whom he loves dearly and who make him proud, he says. His son Joseph Cascio is retired; his son Dan Cascio is the president of Cascio Communications Inc. and CEIEW Inc. in Chicago; his daughter Geraldine Limonciello owns Mama Maria’s Pizza in Elmhurst with her husband Philip Limonciello; and his son Dr. Michael Cascio followed in his footsteps and practices dentistry in Harwood Heights.
In his free time, Cascio enjoys playing golf and spending time at his condo in Marco Island, Florida.
When asked what the most meaningful thing in his life has been, Cascio answered, “That’s a very difficult question for me. The reason being, everything I’ve done, I’ve loved.”
