George M. DiGuido, age 94, a resident of Wheaton, IL, died Saturday, July 1, 2017, at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. He was born June 17, 1923 in Brooklyn, NY.

George's parents emigrated to the U.S. as young children from the Naples, Italy area and came through Ellis Island with their respective parents. As was often the custom, their names were "Americanized" by officials, so DiGuido became Guido and Iodice became Yodice. Later George and his brother legally changed their names back to DiGuido. George served in the US Army Air Corps in WWII in Africa and Italy. He left with a passion for North Africa and later returned for many trips, eventually writing a novel inspired by the region and the people.

George had a long career as a successful advertising art director in New York, Detroit and Chicago ad agencies, working on national accounts like Chevrolet and American Motors among dozens of others. Later, he handled all the advertising for John M. Smyth Company in Chicago and other local accounts. He is the author of many books including the memoirs 791 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn and The Duration Plus Six ; his religious treatise Commandment Eleven ; the novel The Tuareg: Blue Man of the Sahara and the soon-to-be published Mezzomorto: The Sicilian Corsair (unless he decides to edit it one more time from beyond).

His passions included his family and friends; writing, reading and collecting books, especially history and biography; and classical music. He loved attending concerts at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the New Philharmonic at COD and the Lyric Opera. He was an avid collector of memorabilia from the 1939 New York World's Fair which he attended many times with his buddy, Robert White. He continued to dream about advertising and created new campaigns in his mind, both while awake and asleep. He had a recurring dream about finding his way home in Brooklyn.

George was a member of the Hinsdale Seventh-Day Adventist Church where he served in the past as a teacher of weekly Adult Bible classes.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara DiGuido, nee Kozlowski; his daughters, Merry Guido, Cynthia Guido, Violetta DiGuido and Sylvia DiGuido; brother, Michael DiGuido; more than 30 nieces and nephews; and many first cousins.

He was preceded in death by his former wife, Joy Elaine Tesser Guido; and by his parents, Michelangelo "Mike" Guido and Philomena "Fanny" Yodice Guido; and by his brother Charles (the late Jean); and by his sister-in-law, Patricia.

Services and interment will be held privately at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, in Elwood, IL, and also at Green Hill Cemetery in Nekoosa, WI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to The New Philharmonic Orchestra at College of DuPage Foundation , 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137.