Scouts honored Wheaton resident before her death
Ann Maida ~ 1962-2007
Boy Scouts of America's Lifetime Achievement Award typically is given to volunteers who have dedicated years to the organization.
In the case of Ann Maida, they figured she had done all of that in half the usual time; consequently officials with Three Fires Council, based in St. Charles, bestowed the award on Ms. Maida last week.
They made the presentation to Ms. Maida in her bed, at home. The lifetime resident of Wheaton, died Sunday from pancreatic cancer, just three days after the visit. She was 45.
"My mom did not only what the average parent did, like popcorn chairman and merit badge counselor, she held virtually every position from the troop level through the district," says her 19-year old son, Robert, who is an Eagle Scout.
One of the last committees Ms. Maida worked on was to organize the Haunted Hike, set to take place over the two weekends in October leading up to Halloween, at Camp Big Timber in Elgin.
"Bobby and I are going to carry it forward and fill her role," says her father, Dan Maida of Wheaton.
Ms. Maida grew up in Wheaton and graduated from Wheaton Central High School. However, upon graduation, she deferred her own college plans to begin working and help her older brothers afford college, family members say.
She worked as an executive accountant for Coin Mechanisms in Glendale Heights, where family members say she once again took on many roles, including serving as travel coordinator, part-time receptionist and helping with payroll, as well as accounting.
Her son's involvement in jamskating, or break dancing on roller skates, also drew Ms. Maida's involvement, as a volunteer with the United Jamskating Teams of America. By the time her son was crowned national doubles champion, Ms. Maida served as secretary for the national organization.
At home, Ms. Maida was an active parishioner at St. John the Baptist Church in Winfield, where she taught religious education students to kindergartners, leading to her being named, "Woman of the Year" by the Council of Catholic Women.
Her other passion was working to find a cure for cancer -- long before her own diagnosis. Ms. Maida volunteered with the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life events, including ones held in Naperville, West Chicago and Wheaton.
Besides her son and father, Ms. Maida is survived by her brothers, Daniel (Becky) and Tommy (Jen), as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation for Ms. Maida will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Williams-Kampp Funeral Home, 430 E. Roosevelt Road in Wheaton, before a 10 a.m. funeral Mass on Saturday at St. John the Baptist Church, 0S233 Church St. in Winfield.