Champion of early education lost
Dorothy deLacey, a longtime official in Community Unit District 300 and the namesake of a Carpentersville center for at-risk preschoolers, died Sunday at the Rosewood Care Center in Elgin. She was 95.
In 1992, 18 years after deLacey retired from District 300, the deLacey Family Education Center was dedicated in her honor.
Since then, the preschool has become known for the quality of its early education program, with one parent describing it last year as "the jewel of District 300."
Dorothy deLacey began her career with District 300 in 1931 as a secretary for Dundee Community High School. Her salary was $35 a week.
DeLacey eventually became administrative assistant to Superintendent Harry D. Jacobs, whose name adorns Jacobs High School.
DeLacey's boss once told her that she thought like a man. Her response, according to a 1987 article: "I am just a woman unafraid to tackle any job a man can do."
After 35 years with the district, deLacey was hired as the district's treasurer. She retired in 1974, according to the Dundee Township Historical Society.
But retirement couldn't keep deLacey away. In 1983, she ran for the school board and served eight years on the board, including four years as board president.
While on the board, deLacey played a pivotal role in building a center to serve special-needs preschoolers.
"She was instrumental in seeing that it actually got done," Superintendent Ken Arndt said. "She was the one that said 'no more excuses, it's time for us to serve these children.'"
It was fitting, then, that when the preschool opened in 1992, it bore her name.
"Mrs. deLacey will be really missed by all of us," deLacey center Principal Terry Cronin said. "She was really way ahead of her time in terms of her support for early childhood education."
DeLacey also was involved with Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in East Dundee for most of her life, playing a central role in the church's campaign to renovate the church and school.
"She had the guts and persistence to make sure these things got done," said Chris Wendt, her nephew.
Immanuel Lutheran Pastor William Yonker described deLacey as a force of nature and "one of the most remarkable people I've ever met in my life."
"She was tireless in her efforts to make things better for her family, for her church, for her community," he said.
DeLacey was born Oct. 21, 1912, in East Dundee, the daughter of Herman and Emma Grams. She graduated from Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran School and Dundee Community High School before beginning her career in the district.
DeLacey was married to Gene deLacey, who was the longtime men's basketball coach at Dundee Community High School, winning the state championship in 1938.
She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Gloria Wendt and Bernice Grams; her stepdaughter-in-law, Marge deLacey; stepgrandchildren, Jeffrey deLacey and Barbara Kautz; great-stepgrandsons, Collin and Calvin Kautz; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St., East Dundee.
Burial will follow in Dundee Township East Cemetery in East Dundee.