Editorial: Let's get a suburbanite inducted into Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame
Last fall, Sue Young, long a vocal music presence in Northbrook and then at Friendship Village in Schaumburg, was inducted into the Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame.
Not only was it a well-deserved honor for her. It also was well-earned recognition for the suburbs.
Since the turn of the century, the Illinois Department of Aging has honored 83 people from around the state with induction into its Hall of Fame.
Over those 20 years, Chicago's suburbs have been fairly well represented on that honor roll - 23 inductees, by our count.
(The awards program has taken place since 1994, but the state list of honorees from the first six years doesn't show their hometowns.)
Whatever the case, the numbers for the suburbs are OK. Not bad. But we can do more.
We know the suburbs are filled with people who make a difference.
This year, let's see what can be done to add at least one of them (or maybe two or three or four) to membership in that Hall.
The state is accepting nominations for the honor through Aug. 31.
If you know someone age 65 or older who has contributed to the community, go to Illinois.gov/aging/HallofFame and fill out a nomination.
Or you could do it by phone at 800-252-8966.
The awards are broken into four categories: Community Service, Education, the Work Force and Graphic & Performance Arts.
Young, who moved to the Friendship Village retirement community in Schaumburg in 2011, was recognized for her record of accomplishment in artistic expression.
For more than 40 years, she shared her gift of music throughout the Midwest, both professionally and as an active volunteer.
Young was a vocal instructor, lecturer, adjunct professor and conductor, working at a variety of schools, churches and conferences. She was the choirmaster of the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra Festival Chorus and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra Festival Chorus, and the founder and conductor emeritus of the Northbrook Community Choir.
Her honor was well earned. Thing is, there are a lot of other people around here who deserve to be honored too.
Let's try to get some of them honored this year.
In order to be considered, nominees must have lived most of their lives in Illinois and made an impact here. But they don't have to live here now. Retirees who have moved out of state would be considered.
And posthumous nominees also are considered.
People who give usually don't do it for the recognition. But let's provide it to them all the same - not just as a reward for them, but to use them to encourage others to give back too. All of us, after all, are role models in one way or another.
"Especially during this challenging time," state Sen. Laura Fine of Glenview said, "it's important to lift up those special individuals making a difference in our communities. If you have a friend, family member or neighbor who deserves recognition for their efforts, I encourage you to nominate them."
We also encourage you to do so, particularly this year when we all have paused to appreciate just how essential our essential workers are. Let's appreciate how essential our senior contributors have been.