Passionate Glen Ellyn trustee loses battle with cancer

Sara Lee, a longtime Glen Ellyn resident, volunteer and current village trustee, died at home Tuesday after a short battle with cancer.

"She was vivacious, and will certainly be missed," Acting Village Manager Curt Barrett said Tuesday. "It's a great loss to our organization, to the community as a whole, and I know there are a lot of hearts that go out to her family right now."

The resume of civic and volunteer activities of Lee, 50, was extensive.

She served on the education advisory board of the DuPage Regional Superintendent's office, Citizens Advisory Council for Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn League of Women Voters and the Glen Ellyn Civic Betterment Party Nominating Committee.

Lee also worked on behalf of successful referendums for both Glenbard High School District 87 and Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89. She served as President of the Raintree Homeowner's Association, participated in Glen Ellyn Vision 2000, Community Park Committee and St. Petronille's School Parent Organization.

She was on the village's comprehensive plan advisory committee in 2001 and the plan commission in 2003. She was elected to the village board in May 2005, and was most passionate about the quality of services, balancing the budget, the downtown strategic plan and listening to residents.

Lee was named one of the Daily Herald's 100 Most Influential People of 2000 in DuPage County. She also was an avid gardener, loved cooking and worked for the Butterball Turkey Talk Line for many years.

"We're so sorry this has happened," Village President Vicky Hase said. "She fought for what she believed in, and she was passionate for the village.

"She was passionate about getting the downtown strategic plan started; she was always interested in zoning issues -- those were important to her," she said. "She really loved Glen Ellyn, the downtown and worked to really create a better Glen Ellyn."

But she also cared deeply for her family, Hase said.

"She dedicated a lot of her life to raising her children, and she talked about her children all the time," she said.

Lee is survived by her husband Peter "Chip" and her children Jennifer, Peter and Jonathan. She was the daughter of Lucille and the late John Stassel of LaPorte, Ind., and the sister of David and Donna Stassel of La Canada, Calif. She also was very close to her many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A visitation is from noon until the memorial service at 2 p.m. Thursday at Williams-Kampp Funeral Home in Wheaton at 430 E. Roosevelt Road. In lieu of flowers, donation are sought to the American Cancer Society, CNS Hospice of DuPage or a local organization.