Elgin honors Boehm as an artist, teacher

Like a dancer's graceful footsteps across a stage, Elisabeth "Lisa" Boehm's legacy is felt in Elgin.

Boehm operated a ballet studio for more than 50 years, organized "The Nutcracker" for three decades and is credited with helping plant and cultivate some of the city's earliest seeds for the arts community.

Boehm, who died in January at the age of 94, posthumously received the Legacy Award Thursday night from the city's Image Advisory Commission.

"The real contribution and the reason she lives in the hearts of so many is she really devoted herself to teaching, and the students felt that," said her son, Frank, who accepted the award on her behalf along with Elginite Clare Ollayos, a former student of Boehm's for 40 years.

Overall, 16 individuals, businesses and organizations were nominated for awards, now in their 16th year.

Nine people, businesses and groups received Image Awards.

Mayor Ed Schock said no one contributed to the city in hopes of landing an award; they helped because they love Elgin.

"This is one of my favorite nights," he said. "Everybody is a winner tonight and the biggest winner is the city of Elgin."

Added Sue Moylan, chair of city's Image Commission: "Everyone here is part of the image of Elgin."

Boehm was born as a Swiss citizen in Germany, excelled at ballet and at 8 was admitted to a school led by Russian expatriate ballerina Eugienie Edouardova, who danced with Anna Pavlova.

By the time Boehm was a teen, she earned the top rank of a prima ballerina at the Berlin Opera.

Her family fled Nazi Germany, eventually ended up in Elgin and opened the ballet school.

"It was stunning to me that technical level that some of (her students) had," Frank recalled.

Ollayos said Boehm will be remembered through her training, helping the arts community grow and the 1,000-plus students she taught.

"Lisa's legacy is multifaceted," Ollayos said.

Among the nine Image Awards recipients were First Community Bank, Little Angels, Kim's Black Belt Academy, and the Children's Theatre of Elgin.

Individuals recognized were: Jerry Cain, president of Judson University, for graduating Judson from a college to a university last year and spearheading the eco-friendly Weber Academic Center; Jim Durante, host of a WRMN radio program; and James Halik, who rallied east-side neighbors after a short summer crime spike.

Other nominees were: Elgin Community Network; Reily Graphics Inc.; Order Sons of Italy in America, Lodge 2446; Demi & Cooper Advertising; Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Elgin Community Collage; and J.B. Harris & Company.

Last year, 10 residents, businesses and group were recognized, along with Mike Alft, who netted the first-time Lifetime Achievement Award.

Boehm's Legacy Award marked the third time a person was honored posthumously, Moylan said.