Batavia's Hall of Honor inductees named for 2016

This fall, Batavia Unit District 101 will welcome eight individual inductees into its Hall of Honor at Batavia High School.

Initiated by the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence and District 101, the Hall of Honor promotes pride in Batavia public schools and honors alumni, faculty, and friends who have made outstanding accomplishments in their communities and personal lives since they have been associated with District 101.

Six of the eight inductees will be installed as Batavia High School alumni, one will enter the Hall of Honor as a District 101 staff member, and one will be installed as a Friend of Batavia for loyal support and dedication to District 101.

"The Hall of Honor is a celebration of exemplary alumni and friends of Batavia Unit District 101 who have distinguished themselves in their professional and/or personal lives since high school," said Nan Phillips, Hall of Honor committee chairwoman and Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence board member. "The inductees are significant role models who encourage our students to reach for greatness in and outside of the classroom, and to be of service in their community."

The induction ceremony will be Sept. 15 at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre. They also will be recognized at the homecoming parade Sept. 14 and football game Sept. 16. Visit www.bps101.net/bpshallofhonor.

Batavia High School alumni

• Lori Anderson Gregorski (1986): Lori Anderson Gregorski graduated from Eastern Illinois University and began her career in media sales for Shaw Newspapers and the Daily Herald. She was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church and a member of the adult choir. In 2004, Gregorski had an opportunity with Cox Ohio Publishing and moved to Dayton, Ohio. There, she served on the board of directors for the Ronald McDonald House and Coffman YMCA. During the economic downturn, she began running and became actively involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's "Team IN Training" program. Through this program, she completed multiple half-marathons and full marathons while raising money for the organization. During this time, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. While it slowed her down, she continued to work to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis and raise money for both the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In 2015, she was honored with the Joel Kahn Award of Courage by the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National MS Society. This award is given to a person living with multiple sclerosis who works tirelessly to change the world for others affected by the disease. She recently made a career change and accepted a position with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as the Senior Development Manager. Gregorski continues to encourage others to share their stories and hopes to one day complete the Chicago Marathon - the race she was training for when diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Gregorski and her husband, Tony, have two children, Shelby and AJ. They live in Springboro, Ohio.

• Richard W. Hansen (1955): Richard Hansen attended Batavia schools from kindergarten through high school. He graduated from Purdue University, and after graduation served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1964 as Lieutenant Junior Grade on the USS Cimarron and at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. After leaving the Navy, Hansen and his family spent a year in Germany working for an international electrical controls company in Wuppertal. Hansen returned to Batavia in 1966, began his career at Furnas Electric Company, which, at that time, was a $10 million manufacturing company of special electrical motor control equipment. In 1972, he became president of Furnas, and in 1977 he became chairman and CEO and served in that position until the company was purchased by Siemens Energy & Automation of Georgia in 1996. During those years, the company grew from $10 million to $140 million and was recognized within the industry most notably for its many product innovations, some of which set industry standards in motor control centers, electronic motor start devices and electronic overload relays. He was on the board of governors of the electrical industry's leading manufacturing association, NEMA, and chairman in 1994. Hansen was a founding member of the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence and his family's Foundation, now known as the Hansen-Furnas Foundation, has awarded more than $6 million for charitable causes and educational scholarships for local students. Hansen also served 20 years on the board of directors of the Experimental Aircraft Aviation Foundation, focusing on teaching youth about aviation and the importance of a good education. He was a member of the Illinois Math & Science Academy Development Committee. Hansen was also an accomplished pilot and restored several World War II fighters. He and his wife, Joanne, have two children, Scott and Lisa, who attended Batavia schools.

• Ellen Skirmont Diffenbaugh (1934): In the 1940s, Ellen Diffenbaugh was part of a team of laboratory technicians that worked for the University of Chicago on the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was a research and development project led by the United States that produced the first nuclear weapons during World War II. During those years, Diffenbaugh was sent to set up the lab as the chief medical technologist at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Los Alamos, New Mexico, where the atomic bomb was constructed. The lab was responsible for keeping track of the effects of radiation on the scientists. After leaving the project, she spent 15 years as chief of the medical and technical department at Argonne National Laboratory. She also worked part-time at Skokie Valley Community Hospital and was a volunteer at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. Diffenbaugh, who was born and raised in Batavia, died in 1986. Her first language was Lithuanian and she did not learn English until she started school. After graduating from Batavia High School, she received her undergraduate degree at Valparaiso University in 1938 and completed her medical technology training in St. Louis.

• George Von Hoff (1940): George Von Hoff started his academic career at Louise White Elementary School in Batavia. During his years at Batavia High School, he was on the track, basketball, and football teams, and was known as the "Flying Dutchman." Upon high school graduation in 1940, Von Hoff joined the U.S. Navy where, in May 1942, he survived the sinking of the USS Lexington during the Battle of the Coral Sea. He retired as a chief petty officer after 20 years of service and returned to Batavia in 1960 to raise his family. He served as recreational director of parks, superintendent of parks, and the first superintendent of the Batavia Park District. He was also a school bus driver both on a daily basis and for the athletic teams. A lifetime supporter of Batavia sports until his death in 2010, Von Hoff was named "Booster of the Year" in 2001 and "Fan of the Year" in 2003. An active member of Bethany Lutheran Church, he volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Hesed House, ushered, and was a Sunday school teacher for 55 years. The Loyalty Day Parade and the Bethany float, which he worked on, encompassed Von Hoff's love for God, America, Batavia, and children. On his 80th birthday, Mayor Jeff Schielke presented Von Hoff with a proclamation honoring him as a "Batavia Treasure." Throughout Batavia, you will see tributes honoring his name, including Von Hoff Drive, at Bethany Lutheran's gym, on a Quarry Park bench, and at the Memorial Park tennis courts. He is also included in the books, "Historic Batavia" and "Fox Valley Veterans: A Salute to Hometown Heroism." Von Hoff and his wife, Anne, raised four Batavia High School graduates: Bruce (1962), Byron (1966), Burt (1970), and Barry (1972).

• Dennis Piron (1983): During his years as a student at Batavia High School, Dennis Piron participated in football (All-Conference), track (conference champion and state qualifier in 400 meters), basketball, and baseball. After high school, he attended North Central College and participated in football and track all four years. At North Central College, he was a four-year letter winner in football, and a two-time all-American and six-time national qualifier in track and field. He graduated in 1987 with a bachelor of science in marketing. From 1990 to 1999, he owned and operated the Westbank Health and Fitness Center in downtown Batavia. During this time, he was also coaching football and girls and boys track and field at Batavia High School, and earning his teaching degree. In 2000, he received his master of arts in teaching from National Lewis University and type 75 certificate through Aurora University. His teaching career began in the math department at Batavia High School, and, nearly two decades later, he is still part of this successful department. Piron is currently Batavia High School's head football and boys track coach. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs varsity football team has qualified for the IHSA State Playoffs four years in a row, won the IHSA Class 6A title in 2013, and has yet to lose a conference game. Since coaching girls and boys track and field in 1990, his teams have produced 17 conference championships, two sectional champions, four state champions, and more than 100 state qualifiers. Piron has also made a significant impact on the Batavia Community through his development of Batavia Youth Football and Batavia Jr. Bulldog Football Summer Camp with former head football coach Mike Gaspari. Piron established the fifth-grade track meet with 300 students competing at Batavia High School every year, the Les Hodge Track Meet, Coach D Invite, Coach Heimsath Invite, Coach Anderson Track Meet, the "Dog Pound" student section, youth track summer camps, speed camps, and coaching clinics. Piron is a past president of the Batavia Rotary Club and currently serves on the IHSA's Advisory Council on Player Safety. He and his wife, Joanne, live in Batavia with their three children, Peyton (who attends North Central College), Alexandra, and Tyler.

• Rudy Dubis (1970): Since the day he graduated high school, Rudy Dubis has been a full-time Bulldog. Dubis began his service in 1970 when he was a senior in high school and was asked to announce at a basketball game. He has continued to announce basketball games, and also became the announcer for Batavia High football games. His now-famous phrase, "Home of the Battlin' Bulldogs," is loudly and proudly stated with vigor when welcoming everyone to games. He has announced for six different athletic directors, six head basketball coaches, and seven high school principals during his tenure as announcer. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association inducted Dubis into its Hall of Fame in 1998 as a "Friend of Basketball," illustrating his statewide recognition. In addition to his outstanding record of service and loyalty to Batavia High School, Dubis has actively participated in the Batavia Access Toy Committee for 16 years and was the official Santa for the city of Batavia for 10 years. He has continued over 40 years to play Santa on Christmas Eve, delivering toys to many houses in Batavia.

District 101 Staff

• Marilyn Horbus: Since joining the district in 1976, Marilyn Horbus has provided speech and language services to students in preschool to eighth grade. She is considered the foundation of Batavia's special education services. Her commitment to serving students and their families, along with her vast knowledge in speech and language development, has been instrumental in developing the district's early childhood program. Shortly after coming to District 101, she helped develop the early childhood screening process, which is still in place today. She and her fellow colleagues were also instrumental in starting classroom inclusion for the district, giving special education students the support they need while they learn alongside their general education peers. She is currently the district's Early Intervention Transition Coordinator, which includes screening infants and toddlers, referring them for services as needed, and supporting families as their children with special needs transition to the district's Early Childhood program. Her passion and caring spirit for people is demonstrated through her current work as a Fox Valley literacy volunteer, storytime volunteer at the Batavia Apartments, Batavia Public Library Born to Read committee member, volunteer support at Early Childhood Center Parent Education Nights, and church volunteer. During her past 40 years of service to District 101, Horbus has led by example during unprecedented district growth, the introduction of numerous special education rules and regulations, and greater accountability relative to student performance and parent communication. She is a pillar of this school community and embodies all of the attributes of an outstanding educator with her vision, integrity, expertise, parent involvement, and genuine concern for children. Horbus earned her bachelor's degree in education/speech correction and master's degree in speech pathology from Northern Illinois University. She has two daughters, Susan and Joann, who are both Batavia High School graduates. Horbus and her husband, Bob, reside in Batavia.

District 101 Friend

• Laura Bernabei: As the director of Children's Ministry at the Congregational Church of Batavia, Laura Bernabei goes above and beyond her job description to serve the community. Most recently, she has played a key role in two programs (Half-Day Afternoon Childcare and CHIP-IN Batavia's gently used prom dress sale) that have helped bring joy to local students and ease the financial burden for parents. Knowing the demands of working parents, Bernabei threw her heart into the Half-Day Afternoon Childcare Program, which provides free child care for District 101 students in kindergarten to fifth grade on half days of school. This program was founded by the Batavia Ministerial Association in alliance with District 101. For the annual prom dress program, Bernabei was instrumental in convincing the Congregational Church of Batavia to house and help coordinate CHIP-IN Batavia's annual gently used prom dress sale to help local students in need. Bernabei has been an active member of the Batavia Bulldog Boosters and Music Buffs for several years and was the parent volunteer liaison for the Batavia High Color Guard and Winter Guard for four years. Bernabei graduated from Valparaiso University with a bachelor's degree in social work. For 12 years after college, she worked in hospitals in Indiana and Southern California as a medical social worker in pediatric, obstetrics, and neonatal units. She and her husband, Chuck, have lived in Batavia for the last 17 years, and their children, Katie, Nick and Erika, all attended Batavia schools.