Itasca honors former leader with 'Gruber Lane'

Even though she's been out of office as village president for almost six months, Itasca employees and residents aren't easily forgetting Claudia "Gigi" Gruber.

In 12 years under her leadership, the tiny village of just more than 8,000 residents has won numerous state and national awards, taken on giants like the Illinois Department of Transportation and AT&T, and seen local developments like the new village hall and the Itasca Riverwalk completed.

"She's just a fantastic person to work with, to work for, because she did it for the right reason," Village Administrator Dave Williams said. "For Gigi, it's never been about her and always been about Itasca."

And after tonight, nearly every resident or visitor driving through the village will at least know her name. Following the unveiling of the Riverwalk at 6:30 p.m., village officials will conduct a dedication ceremony honoring Gruber and, as part of the event, Line Street will be renamed Gigi Gruber Lane in recognition of her contributions to Itasca.

Gruber said she is flattered and very shy about the dedication, declining to make comments about her accomplishments.

"I always feel like it's just me, I'm no big deal," she said.

But her colleagues agree that Gruber is a very big deal. Current Village President Jeff Pruyn said Gruber is known for her innovative ideas, like creating the police department's Community Emergency Response Team and the Dine and Hire Itasca programs that aimed to stimulate the village's economy by publicizing local jobs to residents and giving discounts for dining at Itasca eateries.

"She was never afraid to try something," Pruyn said. "She was a wonderful person that way. And if an idea didn't work, she simply tried something else. She's going to be a tough act to follow."

Before being sworn in as village president in 1997, a post where she would serve three terms, she also served as a village trustee from 1993 to 1997 under former President Shirley Ketter.

Williams said Gruber's service to the village was a labor of love that brought out the best in everyone.

"She gave up so much of herself and her family," he said. "She challenged us every day and, whenever people would ask me what my job is, I'd just point to Gigi and say 'keeping up with the blonde woman.'"