Lombard to honor employee for 50 years of service

Carol Bauer has always enjoyed working behind the scenes.

She was the calm voice on the other end of the phone when she worked as a fire and police dispatcher for about 10 years in the late 1960s and early 1970s. For more than 20 years, she has quietly coordinated Lombard's blood drive, helping it grow substantially since she took it over in 1993.

And in her role as executive secretary and coordinator for the past four decades, she has been an asset to countless presidents, managers and board members who have passed through village hall, giving them the support they have needed to run the village.

A reception will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at village hall, 255 E. Wilson Ave., to celebrate Bauer's 50 years of employment with the village. The event is open to residents and community members who want to thank Bauer for her ongoing service. Bauer will also be recognized at Thursday's village board meeting, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., immediately following the reception.

"It's amazing to me, even though I'm the one with 50 years," Bauer said with a laugh. "I appreciate being given the opportunity to work here. Working for the village, for me, has become like a passion. It's not just a job. I like to be here."

She added that her 50th anniversary celebration is not just about her, but about everyone working together to make Lombard a better place.

"The people, it's kind of like they're almost an extension of your family," she said.

Village Manager Scott Niehaus said Bauer's knowledge of the history of Lombard has been invaluable for him during his first two years in the position.

"She's a walking file cabinet, he said. "She doesn't even need to look up stuff. She's just a great asset."

Village President Keith Giagnorio said Bauer is "the center of everything that goes on in village hall."

"She's been there so long, she knows everything," he said. "If she doesn't know the answer, she knows who to go to. She's been terrific."

Bauer's passion for helping others grew out of her desire to do the best she could at her dispatcher job.

"I wanted to make sure that when someone called that I was focused and that I would be able to respond to them quickly and efficiently, and that they could get the help they needed," she said. "I think it was just like a stepping stone. I liked helping people and it just seemed to grow even more."

When Bauer took over coordinating the village's blood drives, there were only two being hosted per year. The average collection was about 25 to 30 pints of blood.

"I thought we should be able to have more," she said. "It takes maybe an hour, but you can help save someone's life. I still focus in on that at every blood drive."

Now, the village hosts five blood drives a year and collects between 175 to 200 pints per drive. In 2013, Bauer was named most dedicated blood drive coordinator in Illinois by Heartland Blood Centers. She still wants to improve the blood donation program and hopes to eventually draw in enough pints to save the same amount of people as there are living in the Lombard area.

Despite all the hoopla regarding her anniversary, Bauer was quick to respond when asked if she was thinking about retiring soon.

"Oh, no. I am not," she said. "It's such a big part of my life. If I can just make some little dent in the community, some little mark that something is better, then I want to continue doing that."