Jack J. Cerniglia was a self-made man with a successful 60-year track record in a highly competitive industry. He and his brother were raised by a single mother, his father died when he was eight months old. And, in the midst of the impoverished and crime ridden Chicago neighborhood called Little Italy, Jack's mother worked long and hard at 27 cents an hour to raise her boys. Then in an attempt to bring home some additional income, Jack, just a 15-year old boy at the time, went to work for the National Tea Co. grocery chain – at the time when the Depression economy was so bad that the store superintendent could not even promise to pay him. Recognized for his hard work and enthusiasm, when another employee broke his leg, they offered Jack the position which paid $12 for a 65 hour week. By the time he was 17-years old, Jack was promoted to Produce Specialist where he began to demonstrate his talents for merchandising and customer relations.
The very next year, when Jack was 18, National Tea Co. had an unprofitable store that was scheduled for closing. As a last ditch attempt to save the store, National Tea offered Jack a position as the store's manager, and gave him six months to turn it around. Jack took on the challenge, and as the youngest manager in the long history of National Tea, Co., Jack's street smarts and community involvement approach to marketing not only saved the store, but literally drove his strongest competition, A & P, from the neighborhood.
Jack's career in the food business was interrupted by World War II, when Jack served in the 103rd Infantry 383rd HQ Battery as a Mess Sergeant. He saw combat in France, Italy, Austria and Germany, and participated in liberation of the infamous Duchow concentration camp.
Upon his return to the grocery business following the war, Jack's commitment was demonstrated in his pursuit of excellence in all phases of the food business. He taught himself produce, meats, groceries, bakery, deli, etc.; but his passion was always marketing – reading the pulse of the customers and meeting their needs. His accomplishments were reflected in consistent advancement and increased responsibilities. Eventually, Jack was supervising 85 National Tea stores in a 3-state region.
Then after a 41-year stint with National Tea, the company was sold. The new management decided 55-year old Jack was "too old," and let him go. At an age when many people would consider retirement, Jack embarked on his "second career."
His reputation for street smart marketing led Ralph Stienbarth, the president of LaPreferida, Inc. to offer Jack a job with Chicago-based grocery-spirits-produce company; a firm specializing in ethnic markets. This placed Jack right in his element – marketing to specific communities. He worked with hundreds of supermarkets and independents to determine the ethnic makeup of the neighborhoods that they serve in order to meet the customers' specific needs. In addition to working with community grocers, Jack updated and expanded relationships with major chain stores, such as Jewel and Dominick's, offering lines tailored to the specific communities. This took Jack on international excursions to secure hard to find fruits and vegetables. Jack proudly retired from LaPreferida at the age of 90.
Jack is the beloved husband of 63 years to Catherine; loving father of Minnie (Harry) Gunderson, Jack (Ellie) and Joe (Cassie); dearest grandpa of Michael (Lora), Michelle (John), Joseph, Matthew, Anne, Meg, Tim, John, Michael and Dan; great-grandpa of Nicholas, Sammy, Jacob and Justin. Visitation Wednesday 3 to 9 p.m. Funeral Prayers Thursday 9:15 a.m. at Nelson Funeral Home 820 Talcott Road, Park Ridge to Mary, Seat of Wisdom Church, Mass 10 a.m. Entombment St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a donation will be made to Clare Oaks Senior Living in memory of Jack. For information 847-823-5122