The annual charity softball game to launch Buffalo Grove Days has been renamed for Rick Drazner, a 20-year park district board member who died in April, just days after winning re-election. Here, Melissa Drazner, right, receives a plaque in honor of her husband Wednesday from Adriane Johnson of the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Buffalo Grove opened its annual celebration of community with a tribute to the memory of its most dedicated community servants.
Teams representing the village, the park district and the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce faced off in the first Rick Drazner Memorial Softball Game at Emmerich Park.
The charity game, long seen as the unofficial start to the Buffalo Grove Days festival, was renamed this year in honor of Drazner, a longtime community volunteer who died unexpectedly in April. Drazner, 58, served 20 years on the Buffalo Grove Park District, and also took on leadership roles with the chamber of commerce, Buffalo Grove Rotary Club and Congregation Beth Judea.
The game benefits the Buffalo Grove Friends of the Parks Foundation.
Buffalo Grove Days officially gets under way Thursday, with five days of live music, carnival rides, kids activities and more at Mike Rylko Community Park. For a full schedule of events, visit www.bgdays.com.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.comBuffalo Grove Village President Beverly Sussman tosses out a ceremonial first pitch Wednesday as the late Rick Drazner's wife, Melissa, watches at Emmerich Park.
Erik O'Grady of Deerfield greets other members of the Buffalo Grove Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce team on Wednesday at the Rick Drazner Memorial Softball Game at Emmerich Park in Buffalo Grove.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Melissa Drazner displays a plaque given to her Wednesday in her husband's memory. Rick Drazner, a 20-year Buffalo Grove Park District board member, died in April, just days after winning election to a sixth term. An annual charity softball game has been renamed to honor him.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
Rick Drazner