Longtime lawmaker, school leader Mary Lou Cowlishaw dies

No matter what hat Mary Lou Cowlishaw was wearing - journalist, state lawmaker or professor - her priority was improving education.

Cowlishaw, who spent two decades advocating for the Naperville area as a state representative, died Wednesday morning after battling cancer. She was 78.

Her successor in the legislature, former state Rep. Joe Dunn, called her a "pioneer as a woman in politics."

"She had a lot of character," Dunn said. "She was a great storyteller. She loved the community, loved representing us well in Springfield. She did a terrific job."

Cowlishaw, who grew up in Rockford, earned her journalism degree from the University of Illinois and took postgraduate classes at Northwestern University. She moved to Naperville in 1958 where she worked at the Naperville Sun and served for 11 years on the Naperville Unit District 203 school board.

Wayne Cowlishaw called his wife of nearly 56 years a "gifted renaissance person" who was passionate about education.

"She really felt like what Thomas Jefferson said, that the only way a democracy can prosper is through an educated electorate," Wayne said.

In 1982 when state legislative districts were redrawn, Republican leaders in the area convinced her to run for office and she found her calling.

One of her biggest legislative accomplishments came early in her career, spearheading legislation involving homeless students.

State Rep. Darlene Senger, a Naperville Republican who now holds Cowlishaw's seat, said her mentor was undaunted by the challenge, and the idea of failing hadn't occurred to her.

Cowlishaw not only got the legislation passed but also led the way on Chicago school reform and legislation that formed the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora.

Senger said her predecessor's advice was to always follow through on her word.

"She set the bar for us as state legislators going forward," Senger said. "She is a legend as a legislator, a woman of huge integrity."

Cowlishaw's career in the legislature spanned 20 years - 1983 to 2003 - and included awards such as Illinois Legislator of the Year in 1994 and four Golden Apple Awards from the Illinois Association of School Boards.

"She was very gifted, almost a genius at certain things she did," Wayne said. "She was extremely effective at getting legislation passed in the House, meaningful things that really helped people."

But Wayne said one of the honors that meant the most came in 1997 when Indian Prairie Unit District 204 named a school after her.

Indian Prairie Superintendent Kathy Birkett said she admires Cowlishaw for breaking barriers for women in leadership roles.

"She was high energy, positive, but a fighter, a real fighter," she said. "She knew what she believed in and definitely fought for that in Springfield."

Most recently, Cowlishaw worked as an adjunct professor of education at North Central College where she also holds an honorary doctorate.

College President Harold Wilde called the professor's life "a series of gifts to this community and ultimately to North Central College."

"At an institution that values leadership, ethics and values, she embodies what North Central College at its best seeks to teach," he said.

Cowlishaw also helped create the Naperville Park District and wrote a book about the history of the Naperville Municipal Band.

She and Wayne have three children and eight grandchildren.

Naperville Mayor George Pradel remembers Cowlishaw as a "down home person" with a knack for storytelling and deep pride for Naperville.

"She was a wonderful lady," he said. "I'm so sorry that she left us and she just made her impression on Naperville and we will miss her dearly."

Visitation for Cowlishaw will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 25, at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 516 S. Washington St., Naperville. A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 26, at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 21 E. Franklin Ave., Naperville.

Donations in Cowlishaw's memory may be made to North Central College Advancement Office, 30 N. Brainard St., Naperville, IL 60540.