Margaret Schlickman remembered for her 'dedication and commitment'

A passionate advocate for the homeless and for affordable housing in Arlington Heights who also served on the legislative staffs of U.S. Sen. Charles Percy and U.S. Rep. John Porter has died.

Margaret Schlickman brought that experience as a legislative staffer to her role as founding chairman of the Housing Commission of Arlington Heights, where she served for the 27 years before retiring in 2006.

She died Friday at Addolorata Villa in Wheeling. The former longtime resident of Arlington Heights was 86.

“She was the conscience of all of us,” said the 81-year-old Porter in a phone interview on Tuesday. “She reached out to people in need, and particularly to the homeless, like no one else. It was simply in her DNA.”

Schlickman moved to Arlington Heights in the mid-1950s, with her then-husband, former state Rep. Eugene Schlickman. She was a homemaker for the next 20 years, raising the couple's four children while her husband was an Arlington Heights village trustee from 1959 to 1964 and then an eight-term state representative in the General Assembly.

It was during these years that Schlickman herself became savvy about politics and local issues, says her son Stephen Schlickman of Chicago.

One issue that drew her involvement was working with members of St. James Church to help improve living conditions for migrant workers who came to the area to help on local farms.

“It was through volunteering that she saw firsthand their living conditions and lack of basic needs,” Stephen Schlickman said.

Throughout much of the 1970s, Schlickman worked with Viatorian priests and brothers — who ran St. Viator High School, where both her sons attended — to advocate for affordable housing in the village.

The religious community was involved in a landmark case that ultimately went to the Supreme Court in 1977 and came down on the side of fair-housing activists.

“She was galvanized by that controversy,” her son said.

Schlickman brought that passion with her when she joined Percy's staff in 1978. She and Eugene Schlickman divorced in 1979, but she continued her career, joining Porter's staff in 1981 and ultimately serving as his director of constituent services.

“As a staff, we made it a point to provide services to our constituents,” Porter said, “and Margaret had the broader responsibility to handle the kinds of cases serving residents in need. Anyone who knew her knew she cared deeply in serving their needs.”

Porter's former press secretary, David Kohn, agreed, adding that he and the rest of the staff saw Schlickman as an inspiration and mentor.

“She may have been quiet in demeanor,” Kohn said, “but she was forceful in her efforts to help anyone in need.”

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk said the real beginning of his political career in Northern Illinois began in Margaret Schlickman's kitchen. He and Schlickman worked together in Porter's office from 1984-1990.

“She helped with my first campaign from the very beginning,” he added in a statement. “As a congressional staffer, Margaret led by example, putting constituents first in everything she did.”

Schlickman also brought that advocacy to her local community. In 1979, she was named the chairman of the first Arlington Heights Housing Commission, formed to increase the number of housing units for low- and moderate-income families and individuals, and to expand housing opportunities for all members of the community. She would hold the post until she retired in 2006.

“Her dedication and commitment to affordable housing issues in Arlington Heights were instrumental in the development of village policies and programs to help accomplish that mission,” said Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes.

She also was a member and chairwoman of the Wheeling Township Human Services Committee from 1989 to 1991.

Schlickman is survived by her children Andrew (Sandra) Schlickman, Stephen (Alison) Schlickman, Mary (Edward) Rogozinski and Monica (William) Oliver, as well as six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, before a 10 a.m. Mass on Friday at St. James Church, 831 N. Arlington Heights Road, both in Arlington Heights.

The family is requesting instead of flowers that friends send donations in Margaret Schlickman's name to Journeys — The Road Home, 1140 E. Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60074, or The Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI 49221.