The Illinois GOP of 1998 had room for candidates like Corinne Wood of Lake Forest, who, as a freshman House representative, threw her hat into the ring to serve alongside Republican Governor George Ryan as lieutenant governor. She would be the first woman to ever hold the post in the state’s history. For some of […]
Remembering
Community leader and volunteer, devoted to family
Peggy Ryder was fearless, vibrant and alive in all ways, says her youngest son, Tim. Everyone who knew her was touched by her warmth, beautiful smile, generosity, good humor and positive attitude. She left her mark on Springfield as an extraordinarily dedicated community leader and volunteer. Sadly, she passed away on Sept. 16, after valiantly […]
Illinois’ consummate statesman
One of the benefits of growing up on South St. Mary’s Road in rural Libertyville, Illinois, was being a neighbor to Adlai Stevenson II. The elder Stevenson was the grandson of vice-president Adlai Stevenson (the Grover Cleveland administration), former governor of Illinois, twice-nominated candidate for the presidency on the Democratic ticket and the U. S. […]
A spiritual dynamo
Before succumbing to COVID-19, the Rev. Tinnie Randall had a final word for her family: Pray. She was a spiritual dynamo packed into a 5-foot-tall body. She died Dec. 17, 2020, at age 63, after a 54-day stay at Springfield Memorial Hospital. Her husband of 35 years, the Rev. Nate Randall, recalled with a laugh […]
Always there to help
Bill Boyd was always there to help, whatever was needed. That’s what you hear when you talk to people who knew Bill well and served alongside him during the decades he devoted to Springfield. He was a tremendously effective leader, a devoted husband and father and an esteemed mentor to many individuals. His kindness, sound […]
Tamara S. Fanale
We always heard the first year of loss was the toughest. For that first year, every day was the first without you. November was the hardest so far, with your birthday and our anniversary among the days. You were our rock, our foundation and our compass. You still remain so. Your legacy will always be […]
Jim Cox
This year, Springfield lost Jim Cox, who had portrayed Santa in downtown Springfield for the past 10 Christmases. His seasonal job made him proud. He loved interacting with kids, many of whom visited year after year. Jim would listen to their wish lists and hand them a candy cane. Sometimes he even got to pose […]
Dr. J. E. (Jack) Gillen
His obituary mentions his 40 years as a chiropractor in central Illinois, but there was also his work at IDOT/Division of Waterways helping with several of the man-made lakes coming to fruition in this state, his work as a Springfield police officer and a narcotics officer with the Illinois Narcotics Bureau and his run for […]
Lobbyist for society’s vulnerable
When Len Lieberman was hired in 1981 to be the Government Affairs Director for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, he had found his dream job. In his previous positions working for the state, he had acquired an impressive knowledge of state government and of the legislative process that would serve him in good stead. […]
David Lee Thursby
We are reminded of how precious life is every day. Someone who lived his life to the fullest was my co-worker and friend, David Thursby, who died in June, a mere five hours after his last shift at work. He was a friend to all who shopped at Schnuck’s on Montvale Drive and the old […]
Samuel Bruce Davis
Sam grew up in the village of Dawson, Illinois. Toward the end of the Vietnam War, he was a member of the U.S. Air Force stationed in England. His horizons were widened by the experience and he returned home with a passion to live a life less ordinary. At Southern Illinois University Carbondale Sam studied […]
“A passion for preserving history, with a wicked sense of humor”
Remember Susan Mogerman? If so, get ready to think back over many memories of this amazing lady. If you did not have the pleasure of knowing Susan, sit back and savor learning what you missed. I met Susan in 1975 when we both worked at the fledgling Illinois Times, a weekly downstate newspaper where I […]
