Posted by James on July 14, 2009 at 11:43:46:
I didn't see any post on this.
Here is the link to the story and the story itself:
http://dailyherald.com/story/?id=306421
Bart Loiacono has always been the life of the party.
As founder and publisher of NiteLife.org magazine, the 55-year-old Wheaton man has been committed to promoting the free monthly entertainment guide since its inception in 1992.
In his role as a community volunteer, Loiacono has entertained tens of thousands of people as the announcer for Wheaton's annual Fourth of July parade and fireworks show for more than two decades.
But on a recent Monday afternoon, Loiacono was too tired and in too much pain to break out his "Mr. Sell" persona. On that day, the deadly cancer he's battling took the pitchman right out of him.
"Today, I wanted to be that super-hype guy - that sales guy," Loiacono said from a wheelchair. "I didn't do that."
Instead, Loiacono spoke frankly about how he has Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He said doctors told him the tumor is inoperable and have given him up to eight months to live.
"I'm toast," he said. "How soon I'm toast is kind of up to me. It's up to me. How long do I want to be available?"
Complicating things further, Loiacono lost his health insurance before being diagnosed in April. As a result, he has more than $100,000 in medical bills and fears his family will suffer financially.
But Loiacono is far from alone in his fight.
Many of the bars, nightclubs and restaurants that his magazine has supported through the years are trying to help. They're hosting a series of benefits organized by Loiacono's family, friends and co-workers. A list is at NiteLife.org.
And on July 4, the Wheaton Jaycees thanked Loiacono for his years of service by naming him grand marshal of the parade.
"Bart's here with us, and we can only pray for him and hope that his health stays good as long as possible," said Lori Ortolano, who served as the parade and fireworks chairwoman for the Jaycees.
The outpouring of support has Loiacono thinking positive.
"There's nothing that says there aren't miracles," he said. "Miracles happen every day - without question."
No matter what happens, Loiacono says he's confident the magazine he founded will go on. "Fortunately, I created something bigger here than me," he said.
Loiacono, a former restaurant owner, began printing a newsletter to promote a deejay business he started in the 1980s. It became the basis for NiteLife.org. Today, the magazine is read by an estimated 125,000 people a month, and tens of thousands more visit the Web site.
Loiacono said the goal is to give readers ideas on where to go and what to do in the suburbs. Each month, the magazine is packed with listings for band performances, karaoke shows and festivals.
"There's thousands of things to do in the Chicagoland suburbs," Loiacono said. "And I am not afraid to tell you where to go. There's nothing that you can get in Chicago that you can't get here."
But last year, NiteLife.org - like print publications across the country - took a financial hit because of the recession. So when several employees left, Loiacono decided not to replace them.
The cost-cutting move left him without health insurance.
"When I lost my staff, I lost my group," he said. "When I lost my group, I lost my health insurance."
At the time, Loiacono didn't think it was a big of deal to be without expensive health insurance. He had started exercising regularly and was quickly dropping weight from his 300-pound frame.
What he didn't know was there was another reason for his dramatic weight loss. He suspected something was wrong when he started feeling fatigued. Family members urged him to see a doctor.
On April 1, results from a biopsy confirmed a lesion on Loiacono's pancreas was cancerous.
Despite one doctor's prediction, Loiacono lived to celebrate his 55th birthday last month. He also felt well enough to serve as the Wheaton parade's grand marshal on July 4. But for the first time in 25 years, he wasn't able to announce the parade. In years past, he kept reviewing stand crowds entertained with jokes, contests and ad-lib banter.
"He has a way with the crowds," Ortolano said. "He deejayed a wedding I was at, and it was just fantastic. He's very charismatic."
"He's the life of the party," said Michael Donnelly, Loiacono's cousin.
Donnelly says she believes the reason why so many people want to help Bart now is because of his generosity and willingness to help others.
"People are like, 'Oh, he's always been so great to me. This is my turn,'" Donnelly said.
Mark Zayed, who co-owns BreakTime Billiards in Naperville, said Loiacono gave him advice when he started in the bar business. So when Zayed learned a series of benefits were planned, he was ready to host an event.
"I can't imagine what his family is going through," Zayed said. "So if I can help them in any way, I would."
Loiacono, who is married and has two sons, said he is concerned about how his fight against cancer will affect his family's finances.
"It's going to hurt knowing that I may not be able to take care of my children," he said. "I may not be able to take care of my wife. I may not be able to take care of my mortgage. I think I can. I don't know that I can."
Donnelly said the first benefit, held last week in Bolingbrook, raised more than $2,000. Meanwhile, the number of events planned continues to grow. Donnelly said the goal is to have as many fundraisers as possible.
"Hopefully," she said, "Bart pulls through and we can cover some of his medical costs and raise some money for his family so they can keep things going."
Initially, family members asked Loiacono if he wanted to keep his illness a secret. His response: "Tell everybody."
"What's the worst that can happen?" he said. "The worst that can happen is that somebody prays for me. That's a good thing. They send me positive energy. There's nothing wrong with that."