Stroger stories
Friends spoke fondly of John Stroger Friday, even those who opposed him politically. Their remembrances included stories of Stroger the man without regard to political ideologies.
Tomato, Tomahto -- Peraica, Peraico
Stroger often mispronounced people's names, calling Commissioner Gregg Goslin of Glenview "Goglin," for instance, and Commissioner Larry Suffredin of Evanston "Succredin" -- an amalgam of Suffredin's name and that of former Commissioner Cal Sutker.
Sometimes the mispronunciations were deliberate -- a little jest to needle his political opponents like Commissioner Tony Peraica, whom he always referred to as "Peraico."
"I corrected him, being the naive press secretary, and he looked at me and said, 'I know.'" recalled press aide Caryn Stancik.
In one classic budget battle, Peraica himself tried to correct the president, to no avail.
"I'll learn how to say your name when you learn how to count," Stroger replied, to the roar of the boardroom.
Politics first, then fun
Gene Mullins, a childhood friend of current board President Todd Stroger, John Stroger's son, recalled how getting Todd to play baseball often meant politicking for John Stroger first.
Before Todd could play, he had to help his father. That meant Mullins and another friend, Marlowe Colvin, had to help, too. Once they got recruited to put up political posters, driving around town in a rickety white station wagon.
"All we remember is we tried to bring out a Monopoly game (in the car) and he (yelled), 'Get out of this car and put those posters up!' " laughed Mullins.
When Mullins tried to dodge the work, Stroger would call his father. There was no escape, Mullins said.
Book smart vs. politically smart
Childhood friend Dr. Robert Johnson once faced John Stroger on the debate team in high school. The topic: whether the playground should be cinder or not.
Johnson said he labored over the topic for hours, coming up with a rock-solid argument about how cinder was less sanitary and harbored germs.
When he was done speaking, Stroger cut right to the chase, noting that a prominent police chief had made sure the streets of Helena were cinder.
Stroger said, "If cinders were good enough for (the chief) … to put down on the streets of Helena, they were good enough for him," laughed Johnson, noting Stroger won over the class.