Longtime Wheeling official: It's a 'privilege' to serve

As an explosion of sparks rained down upon Wheeling residents, then-village Trustee Judy Abruscato worked the crowds, cajoling people to pay for the community's first Fourth of July fireworks.

"That's real grass roots effort and that's typical of her - to engage the community," said longtime friend and former village president Sheila Schultz.

Schultz, now 79, says she saw Abruscato's commitment to the village through her dogged efforts to establish the Fourth fireworks and parade.

Abruscato long yearned for the day she would take the job of leading the town she so adores. Her persistence paid off when after three unsuccessful bids in 12 years, the fourth time proved a charm.

Sitting behind a mahogany-colored desk in her sparsely decorated village hall office, President Abruscato beams with satisfaction, having finally realized her decades-long dream.

"It is exciting and it's a privilege," she said. She was elected April 7.

Having served 22 years on the Wheeling village board, including 233 days as acting village president, Abruscato knows her way around village government. The president's role, she says, is not much different from that of a village trustee, yet it's the prestige she craves.

"People look up to you as the president of the village. (Whether it's) a business, a developer, they always call to talk to the president first," she said, speaking of responsibility to 40,000 people to make sure everyone is working together.

Abruscato has been a fixture in the Wheeling community since she and husband, Mario, moved to town 42 years ago.

The 74-year-old grandmother has been involved in parent-teacher organizations, was president of the Lioness and Rotary clubs, and volunteered with the Wheeling Historical Society, and senior and special events commissions.

Abruscato has perhaps the most recognizable face in Wheeling. She has endeared herself to residents through her constant presence at community events and having dealt with thousands of customers at Corus Bank, formerly First National Bank of Wheeling, where she is the vice president and branch manager.

"Everybody knows her. Everybody likes her," said the Rev. Michael Bonner, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Wheeling.

Though Abruscato is not Catholic herself, her husband, Mario, 86, is a member of the parish and the Knights of Columbus. Her children also attended Sunday school there. Abruscato jokingly calls herself the church's "best Protestant parishioner."

"She is such a lovable person and very supportive of what we do here," Bonner said.

To understand Abruscato's passion for her community, one has to understand her humble beginnings and a part of her life people don't often see, she says.

An only child, Abruscato's mother died days after she was born, and her father died when she was 2, shortly after he passed the Illinois Bar exam. She was raised alone by her grandmother, who had a profound impact on her life, but there was another major influence as well, she says.

Abruscato gestures toward two Salvation Army dolls on the desk behind her; the uniformed figurines bearing a bell and horn commemorate the group's 100th anniversary. She grew up in the Salvation Army, which has been her only church ever since.

She began playing the euphonium when she was 8 years old, and at age 23, she stood on Chicago street corners ringing the Salvation Army bell in her military-style ceremonial uniform and red bonnet. "I wanted to be an officer," she says.

Abruscato wanted to pursue a career in law like her dad, but her grandmother's ailing health forced her instead to seek work as a window decorator for a Chicago department store.

Abruscato says she found her true calling - public service - after moving to Wheeling. She initially ran for village clerk 26 years ago and lost by 40 votes.

"My husband and I went out and passed out 10,000 fliers door-to-door," she said. "After I lost, I said, 'That's good, because I don't like to take notes.'"

Abruscato then tried for appointment to a vacant trustee post, but didn't get the job. Schultz, who was president from 1981 to 1997, did, however, appoint her to the zoning board.

Abruscato proceeded to challenge Schultz twice for the president's seat, but their relationship over time transformed from adversaries to friends.

"There is no question that the good of the village is uppermost in her mind," Schultz said. "She understands the concept of public service."

Abruscato says her main priorities are bringing in more industry and retail, building a new fire station and building a free-standing senior center - which she describes as her pet project.

The latter is music to George Hieber's ears.

"A lot of trustees want to put us in with the park district, which I don't think is a very good idea," said Hieber, 75, a member of the Wheeling Pavilion Senior Center and of the senior commission. "Her willingness to listen and talk (with residents) is I believe her biggest strength."

Schultz said Abruscato's human resources and management skills will serve her well in mending Wheeling's past strained relationships with neighboring towns and government agencies. Her goal is to increase openness, slow the pace of growth and not lose touch with residents.

"The time constraints are the pitfall," Schultz said. "It's hard to fit that all into your real life."