Wheaton renaming Leisure Center to honor Mary Lubko
The Wheaton Park District is renaming the district's Leisure Center as the Mary Lubko Leisure Center, in honor of 22-year employee and senior citizen advocate Mary Lubko, who died in November.
Lubko started her career at the Wheaton Park District Leisure Center in 1970. As the first director of the Senior Center, she introduced sports programs like bicycling, volleyball, hiking, softball, cross-country skiing, tennis, bowling and golf. She also created many travel opportunities, including day trips to plays, musicals and restaurants, and extended trips to far-flung locales.
In addition, Lubko also started the exercise classes and walking, dancing, singing, quilting and card-playing groups that continue today.
Along with entertainment and activity, Lubko recognized seniors' need to keep well-informed, and she organized regular sessions with Medicare representatives, nurses, tax representatives and staff from the city of Wheaton, Wheaton Park District, Wheaton Public Library, Wheaton school districts, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce and more.
Her motto was, "Wheaton has been a great place to grow up, but let's make it a better place to retire." Once she reached that goal, Lubko reached beyond Wheaton, helping organize the Senior Citizen Directors, which involved 14 local park districts, and becoming a member of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and of the National Council on Aging.
Various Wheaton institutions applauded Lubko's efforts, including Marian Park apartments, which awarded her its Human Services Award in 1983, and the Kiwanis Club of Wheaton, which awarded her its first Citizen of the Year award in 1985.
Kiwanis Club members today still speak of the extended trips Lubko organized that allowed many seniors to visit foreign countries for the first time.
Eventually Lubko became a senior herself, but she didn't stop working after retirement.
Her normal day included stops at Central DuPage Hospital, Marianjoy, Wyndemere, and any other place people might be recovering from aging-related problems. She also visited seniors living alone in their homes.
The Leisure Center officially will be renamed the Mary Lubko Leisure Center upon board approval at the next regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 17, with ceremonies to follow in the spring.
To learn more about the Wheaton Park District Leisure Center and to view its programs and opportunities for seniors, visit wheatonparkdistrict.com/facilities/leisure-center/.