Faces in the crowd
September 27, 2005 — Source: Naperville Sun, The (IL)
Two years in the making, Century Walk's mural celebrating music's role in Naperville history has come to life in vivid color on the doors of the Community Concert Center.
So, who's who in the audience shown enjoying "The Great Concerto?"
The faces intersect in their connection to Naperville, whether through descendents, friends, employees or the ones they loved and who loved them enough to immortalize them in Central Park.
-- Colt Foutz
Michelle Springer: The daughter of Century Walk board member Pat Springer studied theater at North Central College.
Thomas O'Donnell: He is a retired partner of Oppenheimer investments and an avid Notre Dame tailgater; he's also vice president for investments for We Bad Company, a group of local professionals.
Tricia Hummel: She won Century Walk's first "face raffle." Her husband, David, is pictured on the mural's right side. Their family has attended almost every Municipal Band concert for 11 years.
John Earl Schmitt: He was president of construction firm Wil-Freds Inc. and a member of the Can-Do organization, a predecessor to the Downtown Naperville Alliance.
Bruce Weber: He taught science at Washington Junior High School. After his death in 2002, his mother, Bettye Wehrli, established Space Camp scholarships in his name.
Terry Szpiech: A barber for more than 40 years, he wields his scissors at The Cornerstone Barbershop on Washington Street downtown.
Frank Glowaty: He has served as principal of SS Peter and Paul School since 1975.
Robert Koller: The World War II Air Force veteran launched his namesake Dodge dealership in 1963.
Harris Fawell: The Naperville Republican and North Central College grad served 14 years as a congressman and 14 years as a state senator.
Ruth Fawell: Wife of Harris, she was an educator with Naperville School District 203 for 29 years.
Fran and Cindy Barenbrugge: The Barenbrugges grew up in Naperville and have been members of Naperville Country Club since 1956. His family history traces back to the Hiltenbrand family that ran the Pre-Emption House.
Brian Schultz: He worked for Boeing as a rocket scientist and at 28 was president of his family's First National Bank of Naperville when he was killed by a drunken driver on Jan. 1.
Willard R. Smith III and Joyce Volpe-Smith: The couple met while attending art classes. He casts found pieces in silver jewelry; she crafts porcelain pieces by hand.
Jack Smart: He and Barb, his wife of almost 14 years, never missed a Municipal Band concert when they were in town.
Walt Fues: A World War II vet and Quad Cities native from Iowa, he single-handedly raised three children, including daughter Jill Lejsek, who is on the Century Walk board.
Karen McCluskey: A graduate of Naperville North High School, she taught fifth grade at Beebe Elementary for 15 years until her death in 2001 at age 40. Her namesake education fund helps families pay for school tuition, books and fees.
20. Dolores "Dee" and George Pasternak: Dee was a former Sun photographer and darkroom technician and an acclaimed artist who received more than 200 awards for her artwork and helped launch the Riverwalk Fine Art Fair, the Commander Dan Shanower/September 11 Memorial and the renovation of the city's World War I doughboy sculpture.
Walter Asmus: He was a lifelong resident of Hamburg, Germany, who always dreamed of moving to Naperville. His son, Sven Ausmus, did move here, following wife Loretta, who opened Looks Salon in the Jefferson Hill Shops.
Ralph "Koko" Kokocinski: A former steelworker, he became a familiar face at Loomis Street and Fourth Avenue, where as a crossing guard he helped kids to and from Ellsworth School. He was a friend to Walter Asmus and a father figure to Sven Asmus.
Arnold Massier: U.S. Army veteran of World War II and member of Judd Kendall VFW Post 3983 and American Legion Post 43.
William Hill: He taught high school science in Naperville for 35 years and has been married to Betty Jane (Allen) Hill since 1948.
Chester Rybicki: Naperville's 37th mayor, from 1975 to 1983. He led the city during the celebration of its 150th anniversary and construction of the Riverwalk in 1981.
Margaret "Peg" Price: Naperville's 38th mayor, from 1983 to 1991. She was the first woman elected to that office and also served on the Plan Commission, City Council and Transportation Advisory Board. She now serves on the Riverwalk Commission.
Sam Macrane: The city's 39th mayor served from 1991 to 1995 before serving 10 years on the City Council. Naperville's Sister Cities partnership with Nitra, Slovakia, was established during his mayoral term.
George Pradel: Formerly "Officer Friendly" to Naperville students during three decades as a police officer, Naperville's 40th mayor was first elected in 1995 and won his third term in 2003.
Pat Pradel: She drove a special-education bus for Naperville School District 203 for more than 20 years. She and George Pradel celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in August.
Mary Anne and James Ostrenga: He is a Naperville cardiologist; she serves with NCO Youth and Family Services and the American Parkinson Disease Association.
Ann Lord: She's shown in her usual place -- at the microphone on a summer Thursday night, as emcee to the Municipal Band.
Norris and Peg Yonker: The couple has spent years as a spark for institutions including the Naperville Heritage Society, Summer Place theater, the Riverwalk and Centennial Beach.
Joel Kolb: He and wife Joanne discovered Naperville as Joel traversed the country as a UPS employee. They bought a home here in 1993.
John Hudetz: Father to 12 children, in 1961 he started John F. Hudetz and Sons commercial printing, which became Solar Communications Inc., and he served as mayor of Warrenville from 1977 to 1981.
Gail and Don Niermeyer: The Niermeyers work at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage on 75th Street in Naperville; they are members of Community First and co-chair the Edward Hospital Cancer Center.
Marge and Tony Meyer: The Lisle couple were parents to Mary Ann (Meyer) Bobosky, wife of Century Walk president Brand Bobosky. The family enjoyed many Municipal Band concerts together.
Sharon Reed: She started several area preschool and day-care centers and founded Honor Our Troops in 2003 to offer families of soldiers everything from assistance with grocery shopping to tutoring for their children.
Florence Schultz: She moved to Naperville in 1985 and worked as a medical technician at Edward Hospital. She was a member of Community United Methodist Church.
Francois Sebastian Ory: One of Naperville's earliest settlers, he was born in 1820, arrived here in 1844 and died here in 1890. His gravestone is prominent in SS Peter and Paul cemetery. The modern Ory clan includes Park District Commissioner Ron Ory and real estate agent Vince Ory. Naperville resident Jane Burke's mother was Leona Ory.
Eva Keller Wehrli: "Tanta" to her family, she belonged to two historic Naperville families, beginning life as a farm girl before moving downtown. She listened to Municipal Band concerts and rehearsals from her porch on Center Street.
Nancy and Ron Nyberg: She is a trustee of the Naperville Education Foundation and an 18-year volunteer with Naperville School District 203. Ron, an attorney, is on the Edward Hospital Foundation board and is a member of the Rotary.
David Hummel: Husband to Tricia Hummel, who won the first Century Walk face raffle. Their family has attended almost every Municipal Band concert for 11 years. Tricia is pictured on the mural's left side.
Leslie Girolami: He is president of Data Management Marketing; his wife, Midge, teaches at Hill Middle School. The couple moved to Naperville from Glenwood in 1999.
Rudy Bilotta: The composer of "The Spirit of Naperville" march, he taught band in Chicago schools for 55 years and directed big bands under the stage name Rudy Austin.
Adam Keller: Horn and percussion player in the Municipal Band for more than five decades and father to longtime director Ron Keller.
Leonard Koeder: Koeder, a professional trumpet player and 50-year member of the Municipal Band, was owner of Koeder Music in Naperville from 1924 to 1979 with his father, T.M. Koeder.
Bob Van Iten: He owns Village Pontiac GMC Truck and Saturn on Ogden Avenue.
Jack and Joyce Jelinek: She was a well-known clarinet teacher in Naperville who lost her battle with Lou Gehrig's disease in 2004. Jack, her husband of 35 years, died in 2000.
Anne and Stanley Weldy: The Weldys moved to Naperville in 1946 and were married nearly 73 years. He taught music in Naperville schools for 27 years and was choir director at First Congregational Church.
Ray Kinney: This Naperville Central High School grad owns Minuteman Press in Naperville and formerly chaired the Naperville Development Partnership.
Ruth Hamm: A longtime member of the Municipal Band, she is pictured playing her French horn.
Elmer Koerner: The Municipal Band followed his baton from 1930 to 1965. When Koerner stepped down, current director Ron Keller took to the podium.
Ron Keller: Director of the Municipal Band since 1966, he played tuba as a band member with French horn player George Pradel in the 1950s. Six generations of Kellers have been band members, including Keller's great-grandfather, Joseph Bapst, who led the band in the 1870s and 1880s.
Brand Bobosky: As president of Century Walk Corp., the Naperville lawyer has made possible the installation of more than two dozen public art pieces in the city, including "The Great Concerto."
"The Great Concerto": artwork on doors of Community Concert Center
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