Carpentersville volunteer, politician spent life serving

Harold Floyd got his nickname “Red” from the bright hair of his youth and it stuck long after the color faded to gray. He died Nov. 7 at 87 after decades serving Carpentersville from his political involvement to weekly volunteer work, Floyd will be remembered for his dedication and kindness.

Floyd was appointed to the Kane County Board in October 2001 after Mike DeStefano died. Just six months later, as he made his weekly trek to the Hostess outlet store in Elgin to pick up donations for the food pantry, he forgot to put his car in park and ended up being hit by his own car, causing a skull fracture and permanent brain damage.

He was lucky to have survived the accident. And it almost didn't derail his political career.

Even though Floyd could not campaign and never knocked on a single door, he only lost that election by seven votes, said Hollie Lindgren, who now holds that seat.

Lindgren grew up near Floyd but really got to know him in the early 2000s when she spent more than a year trying to get lights on the Little League field in Carpentersville.

Floyd, then a member of the village's planning and zoning board, heard about it and offered his help.

“It's politicians like him who reach out to the people instead of the people always needing to go to them,” Lindgren said. “That touched our league so much.”

Carpentersville hosted the 10-year-old state championship in 2003 largely because of those lights, Lindgren said.

Floyd also spent 24 years as a local coordinator for Smiles Tag Days of Little City Foundation, a Palatine organization serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

And he read to children during a homeroom period at Sunny Hill School in Barrington; he gave blood regularly as a universal donor; he served as a Democratic precinct committeeman for more than 20 years and was heavily involved with St. Monica's Catholic Church in Carpentersville.

“He was very active,” his daughter Loretta said.

Add involvement to his union, the Operating Engineers Union Local 150, the Knights of Columbus and the VFW and one wonders if Floyd ever slept.

“There are people that have been in Carpentersville that have done so many wonderful things, but he got involved in any place that needed help, any activity,” Lindgren said.

Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Nov. 11 at St. Monica's, 90 N. Kennedy Drive, Carpentersville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in his name to the donor's charity of choice.