Glen Ellyn mourns loss of 1970s mayor

Constance “Connie” Zimmermann, a Glen Ellyn village president who oversaw various redevelopment and expansion efforts during the 1970s and continued giving back to the village as a volunteer, passed away late last month at her daughter’s Wisconsin home, according to her obituary.

She was 81.

Zimmermann served as village president from 1973 through 1977 and during that time, the Village Links Golf Course Clubhouse expanded, the historic Stacy’s Tavern Museum was renovated and improvements were made to Prairie Path.

“She has always been regarded as one of our best presidents and she was an outstanding resident,” Village President Alexander Demos said.

“We’re all saddened by the loss and she’ll be very favorably remembered in the village.”

Zimmermann seemed destined for a career in politics.

She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in political science and belonged to Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. She also called several places home, including Riverside, Glen Ellyn, Highland Park, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Beyond the boardroom, Zimmermann made the area a better place to live by volunteering her time in the community.

She was active on other boards and commissions in the village and DuPage County, including the North Eastern Illinois Planning Commission, the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, the DuPage County Board, the Illinois Municipal League, the Board of Central DuPage Hospital, the Portage Lake Garden Club, the Portage Lake Association, and the Portage Lake Yacht Club. Zimmermann also founded a local chapter of the League of Women Voters.

“She was a good village president, cared about the community,” said Stuart Stone, retired fire chief of the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company.

“She just wanted to give back and she did a very good job at doing that.”

When she wasn’t volunteering, she was traveling the world with her husband Richard Zimmermann, reading, playing tennis, skiing, golfing, swimming and boating.

Zimmermann was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and a son.

Her memorial service will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at Leonard Memorial Home of Glen Ellyn.