Susan Mckelvey

Robert L. Teets Jr., 78, of Forest Park, died on Jan. 5, 2024 at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. Born in Cumberland, Maryland in 1945 to the late Clara and Robert L. Teets Sr., he met his wife Audrey at Proviso East High School in Maywood, and they were married on Aug. 14, 1971. Bob proudly served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in October 1971. He cherished his 35+ year career with the village of Forest Park, serving as village mechanic, firefighter/inspector, and code enforcement. He retired in 2010 as director of Health and Safety.

Congratulations, Rachell Entler, on being named village administrator of Forest Park. In the months since you became interim administrator, you’ve done a good job and proven popular with most members of the village council and your department heads.

We made it through. After expecting to dodge one of those Arctic winters of a bygone era in the Chicago area, we were hit with subzero temperatures — the only relief coming from the knowledge that these were temporary struggles.

It is an eyesore for the ages. Now the rusted-out water tower polluting the views of Forest Parkers and River Foresters for decades in the CTA yard at Harlem and the Green Line terminus is finally coming down.

James Francis McElligott, 76, of Forest Park, died unexpectedly on March 15, 2024. Born on Oct. 7, 1947 to John J. McElligott and Marguerite Dasso in Chicago, Jim graduated from Fenwick High School in 1965, entered the army, and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War.

The 3,335 trees growing on the village-owned parkways in Forest Park are an element in the community’s infrastructure as important as the town’s streets and sewers.

Pastor Walter Mitty noticed that few of his members were wearing green as he looked around at the folks munching on the soda bread Bob Sullivan brought to the coffee hour on St. Patrick’s Day. What seemed to be on the minds of the people at his table, however, was Chuck Schumer’s speech given three days earlier.

Kids ride one of the carnival rides on Saturday, May 21, 2022, during the What's Blooming on Harrison street festival in Oak Park, Ill. | ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

John Westermayer and Rich Kaczmarski of the Bucketheads took fourth in the 34th Annual No Gloves in 2002. Licorice jumped on the Miller 45’s to take the tournament trophy by winning 7-1. Brothers Randy and Bobby Ross both were awarded the Most Valuable Player Award; both batted over.500 in the tournament.

Two more local heroes in our series on residents who have been accorded honorary street signs: