An 81-year-old veteran delivering pizzas in Chicago’s Northwest Side was violently carjacked last week. Ernie Aimone, a Vietnam War veteran and longtime pizza delivery man, was attacked while crossing the street after dropping off a pizza in the city’s Jefferson Park neighborhood. The suspects demanded his keys and sucker-punched him from behind, knocking him to the ground. The carjackers then took off in his 2015 Hyundai Sante Fe while Aimone stayed down to avoid further injury. Chicago police responded to the incident and later spotted the stolen vehicle on an expressway but the carjacker managed to evade them.
State police pursued the stolen vehicle in a chase that ended with the Hyundai crashing and causing major damage. Despite the frightening experience, Aimone expressed his determination to return to work once he has a usable car again because he needs to support his children. His daughter, Robyn, was grateful that the assault did not result in a tragedy and is relieved to still have her father around. Aimone has been delivering pizza for the same restaurant for four decades and is highly regarded by his coworkers and customers, who consider him a part of their family.
The community has rallied around Aimone to help him get a new car as his insurance does not cover the damage caused during the carjacking. A fundraising page set up by the Gladstone Park Chamber of Commerce quickly garnered support and donations from people who want to assist the veteran in his time of need. Chamber president, Dan Ciolino, referred to Aimone as a local legend who deserves the support of the community after serving his country and delivering food to them for years. As of now, more than $38,400 has been raised through the GoFundMe page to help Aimone repair his car or purchase a new one.
Aimone’s coworkers at Joe’s on Higgins, where he has been working for many years, consider him like family and are deeply affected by what happened to him. They spoke about his dedication to the job, loyalty to the restaurant, and his impact on their lives over the years. Frank Demonte, one of the owners, said that Aimone has been around since he was a child and has always been special to them. Gina Demonte, Frank’s wife who also works at the restaurant, echoed the sentiment and described Aimone as a beloved member of their community. The outpouring of support from both his work family and the wider community demonstrates the impact Aimone has had on those around him.
Despite the traumatic incident, Aimone maintains his resolve to continue working and providing for his family. He values his role as a father and is determined to be there for his children. His daughter, Robyn, expressed her relief that her father survived the attack and emphasized that things could have been much worse. The fact that Aimone plans to return to work once he has a working vehicle speaks to his resilience and commitment to his job. The community’s response in supporting him with donations and words of encouragement reflects the respect and admiration Aimone has earned over the years through his service as a veteran and his dedicated work as a pizza delivery man.
