Paul Matthew Nemecek, age 89, of La Grange Park (Plymouth Place), formerly of Western Springs (Ridgewood), Riverside, and Berwyn, passed away peacefully on December 28th, with his son at his side. Beloved husband of the late Dorothy (married in 1968; deceased in 2012), loving father of Scott (Elizabeth), and cherished grandfather of Kelly Margaret and Lillian Annette.  Preceded in heaven by his parents Ervin Francis and Henrietta Birka Nemecek, older brother Alfred, and twin brother Carl.  Paul was proud of and enjoyed time with all of his extended family in both the Nemecek and Sylling/Cullum families.  He will be missed by many friends from across many different facets of his life.

Paul’s family was living in Berwyn when he was born (April 24, 1934), and they soon moved to Riverside, where he attended school for grades 1-12.  He learned the game of tennis in the backyard with his brother Carl, eventually playing at Riverside-Brookfield High School and then Northern Illinois University.  In addition, Paul was active in the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and Math Club at NIU.  Over the years he continued his education with advanced degrees from Indiana University and Central Michigan University.

Paul first taught mathematics and coached tennis at his alma mater, Riverside-Brookfield High School, for ten years.  There he met his future wife, Dorothy, who also taught mathematics.  He then spent the remainder of his career at Lyons Township High School teaching math and coaching tennis.  Upon retirement in 1991, Paul continued to coach boys tennis at LT, and then a few seasons of girls tennis at Nazareth until 2001.

During his career, Paul wrote articles for various publications: Mathematics Teacher, Tennis, and Recreational Mathematics.  He also helped implement ‘weighted grading’ into LT when it was new in the 1970’s.  Paul taught tennis through the Western Springs Park District and LT summer camps to children and adults alike.  He became a member of the United States Professional Tennis Teachers Association in 1967 and was inducted into the Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1991.

Paul was extremely busy in retirement through his work with the Czech & Slovak American Genealogy Society of Illinois (founded 1996), serving as library chairman, vice-president, and president.  The library, the finest genealogy research library in the United States regarding Czechoslovak immigrants who came to the USA through Chicago, is housed in the Riverside Public Library, and was named in his honor in 2014.

Visitation 3pm to 8pm on Tuesday, January 9th at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside, IL.  Family and friends to meet directly at Woodlawn Cemetery, 7750 W. Cermak Rd., Forest Park, IL, for an 11am burial on Wednesday, January 10th.  A memorial service to follow the burial at 1st Presbyterian Church, 150 S. Ashland Ave, LaGrange, IL, on Wednesday, January 10th at approximately noon. 

In lieu of flowers, a donation in the form of a check to the Czech & Slovak American Genealogy Society of Illinois would be greatly appreciated (CSAGSI, PO Box 313, Sugar Grove, IL  60554).

Funeral information: 708-352-6500