People, Places 'N Things

Environmental changes are characteristic when seasons shift, but the Glenview Park District is experiencing transitions of a different nature. Full-time staff changes are occurring there almost as fast as flowers are blooming all over Glenview.

Lydia Lombardo, former Public Relations Director, left the Park District March 12. For over two years, she served the Park District on a part-time basis. Currently, Lombardo is Director of Membership Services tor the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.

Marci Lipschultz, a recent Western Illinois University graduate, filled the vacant Public Relations position March 31. Lipschultz earned her B.S. degree in Recreation and Park Administration with a minor in Journalism. A Glenview resident for most of her life, Lipschultz is serving as the Public Relations Director on a full-time basis.

Cathy Puchakki, another former Park District employee who accepted a new position, left her job as Recreation Supervisor on April 10. She has assumed new duties as Administrative Assistant for the North Suburban Special Recreation Association in Highland Park.

Replacing her is Cynthia Brouder, a Park and Recreation Administration graduate from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Brouder has recently completed her field work at the Palatine Park District and joined the Glenview staff April 27. A Hawthorn Woods resident, Brouder is athletically inclined and has had recreation experience working with people of all ages.

Also departed from the Glenview Park District is Patti Roth, an eight-year employee. She has accepted a position as Director of Recreation at the Elmhurst Park District. Among her general responsibilities were The Grove, the pools, and all recreation programs.

Cheryl Loudon, from Rugen Community Center Director, has been appointed the new Director of Recreation Services. A lifetime Glenview resident, Loudon has worked for the Park District on a full-time basis since 1976, when she earned her degree in Recreation and Park Administration from Western Illinois University.

Replacing her as Rugen Community Center Director is Denise Maltz, who graduated from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1978 with a B.S. degree in Leisure Studies. Maltz has been involved in the Illinois Community Education Association and recently left her position as the Superintendent of Recreation at the Vernon Hills Park District. She joined the Glenview staff May 7.

When Mary Nin Dvorak retires after 17 years as recreation department art supervisor, the village of Oak Park will feat a farewell party open to the public. It's their way of saying "thank you" to a person who has been a vital part of the art program, recreation department, and community since coming to Oak Park from Cuba in 1962.

IPRA joins Oak Park in saluting Mary Dvorak whose outstanding achievements encompass design of a recreative play structure which won the village a $3,000 grant, design and construction of outdoor concrete murals for two recreation centers, and execution of a large abstract mosaic at a third center. Mary completed all these creative projects while directing the department's cultural arts program which includes pre-school and senior citizen classes. Art in the Park, a monthly village hall art exhibit, and numerous craft fairs.

Despite her full and busy schedule, Mary found time to serve on the IPRA Admission and Standards Committee in 1978-79. She also participated in several panel and art workshops at the state conferences and at Happening I and II for IPRA and SPRA.

The artist, a former painting professor holding a doctor's degree from the University of Havana, is a political refugee who is very proud of her adopted land. In fact, after becoming a naturalized citizen, she was named "Outstanding New Citizen of the Year" in 1968 by the Citizenship Council of Metropolitan Chicago. She also is the recipient of an Americanism Medal presented to her by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

IPRA is proud to call Mary Dvorak one of its members and wishes her well in her retirement.

The Board of Park Commissioners of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District received the resignation of David B. Colmar, Director of Parks and Recreation effective April 30, 1981.

Colmar left the position to assume the responsibilities of Vice-President of Naughton Real Estate, Inc. a residential real estate firm in the south suburbs with offices in Homewood, Flossmoor, Richton Park, Country Club Hills, Steger and Crete.

Colmar served with the Park District since 1969, first in the capacity of Superintendent of Recreation and since 1973 serving as Director of Parks and Recreation.

Previous employment includes the Midwest Regional Director for the Athletic Institute in Chicago and Supervisor of Sports and Aquatics for the Arlington Heights Park District. Colmar has an undergraduate degree from San Jose State College in California and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Western Illinois University. He is a member of numerous state as well as national

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professional associations, has served and chaired numerous state and national committees, has authored articles for publication in professional journals, spoken at state and national conferences; and served as a management consultant to public and private corporations, and is recognized by Who's Who in America - Midwest.

Colmar, his wife Mary, and family will remain residents of Homewood. In his letter he expressed thanks to the Board, staff, and residents of the community for the innovative and successful achievements of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District in making the community a more attractive place in which to live.

In Memoriam

Ferdinand C. Amdt, 74, died on May 31,1981 of heart failure in his Des Plaines home ending a 42 year career with the Des Plaines Park District. "Ferd" had returned home a few days earlier after a month long stay in the hospital for treatment of pneumonia. He served the Des Plaines Park District as a Park District Commissioner for 31 years (1939-1956 and 1967-1981) and as Director of Parks for 11 years (1956-1966).

Ferd also served as Superintendent of Parks & Recreation for the Wheeling Park District from 1966-1972 and as the President of the Illinois Association of Park Districts from 1945-1947. Recently, in addition to his commissioner duties, Ferd was active in local Senior Citizen and church activities and served as Executive Director of the Midwest Institute of Park Executives.

He is survived by his wife Irene, two daughters, Eilleen and Phyllis, three grandchildren, and a brother.

See PEOPLE . . . Page 25

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PEOPLE . . . From Page 23

At the annual national convention of Ice Skating Institute of America (ISIA), held recently (the week of June 1) at LaJolla, California, Mr. T. Allen Cassady, complex manager of the Robert Crown Community Center for the Evanston Recreation Department, was elected to a two-year term as Vice President of the Association's National Board.

For the past two years, Mr. Cassady has served on the Board as chairman of the ISIA Ice Skating Schools Committee.

Mr. Cassady is a member of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.

The Western DuPage Special Recreation Association Board of Directors announce the appointment of Jane Hodgkinson as the Executive Director of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association. WDSRA is an extension of the Naperville, Glen Ellyn, West Chicago, and Wheaton Park Districts providing recreation for handicapped of all ages.

Ms. Hodgkinson is currently the Director-Elect of the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association. She is also involved with the Kennedy Foundation Special Olympics and serves as President of Illinois Special Olympics.

Thomas Suhs has recently joined the Oak Brook Park District in the position of Director of Recreation. Mr. Suhs graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1978 with a B.S. degree in Park and Recreation Administration.

Tom was previously employed at D.D. Eisenhower High School in Blue Island as a Groundskeeper.

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