Itasca school namesake, school activist dies at 88

Longtime Itasca resident Frank Edward "Ted" Peacock is being remembered as an outgoing, intelligent, good guy who devoted years to a local school district.

Peacock, a former Itasca Elementary District 10 school board member, died Tuesday after being ill for two years. He was 88.

The retired owner of F. E. Peacock Publishers, a college textbook publishing company, served on the District 10 board from 1956 to 1973. He was president for 17 years.

In 1975, Itasca Junior High was renamed F.E. Peacock Middle School in recognition of Peacock's continued commitment to the district.

"Ted was just really committed to the school district as a whole," District 10 Superintendent Kenneth Cull said Wednesday. "He lived a full and varied life."

Peacock took former school board member Diann Dale under his wing when she first volunteered her time.

"I would have been lost without his guidance as a new school board member," she said. "He was a financial genius."

Peacock was born in Evanston in 1919, attended Carlton College in Minnesota and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management where he earned his MBA. He was a lieutenant commander in the Navy during World War II.

Peacock lived in Itasca for most of his adult life and served on the Itasca Community Library Board.

He loved sailing, reading, handball, his family, telling stories and traveling.

"He was a very loving father and dedicated family man," said Mary Mehochko, Peacock's sister-in-law.

Peacock Middle School's Principal Reinhard Nickisch said Peacock had a world of experiences.

"The one thing that was very, very charming about him was, despite his age and world experiences, he was genuinely concerned and interested in the kids of his namesake school," he said.

Nickisch recalled when Peacock was honored in 2000 after the school won the national blue ribbon award.

"He was in tears when he was recognized by the kids," Nickisch said. "He said that meant more to him than anything else that he had ever had presented to him."

Nickisch said he'll miss Peacock.

"He and the many individuals that began this tremendous community set the stage for all the things we do now," he said. "In particular, they set the tone for the fiscal integrity that this school district has been known for, and that's an essential part of the history of Itasca School District 10."

Peacock is survived by his wife of 22 years, Sarah, and their daughters Olivia, 17, and Julia, 15.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at The Oaks Funeral Home at 1201 E. Irving Park Road in Itasca.

In lieu of flowers, family members request memorials be made to Peacock Middle School in Itasca.