Longtime Hoffman Estates park commissioner retires

Hoffman Estates Park District Board Commissioner Lollie Guiney is stepping down this month, ending 16 years of public service.

Guiney, 82, recalls being recruited to the position by former Hoffman Estates Mayor Virginia Hayter and a former village trustee’s wife who said she would be great for the job because of her interest in sports.

“I went in emotionally kicking and screaming, but it was much better than I thought it would be,” said Guiney, whose last meeting is May 21. “It’s something that just kept me going.”

Guiney said she is going to miss going to parks conventions because she learned so much at them, as well as attending board meetings — she believes she hasn’t missed more than four in the last 16 years. But she is looking forward to finding new things to do with her time.

“My summer’s almost been planned for me,” she said, explaining that she will be attending a class reunion in Cincinnati in June and visiting Massachusetts for a few weeks to attend two grandchildren’s graduations,

Guiney also participates in the Senior Olympics, which start in late July. Over the years, she has won more than 100 medals in everything from track and field to swimming.

A reception will be held in Guiney’s honor from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club in Hoffman Estates.