Rosemont unveils statue of founding Mayor Donald E. Stephens
Everything about the larger-than-life statue of late Rosemont Mayor Donald E. Stephens, even down to the shoes and pattern on the shirt, is a replica of the man who led the village for 51 years.
The 1,500-pound bronze-cast statue was unveiled Sunday outside Rosemont Village Hall. The significance of the Father's Day debut of the statue, which stands eight feet tall and eight feet wide, was not lost on those who attended the ceremony.
"What a fitting day it is to dedicate a statue to the man who was the father of Rosemont," said Tom Grusecki, president and CEO of Northern Builders, who helped raise funds for the statue.
The statue depicts a kneeling Stephens towering over roses and iconic Rosemont buildings, with water trickling down over mosaic-tiled steps. Original projections put the cost of the statue at $300,000.
The village's current mayor, Brad Stephens, says it's difficult for words to sum up his father, who died April 18, 2007, after serving more than five decades as Rosemont's first mayor. But the statue will serve as a constant reminder to Brad Stephens and others of his dad's significant role in creating the community.
"It makes me kind of nervous he's going to get up in my case," Brad Stephens said.
More than 100 people, including members of the police and fire department and Illinois state Rep. Marty Moylan, gathered for the unveiling. The Rosemont Drum and Bugle Corps played songs including "America the Beautiful" and "Over the Rainbow."
Artists Omri Amrany and Julie Rotblatt Amrany from Timeless Creations crafted the statue. The pair also is known for creating the Michael Jordan statue outside of the United Center, and the Harry Caray statue outside of Wrigley Field.
Grusecki said when he went to look at the statue in its early stages, he was surprised to find it was at first just clay.
"And all this man started with was clay," Grusecki said of Stephens' work in Rosemont. "It all came together."
Brad Stephens says the inclusion of water and roses in the state were intentional.
"My dad was a big fan of fountains and colorful plantings," he said.
The unveiling was part of a series of celebrations this year taking celebrating Rosemont's 60th anniversary.