By Joan Hadac
Editor and Publisher
Southwest Chicago Post
and
Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post
Rock in peace, Tom Salzburg.
Word has come to us that the acclaimed rock musician passed away peacefully late last night at his home in Clearing. Since last year, Tom had struggled with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig Disease).
Because of the pandemic, there will be no visitation or funeral service that folks may attend to offer condolences to Tom's family: his wife, Kelly; son, Tommy; daughter, Ashley; daughter, Amber Rivera; son-in-law, Will Rivera; grandson, William Rivera; as well as Tom's extended family.
So we offer our condolences here and hope that years' worth of fond, fun memories of Tom provide comfort to the Salzburgs, now and in the weeks, months and years ahead.
As for the rest of us, may all of us be reminded that the work continues.
Tom's family still faces a mountain of bills related to his medical care, as well as lost income.
So now is the time for all Southwest Siders with hearts to step it up and give Tom's family a boost.
The Salzburg Strong benefit, originally scheduled for last month, is still on for 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, August 9 at 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., Merrionette Park.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door for adults. Kids 5 to 20 will pay $15, and children younger than 5 will be admitted for free.
Tickets are available on the Salzburg Strong website-just click on the Buy Tickets tab. If you want to donate now or sponsor the benefit, or learn about other fundraising efforts, all the information is on the website.
People who want to donate in a more immediate sense are encouraged to visit the Salzburg Strong GoFundMe page online. Since it was started on Nov. 13, the GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $25,000 from 233 donors. The goal is $50,000.
For those who don’t want to make a donation online, checks made payable to Salzburg Strong may be set to BMO Harris Bank, 101 Burr Ridge Parkway, Burr Ridge, IL 60527, attention: Jason K. Refer to the account number ending in 5432.
As we have noted in past posts, Tom Salzburg has been an acclaimed rock drummer and vocalist for some four decades.
In the 1980s, Tom earned his stripes with No Mercy and Tattoo. In recent years, he has been a key member of Bad Medicine and Motley II. He founded and fronted Cooper’s Dead Things, an Alice Cooper tribute band. Tom’s son, Tommy Jr., is the drummer in that band.
The August 9 benefit will be an emotion-packed musical extravaganza featuring Tom’s bands, past and present, rocking the house. It will also include live auctions and raffles.
Representatives from the ALS Foundation and the ALS Therapy Development Institute attend to let everyone know all about ALS and how they can help win the fight against the disease. ALS TDI is a research facility that Kelly credits helping the Salzburg family and working very hard to find a cure for the disease. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will also go toward ALS research.
The rest of the proceeds will go toward the family’s critical needs.
We're proud to say that like many, many people in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (and at many points beyond), we are Salzburg Strong.
We plan to be at the benefit in August and hope to see you there. So please go to SalzburgStrong.com today, buy your tickets and donate in any other way you can.
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| Tom Salzburg (second from left) accepts thunderous applause from an emotionally-charged audience at his last performance as a rock musician, earlier this year. Standing with him, literally and figuratively, are (from left) his wife, Kelly; daughter, Ashley; daughter, Amber Rivera; son, Tommy Jr.; and son-in-law, Will Rivera. |
The Southwest Chicago Post is proud to be a friend of Salzburg Strong, as well as an in-kind donor to the Salzburg Strong fundraisers. Community support for Tom Salzburg and his family is a just one of many examples of what makes this corner of Chicago such a great place. Please click on the links embedded in the story above and join in, won't you?
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