Mount Prospect man personifies true meaning of volunteering

Harold Weary -- who will turn 100 in October -- says staying active, both physically and mentally, is the key to a long life. Volunteering has helped him stay active long after retirement.

A Mount Prospect resident since 1961, he has logged more than 10,000 hours as a volunteer for the Mount Prospect Public Library, the Mount Prospect Historical Society, Trinity United Methodist Church and several other community groups.

"My main idea is that you have to be active physically and mentally in order to have a long life," Weary said. "Get into volunteer work. Everybody wants and needs volunteers. And volunteer work is rewarding."

Weary's volunteer career started soon after he retired in 1973 from United Airlines. He was a financial analyst in United's comptroller's office for 31 years.

He became an original lifetime member of the Retired United Airlines Employees Association. He volunteered as co-member of the first accounting and audit committee for six years. Also, he was the first treasurer of the Chicago Chapter for five years and a member of the planning committee for 16 years.

He also began doing bookkeeping and financial statements for the Mount Prospect Public Library as a volunteer.

Weary got involved with the library through his late wife Irene, who was working there as a part-time secretary.

Over the years, Weary worked all five referendums to increase the size of the library, which he recalled as originally a "very small building."

Marilyn Genther, executive director of the library, said Weary quickly learned about municipal finances after working for years in corporate accounting.

Weary's role was to help the library's directors and board understand what kind of revenue was coming in and what kinds of taxes to levy. He would explain finances to board members individually, attend all the board meetings, and monitor the levies and budgets.

"If Harold said it was OK, it was," Genther said. "Even today, he still gets copies of financial reports."

Weary said his volunteer work was also a way to do some good with his time.

"After I retired, I said that everything I do from now on, I won't take anything that pays money," he said.

During this time, Weary also volunteered with the Mount Prospect Historical Society, where he served as director for 20 years.

At Trinity United Methodist Church in Mount Prospect, he served on the finance committee and was financial secretary for many years. For 25 of those years, he was the co-manager of the church's semi-annual rummage sale.

"I sorted items, priced things, worked with people, and helped recruit people to work at the sale," Weary said.

In 1997, he established a foundation for library fundraising. With a goal of $200,000, the fund is now at more than $160,000; the funds are for special programs at the library. He was one of the first board members of the group.

Daughter Marlys said fundraising is her father's favorite activity.

"From August to October, he's at the farmers market every Sunday morning, selling raffle tickets," Marlys said of her father's efforts to raise money for the library foundation. "He also sells note cards, Moravian Christmas stars, knit scarves and booties."

Genther said he's a success at raising money because people know and like him.

"He does it because he engages people," Genther said. "He is such a familiar face to everyone, even those who don't always know of his involvement in the past."

Genther said he also is a fixture on the library's float in the annual Fourth of July parade.

Weary said he's always had a strong interest in the library, adding "I'm interested in education and a library is part of education."

As the organizer and first president of the Northwest Suburban Council of Genealogists, Weary's hobby has become almost a full-time job. He's gotten so involved in genealogy, the room at the Mount Prospect Public Library is named "The Harold Weary Room."

Other local organizations have recognized his efforts, too.

In November, Weary received the 2007 John McNamara Award from the Mount Prospect Sunrise Rotary Club. The award honors non-Rotary members who offer their time and talents to make a positive impact within the community.

At the same time, Weary was named a Paul Harris Fellow, one of the highest honors given for outstanding personal service from Rotary International.

In addition to Marlys, Weary has two other adult children, Sharon and Ron, as well as five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys doing two crossword puzzles each day and a Soduku puzzle at night.

Weather permitting, he also walks outside for 30 minutes a day. And to celebrate his 100th birthday in October, he's going with his entire family on a Disney cruise to the Bahamas.