‘A true public servant’: Section of Route 83 named ‘Beverly Sussman Way’

During her lifetime, Beverly Sussman showed the way for her middle school science students and later for Buffalo Grove as a trustee and its village president.

Soon, her name will be showing the way for drivers along Route 83.

The Illinois legislature has designated the portion of Route 83 from Arlington Heights Road to Deerfield Parkway in Buffalo Grove as “Beverly Sussman Way.”

The House joint resolution, with the Senate concurring, was supported by two Buffalo Grove legislators, State Rep. Daniel Didech and Sen. Adriane Johnson.

Didech said the details are being worked out with the Illinois Department of Transportation to determine the appropriate signage.

Didech’s association with Sussman, who died in December at age 84, began when he was a student at Ivy Hall Middle School — Sussman taught middle school science for 25 years in Kildeer Countryside School District 96.

“I was in her middle school science class and I participated in her much lauded Space Shuttle Club,” he said, recalling the elaborate mock space simulator in the school gymnasium, with students pulling shifts inside the space center or helping direct tasks from outside in mission control.

“It was really an impressive simulation and a really cool experience,” he said.

Sussman was honored in 1993 by the Golden Apple Foundation and in 1995 by President Bill Clinton with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science in grades K-12.

Later, the two reconnected with Sussman, when both became involved in politics.

Sussman served as a village trustee for six years beginning in 2009 and then was elected president in 2015, serving until 2023.

“I’m glad we were able to honor her life and her family’s commitment to the village in a way that they find meaningful,” Didech said.

Johnson called Sussman “a true public servant” and recalled Sussman’s support of the small business community through her connection with the area chamber of commerce.

Sussman’s son, Richard Sussman, said he constantly meets scientists, doctors and lawyers who credit his mother’s influence.

“Having her name up there for people to see, they’ll realize what she has been to the village, not only as a president and trustee, but also as a teacher,” he said.