William Edward Gomolinski
Judge William Edward Gomolinski, age 65, of Holmes Beach, Florida, formerly of Western Springs, Illinois passed away peacefully on September 11, 2024. Beloved husband of Joyce (nee Jaskulski); loving father of William (Allison), Anne (Martin) O’Connor, and Samuel; cherished Dzia-Dzia of William James and Madeline Marie Gomolinski; devoted son of the late Chester & Dorothy and brother to Dawn (Robert) Olmstead and Mary Gomolinski (Cindy Schaadt); fond Uncle to Robert, Ed, Nicholas, Ryan, Tyler, Catherine, Lauren, Kaitlin, and Rachel; Great Uncle to many; and friend to too many to list.
In addition to being a loving husband and father, Judge Gomolinski was a mentor and role model to many. He leaves behind a legacy larger than life. Following high school at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South and a brief career as a semi-professional baseball player, Judge Gomolinski put himself through undergraduate at Loyola University (1981) and John Marshall Law School (1986) while working nights as an operating engineer. Following law school, Judge Gomolinski embarked on a remarkable legal career, consisting of 21 years in private practice, 12 years on the Cook County bench, and most recently as a nationally renowned mediator. For all those who appeared in front of, dealt with, or ever met Judge Gomolinski, his lasting impression was only outdone by his sense of humor and unmatched knowledge of the law. Outside of his distinguished career, Judge Gomolinski was most happy being with his family and spending time as a self-described “house mouse.”
Some of his fondest memories included his involvement in his children’s hockey teams, from Mites to College. The family would often spend weekends traveling the country for games and tournaments. In addition to coaching many youth hockey teams, he also served on the Flames Hockey Club Board of Directors, the AHAI Rules and Ethics Committee and the AHAI Board of Directors, spending countless hours making hockey better for all and creating lifelong wonderful friendships along the way.
His capacity to love and his positive attributes are too numerous to list, but his memory will live on in his family’s hearts.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Hinsdale Humane Society are greatly appreciated.
Visitation will be 12 to 7pm on Sunday, September 15th at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Family and friends to meet directly at St. John of the Cross Church, 5005 Wolf Road, Western Springs for an 11am Funeral Mass on Monday, September 16th. Interment to be held privately. Funeral information: 708-352-6500
Bill had a smile bigger than the moon, a personality as bright as the sun, and more love in his heart than stars in the sky! When I first met Bill at Center many years ago it started something special between us and it never faded away.
He is a special friend that will be sadly missed by me and many others.
My heart goes out to Joyce and the Gomolinski family.
Rest in piece my friend
Judge Gomolinski was an incredible public servant, a proud and good Member of the Advocates Society (and Presidential Award Recipient), and good person. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. May he rest in peace.
Dear Joyce and the entire Gomolinski family,
We were so shocked and saddened to learn of Bill’s sudden passing. Please know all of you are in our prayers for comfort and peace during this difficult time. Bill was a wonderful man and will be sorely missed by many. Rest in peace Bill for you are now truly in paradise.
He was a great man, just as said in your eulogy. I personally will miss him greatly. What he brought to AHAI ‘s R&E and Tier 1 hockey will never be forgotten . He was a great man.
I’ve always admired and respected Judge Gomolinski’s wisdom, fairness, kindness, analytical abilities and common sense. My deepest condolences to his family.
Bill and I are cousins, our fathers were brothers born 16 years apart. Bill’s middle name Edward was my father’s name. I was so very happy when Bill and I reconnected about 20 years ago. We remained in touch as recently as his birthday when I teased him about turning 65. Bill was very modest, he never bragged about his many, many accomplishments. Learning of his passing was a total shock. My heart goes out to Joyce and their children. Guess the 3 Gomolinski men (Bill, Chester his father and Edward my father) will spend eternity talking about baseball.❤️
Dear Gomolinski Family,
I was incredibly shocked and heartbroken to hear of Judge Bill’s sudden passing. I am honored to have known him for the few short years that I did. When my brother, Martin, married Anne Gomolinski, it was one of the happiest days of my life as I was so thrilled and proud of the amazing woman he’d met and the amazing family she came from! Judge Bill was so kind, funny and easy to be around! I very much looked forward to many more family get togethers. What an exceptional impression he has left on so many, near and far. May your hearts be at peace knowing that he is also at peace and may his memory live on forever
I knew Bill through AHAI and also as an attorney. Bill was a remarkable man in both settings. He was a fearless leader as long-time Chair of AHAI Rules & Ethics, where I served with him. And a great judge and mediator. And most importantly, a true and loyal friend. There are not many like Bill in either place. God bless you, my friend.
Dorothy and I would sit in her backyard while the dogs would play and she would share stories of all of her children and grandchildren. So while I only met Bill, once or twice, I certainly feel like I knew him and his many accomplishments, both professional and personal. Those stories keep his memory eternal. May your family find peace and comfort, knowing how vastly he touched lives.
My brother, my friend , my hero. You can not be replaced , the void of our every day laughs will be so greatly missed. The fact we could do and say anything to each other was the greatest gift for me ever. You went out the way you wanted just 15 years early. There was nothing we didn’t celebrate or share with each other and together and nothing we didn’t share keep the man code.. Thank you for all our memories and Thank you for the love you showed me. I deeply miss you my bald brother . Life will go on but there is no day now that will be the same for me. I love you Bill G. Man do I love you. Love your brother Flood
Bill I have a space in my heart that will be hard to fill. You were a very special person we (Al n I)always had good times together with you Joyce and family. We will truly miss you. I will miss that special smile you always had as you tilted your head with that smile and raised your eyebrows. You have gone to early way to early. May you be in peace with Chester and Dorthy and may we meet again!
I love you🙏🏻💕Julie Krizka
OMG. I am sorry sorry for the loss of Billy
I was in grade school with him at Epiphany in Chicago
He was my first crush. I just cannot believe he’s gone
RIP Billy Gomolinski
Love your ol school mate. Peggy
To Joyce, Anne, William, Samuel and the entire Gomolinski family:
Please accept the heartfelt condolences of the Law Division Judges (past and present), the Assignment Room personnel, the court clerks and law clerks who all served with Bill over these many years. He was truly an asset to the Law Division, to the legal profession, and to the litigants whose cases he handled. He was a consummate professional, as well as being a personal and loyal friend to many. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Such sad news. I valued the opportunity to practice before Judge Gomolinski, where I knew my clients would always receive a fair, knowledgeable, and, above all, understandable result. As a mediator, Judge Gomolinski was often the first choice of counsel on both sides of our cases, again, for his experience, knowledge and pragmatism. But my fondest memory of Judge Gomolinski will always be the day I steered a group of high school students I was hosting for a career day into his courtroom. After his call ended, Judge Gomolinski peered out at us and asked, “Take your kid to work day?” He then invited the students for a literal view from the bench, with a turn at the gavel, and took them into chambers for a candid discussion of the role of the judge, all, of course, with photo opportunities that made this professional immersion experience an instant legend. The Judge’s always evident devotion to the law and generous spirit were on full display. This giant of our legal community will be long remembered and sadly missed. My condolences to his family and all who knew him.
My clearest memory of Billy is him pushing me in the bushes every day as we walked home from Epiphany school and me crying the rest of the way home. Or the fact that the girls wore duct tape across our mouth and boys (Billy was one)tied to his chair in Sister Marcos’s class. And then there was 8th grade and the mini bike, how we didn’t die then riding up and down the allies in Chicago. Mr and Mrs Gomolinski were always so sweet, especially because they yelled at Billy for throwing me in the bushes, and Bubba said something but I could never understand her just knew when she was mad and we ran.
We were blessed to have these cherished memories and have the Epiphany family we grew up with. We may have not stayed in touch, as most of us grew far apart but there is a piece of our hearts intwined forever. So sorry for your loss, and our loss as an Epiphany family.
I am so sorry for your loss. I was shocked to hear of Billy’s passing. I went to grammar school at Epiphany with Billy. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.
A great judge and mediator. Best wishes in his family and close friends.
Adam Kreuzer
My dearest Son-in-Law, Bill,
Thank you for loving and caring for my daughter, Joyce, these many years. Thank you for the three beautiful grandchildren, Billy, Anne & Sam, that the two of you bestowed upon me. Love you today, tomorrow & always. May you rest in peace. Mother-in-Law, Marjie Jaskulski.
Our condolensces to Joyce, Sam, and Ann. Bill left an incredible legacy on this earth. We are saddened to learn of his passing so soon. May he rest in heavenly peace.
I would like to express my deepest sympathy and condolences.
It was very sad to hear of Bills passing.I am so sorry for your loss.
Bill and I went to grammar school together (kindergarten through 8th grade) and grew up together in the same neighborhood.Him and I were very good friends throughout our childhood.
Bill was alway the person that was going to be most successful in life.He always had the best grades, great athlete and very ambitious.
I remember the apartment where Mr and Mrs Gomolinski, Dawn, Mary and Billy lived.
We spent a lot of time at Lawndale Park playing basketball, floor hockey,gymnastics and of course Bill played baseball in the Little League program.
I have so many great memories from our childhood and always considered myself so lucky to have known Bill.
As we got older, life took us in different directions and of course our families dictated our lives.
I always followed Bills success through social media and was so proud of him.I truly do regret not keeping in touch with him because I really think we would have had a great relationship.
Crazy thing,I haven’t seen Bill for 30 years or more and miss him.I am so sad that he is no longer on this earth with us.I have always had the utmost respect for him and I will miss him dearly.
Love you Bill❤️
Just last night at the Polish Consulate I learned of Bill’s passing. I can’t believe it. He and I knew each other from the political/legal world. What a gentleman. Billy Joel might be right…..only the good die young. May he rest in peace.
Golominski Family – Please accept my condolences on your loss. I only saw about his passing in the St. John’s bulletin of September 22nd. He had a reputation as a great lawyer and great judge. Proud to be a fellow QS alum. Tom Davy
I was shocked to hear of the passing of Judge William Gomolinski. We both went to Epiphany and Quigley South but he was a year ahead of me. By coincidence Judge Gomolinski was the judge in an arbitration case this year between two parties that didn’t really involve me as an ex-landlord and he believed my testimony and ruled fairly. He knew of my good reputation. God bless him.