|
|
Cobbler to Chairman of the Board
Business and Family Man
Lapidary Collector
Learn More |
Joseph
F. Lizzadro, Sr. (1898-1972)
holds 675 carat Blue Topaz. |
Meade Electric Company 1921
Click on the image for a larger view |
Cobbler
to Chairman of the Board
Joseph Lizzadro
arrived in the United States from his native Italy in the early
1900s. He traveled with his father, a shoemaker,
who set up a cobbler’s shop in Chicago, Illinois. Young
Joseph worked in the cobbler shop and attended school. He learned
English and became a U.S. citizen. His father soon brought the
rest of his family to the United States.
In 1916, Joseph took a job with Meade
Electric Company as a
laborer and began what would become a life-long career in electrical
contracting. Meade operated a retail appliance store and converted
gas lighting to electric.
Through hard work and dedication, Joseph was often promoted
and became a company stockholder. After the death of the company’s
founder in 1929, Joseph rose to Chairman of the Board of Meade
Electric.
Back to top
|
Business
and Family Man
Joseph married Mary Sandretto (1910-2001) in 1932.
Mary was born in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan, known
as Copper
Country. Joseph and Mary had six children. The growing family
moved from Maywood to Elmhurst, Illinois, in 1939. Joseph enjoyed family trips to Keweenaw and began collecting
stones there, typically Lake Superior agate, thomsonite, and
datolite. He cut and polished them, making jewelry for friends
and family.
At work in the early 1940s, Joseph noted the poor condition
of traffic signals in Northeastern Illinois and, in his enterprising
fashion, proposed to maintain them for the state. Officials accepted
his offer and more state contracts followed for street lighting
systems and storm water pumping stations. With these and other
contracts with steel and oil companies, Meade Electric prospered
and so did Joseph.
Back to top
|
Lake Superior Agate
|
 |
The
little hanging jade vase that started it all remains
on permanent display and has become the Museum’s
logo. |
|
|
|
Lapidary
Collector
Joseph gained appreciation for the unique characteristics of
the mineral world as a lapidary hobbyist and collector. He especially
loved to cut and polish jade. Joseph acquired his first Chinese
jade carving, a small hanging vase, in the late 1930s, intending
to cut it into pieces for jewelry.
At
that time, it was nearly impossible for lapidary hobbyists
to obtain
rough jade. Carvings, which were plentiful and fairly
inexpensive, were often purchased and fashioned into something
new for the sake of the hobby. Joseph’s respect for the
original carver’s ability overwhelmed his desire to recut
the jade. Thus, the Lizzadro Collection began.
Joseph added other carvings to his collection and also items
of amber, ivory, coral, agate, and gemstones. As his collection
grew, his dream was to display the beauty of stone and share
it with others.
Through
an agreement with the City of Elmhurst and Elmhurst Park District,
Joseph built his museum in the city’s Wilder
Park. His dream was realized on November 4, 1962, when the Lizzadro
Museum of Lapidary Art opened its doors to the public. Joseph
continued to collect beautiful works of lapidary art until his
death in 1972.
Back to top
|
Learn
More
More information is available in Publications Summer/Fall
1992.
Purchase it online through the
museum gift shop. Publication
SF92
Back to top
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
