Cowlishaw legacy rich in history

With the passing of Mary Lou Cowlishaw, I've been taking the time to think about the myriad ways in which she had been the best kind of friend Naper Settlement and the Naperville Heritage Society could imagine.

My early encounters were when she was still with the Naperville Sun. As a feature writer, she provided wonderful coverage on our fledgling attempts to preserve our community's rich heritage and share it with both schoolchildren and residents at large. Her in-depth inquiry and analysis about our activities and mission were indicative of the type of care, attention to detail, and fair objectivity she brought to her later position as our state representative.

Her reach as a state representative helped launch Naper Settlement's awareness and support beyond the town boundaries of Naperville. Her enthusiasm for all things historic and educational was genuine, heartfelt and much appreciated. She helped Naper Settlement obtain needed financial resources from the state to help further our mission, make capital improvements and expand, which have been keys to the successes we enjoy today.

Mary Lou and her husband Wayne have been faithful, longtime members of the Naperville Heritage Society, and we have been thrilled to list their names among our membership ranks. Her thoughtful support and inquiry, both professionally and personally, meant so much to me personally and to our organization.

We appreciated Mary Lou's commitment to our mission and her longtime friendship. We are grateful for her support, enthusiasm and creative energies she shared with us throughout the years.

We will miss you.

Peggy Frank

Executive Director

Naper Settlement/Naperville Heritage Society