PAT CIRRINCIONE

LIFE LESSONS

The Fondness of Memories

Pat Cirrincione

I grew up on the west side of Chicago, not far from Garfield Park. From ages six to thirteen, my family and I lived in my paternal grandparents’ three-flat on Kildare Avenue, where we occupied the third floor (the top floor) residence. Since heat tends to rise to the top level, it meant that our summers were especially hot. To keep the house temperature down, Mom would pull the drapes and blinds closed, and keep a fan going to draw the heat out (air conditioning was an unheard of commodity back then). I didn’t realize at the time that God had a plan for each of us, or I would have been inquiring about why dealing with sweltering heat was a part of my life at such a tender age. Little did I know that God was about to do an incredible “thing” in our lives.

I had just turned nine when Mom discovered the Offthe-Street Club for boys and girls. It was a place to learn woodworking and how to build bird houses. Kids could take cooking classes or participate in performing arts or sports. It was a place that took us to White Sox baseball games during the summer, to rodeos where I met the Cisco Kid and Poncho! The best part of their summer camp program was that it began as soon as school let out for the summer. Mom thought it was just what her children needed, to be outside all day and away from the city, out in a suburb called Wheaton. The first summer Mom signed us up for the day camp experience, which ran from Monday through Friday. She walked her three children (along with their camp bags filled with lunch, bathing suits and towels) to the pick-up spot, which was in front of the Marbro movie theatre (where I eventually would watch the “The Ten Commandments”). There were so many children that a bus and truck were needed for the trip to the country.

By eight in the morning, we were off on our first summer adventure.

I remember being amazed as we left the brick-and-mortar and paved streets of the city to countryside I didn’t know existed. Farms, dirt roads, lakes, the Sky-Hi outdoor movie theatre. It was like entering another world. Had we landed in a different country? No noise except for our own chatter. It was amazing. Butterfield Road was dirt and gravel, with farms on either side. The air was so

fresh, and green grass everywhere you looked, and a high blue sky. I thought I had landed in heaven (or in Iowa), and we hadn’t arrived at our destination yet – what was that going to look like?

It was incredible, at least in the eyes of a city child.

After driving down a winding gravel road, we came to the top of a hill and got our first glimpse of the campgrounds. Large and sprawling, with a huge pole barn to our right, and the American Flag blowing in the breeze. As we progressed down the hill we saw dormitory buildings, a house, and another building we would go in in case of inclement weather. A rack with bicycles, a campfire ring surrounded by logs to sit on, a water pump. Did I mention the blue skies? And grass for running around on? And picnic benches? And years later there would also be a pool. The only word that came to my mind? Freedom. Paradise to a city child.

So, it began…. bike hikes to Herrick Lake once a week where we learned to row a boat, and then a cookout with hot dogs and S’mores for dessert, or a bike hike to the Batavia Quarry for swimming. There was always something to do or enjoy. Twice a week on our way home we would head to the Forest Park pool for swimming lessons and cool off on those hot summer days.

And when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we discovered our first summer that some kids got to spend a week, or more, at camp. A week of dorm life with cold showers, evening campfires, breakfast and dinner in the long indoor eating area, lunches made by the camp cook. However, it was a bit costly, and our parents were just able to pay for the day camp.

The following year a miracle occurred. After my mom saw how much we enjoyed that first summer out in Wheaton, she, an awesome cook and baker, offered to be the camp cook. Her deal? No pay but her children could spend the whole summer in the country, and Dad could spend weekends with us. To this day I am so grateful for their sacrifice of time apart so their children could enjoy the gift of outside freedom and fresh air.

The next three years we spent our summers in the country. As overnighters, we did more than the day campers. Every morning, we ate breakfast as a group in the dining area and learned how to set tables for breakfast and dinner and helped Mom in the kitchen. The house cat, a beautiful Siamese that liked to sleep with me at night on my top bunk, got in on the morning routine running up from the basement to drop a dead mouse at Mom’s feet.

After breakfast and cleanup, we headed outside to await the arrival of the day campers. Tuesday evenings were spent on a grassy knoll, under the beautiful starlit sky and the director would teach us the names of the constellations (the Big and Little Dipper, Cassiopeia, Perseus,). In the country you could see the magnificence of the night sky and its twinkling lights. Some nights, we would head out to the evening campfire where the camp counselors would tell ghost stories, and by chance you might find your hand being held by the cute boy you had a crush on.

There were always things to learn and do. We had a nature trail that encircled the campgrounds, and it was here where we learned what plants we could eat and survive on, and what poison ivy looked like. At the end of the year there was a contest to see who could name the most plants and point out the most constellations – those campers would get to stay overnight for free the last week of the summer.

Those days and nights are printed indelibly in my memories, but one of the funny things is that I thought Wheaton consisted only of farms, St. Michael’s Church and the Dairy Queen. I never knew about the rest of Wheaton until later, when we moved from the west side of Chicago to one of the burb towns, where the roads were still dirt and gravel.

Our neighbor had her salon in Wheaton, and we would travel there on dirt roads. At that time, I had no idea that almost fifty years later the Lord would call me to College Church in Wheaton, where, while I was at camp, students such as Billy Graham, Jim Elliott and Ken Taylor were studying at Wheaton College. Who knew that I would meet Margaret Taylor or Pastor Kent Hughes and Pastor Moody who would mentor me in the faith as they faithfully taught (and Josh still does) from God’s Word?

Who but the Lord knew that he would bring me full circle back to a place that nurtured my young soul and now nurtures my aging soul! From a director that lovingly taught his campers to appreciate the land, to a heavenly director who has guided my soul to appreciate his words. The Bible is clear that God has a purpose for each of our lives and look at what he has done with a young city girl to now. I feel truly blessed.

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome!

JOHN & CONNIE SHANK

PLACES LIVED: John grew up in Michigan. He and Connie have served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and have moved around a lot— eight different states and four different countries. FAMILY: Married over 25 years and have three adult children 9 TO 5: John retired from the Army in 2019 after having served in very high levels within the Department of Defense, including on staff for the secretary of the defense. Connie is a retired Army colonel. Her most recent assignment was as the continuity of operations officer for the Office of the Chief of Army Reserve at the Pentagon. PASTTIMES: John enjoys working around the house. Connie enjoys hiking, playing board games with family and traveling CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group

ALLISON SIPEK

FAMILY: Grew up in Lemont, Illinois. She is the youngest of three and loves being an aunt. She is getting married to College Church member David Kelley on July 9. 9 TO 5: Works as a credit representative at Tyndale House Publishers. She enjoys the relationship building that comes through talking with Christian authors, missionaries and owners of Christian bookstores. PASTTIMES: Allison enjoys all kinds of crafting, especially crocheting and painting. CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Small group, Kids’ Harbor

DICK STAHLER

PLACES LIVED: Born and raised in the Chicago area. During active duty as a Marine Corps pilot, he and family lived in many places around the country. FAMILY: After more than 65 years of marriage, Dick’s wife, Patricia, entered the presence of Jesus last November. They have five adult children and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. 9 TO 5: Retired from engineering, then business systems and information technology PASTTIMES: Enjoys hiking, gardening and reading. He recently began converting their many years of home movies to digital media CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Greek Adult Community

TOM & CARRIE STONER

PLACES LIVED: Tom grew up in Wheaton. The Stoners lived in Boston for 20 years before moving to St. Louis and now Naperville due to job changes. Carrie is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. FAMILY: Married since 1991 and have four children. Carrie’s brother is Dr. Jon Laansma. 9 TO 5: Tom is the head of school at Covenant Classical School in Naperville. Carrie works parttime as a licensed social worker but has been home almost full time since they moved here from Massachusetts. PASTTIMES: Tom likes to decompress from work with time with family. He enjoys watching sports and playing golf. Carrie enjoys reading and walks at the Arboretum. She enjoys working in their yard and walking their dog. They also spend a lot of free time going to the fitness center together. CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: Carrie has attended Women’s Bible Study.

ALISON TAYLOR

PLACES LIVED: Alison grew up in Wheaton and attended College Church FAMILY: Alison’s parents are College Church members Jeremy and Nancy Taylor, and she has many relatives at College Church. 9 TO 5: She is a student at Wheaton College. PASTTIMES: Alison loves making music, writing and going on walks. CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: College Group, Kids’ Harbor, serves in worship and music

JOHANNES VANDERMEIJ

PLACES LIVED: Has lived in Geneva his whole life, except for college at Cedarville University in Ohio 9 TO 5: Johannes is a product development engineer for WEN power tools PASTTIMES: He enjoys sneakerreselling, fitness, playing and watching sports, gardening, board games and free-style rapping! CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: 20s ministry, serves in HYACKs, small group, STARS Buddy Break

DAVID & HEATHER WIGGINS

PLACES LIVED: David was born in Evanston, grew up in Buffalo Grove, moved to Downers Grove until marriage, and now lives in St. Charles. Heather was born in New York and has lived in Michigan and Batavia. FAMILY: They have been married almost 30 years and have five children. (Heather’s sister, Kim Jimenez, is on staff at College Church as the administrative assistant for our disability ministry.) 9 TO 5: David is an account manager working in electronic components. Heather is a passionate homeschool mom who loves learning, teaching, encouraging and doing life with family. PASTTIMES: David enjoys reading, research and watching sports. Heather likes to refinish furniture. She also has fun doing needlework, working out and biking with David when the weather is good.

ANDREW WILLIS

PLACES LIVED: Grew up in Homer Glen and is the oldest of five siblings. His brother and sister-inlaw are College Church attenders Christian and Sarah Willis. 9 TO 5: Andrew is an attorney at a small Chicago law firm that works with nonprofits and small businesses. PASTTIMES: He enjoys reading history, playing sports and hiking national parks. CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: 20s ministry, serves in KMs and STARS PLACES LIVED: Born in Rockford, but grew up in Frankfort, Illinois. Her family now lives in Winfield. FAMILY: Besides her parents, John and Suzy, who are also new members, she has three brothers. The Yoders are related to Eric and Marilyn Enstrom and Nate and Abby Clark. 9 TO 5: Annika is a junior at Wheaton College studying pre-nursing and

English literature. PASTTIMES: She loves to read, play the piano and sing, do crosswords and play volleyball. CHURCH INVOLVEMENT: College Group

JOHN & SUZANNA YODER

PLACES LIVED: John grew up in Wheaton. John was a pastor of a church in Minnesota and two in Illinois. Suzanne was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois. They currently live in Winfield. FAMILY: John and Suzy have four children. 9 TO 5: After 25 years of pastoral ministry, John is taking a rest and looking for other work. Suzanne is a registered nurse but took a long hiatus from work to raise and homeschool their children. Two years ago, she rejoined the nursing work force and now works at the Wheaton College Student Health Services. PASTTIMES: They enjoy reading or time outdoors fishing, golfing and hiking as well as time with family.