Living in Hinsdale

LIVING IN HINSDALE is something

special. With its gorgeous homes, beautiful tree-lined streets, highperforming schools, well-maintained parks, established nonprofit agencies and vibrant business districts – including a central business district that is on the National Register of Historic Places – Hinsdale is a one-of-a-kind community. Need more convincing?

These dozen individuals share in their own words what they truly enjoy about living or working in Hinsdale.

“We are thankful to be a part of such a incredible place to live.”

I enjoy the sense of community that comes with working in Hinsdale. Everyone looks out for each other and desires to see nothing but positive outcomes. The village of Hinsdale is a fabulous partner with events like Uniquely Thursday and the annual Ice Cream Social. Also, working in Hinsdale makes life easy when it comes to picking up groceries at Kramer Foods or picking up a meal from one of the many first class restaurants in town. The vibrant retail community makes shopping very convenient and offers so many options in the way of variety.

— Adam Maycock, chief executive officer, Amita Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale

Returning home after going off to college for a semester reminded me how much I love Hinsdale and what a great place it is to grow up. The atmosphere of Hinsdale is enchanting, thanks to the beautiful architecture, quaint downtown, and the many cool trees and parks. The school system is amazing, too, and I have enjoyed learning from awesome teachers. What I enjoy the most about Hinsdale are my friends and neighbors, and the people who make Hinsdale a great village!

— Jack Otten, Hinsdale Central Class of 2020 , Eagle Scout and lifelong resident of Hinsdale Hinsdale is a great place to raise a family. We have excellent schools and a wonderful community. Hinsdale residents respond immediately to those in need whether local, inner-city, or on a global level. We have made life-long friends here! We are thankful to be a part of such a incredible place to live. — Jacqui Wooldrige, 22-year resident and volunteer

Our young family moved west from River Forest 48 years ago and settled in Hinsdale, where we were complete strangers. We were attracted to the beauty, history, schools, sports, downtown area and above all the friendly people we met. All these years later, it is still the families on every block that are the threads that intertwine and make our community so welcoming! Having walked the Fourth of July parade route for over 26 years with three generations of family and friends (grandbabies included), the most fun was not only seeing the bands, marchers and brilliant flags, but the smiling faces of the children and their families with the spirit of freedom alive in our community and America.

— Patti Bellock, former Illinois House of Representative for the 47th District

“It’s the people who make Hinsdale such a perfect place to live.”

My wife, Marie and I have lived in Hinsdale for 43 years and our daughter and her family for 17 years. We all enjoy the sense of hometown that the village offers. The village’s compactness allows families to walk or bike to downtown to shop, dine, or just mingle. There are fine schools, parks with athletic fields and courts for tennis and basketball. The village and Chamber of Commerce cosponsor public events such as the Uniquely Thursday outdoor concerts and the Fourth of July parade. These attractions of small town living combined with proximity to Chicago combine to attract young adults to return to Hinsdale and raise their families.

What I like most about

living in Hinsdale is that you can still walk the neighborhood and see and talk to your neighbors. Even with all the new construction and COVID concerns and closed up shops, my neighbors still find time to talk through their masks, nod their heads in greeting and if out of doors, stop while walking their dogs and talk. Not just a quick hollow hello, but really chat about everyday happenings around town; our town. That’s the Hinsdale I’ve come to know in the last 16 years I’ve lived here; that’s one of the reasons we stay.

— Bill Trader, U.S. Marine Corps veteran — Jackie Holsten, attorney and philanthropist

Swimming at the community pool in summer, donning patriotic attire to attend the Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades, baseball season at Peirce Park, children walking to their neighborhood schools, ice-skating at Burns Field, socializing with friends at Uniquely Thursdays, kicking off the holiday season at the annual Christmas Walk, filling Dickinson Field on Friday nights to cheer on the Red Devils – it is because of these things that people who grow up in Hinsdale choose to come back and raise their own children here, giving the village a deep sense of community. I treasure the friends and family who continue to call Hinsdale their home and my hope is that as a new generation of people move into town they don’t lose sight of all the things that make our charming village Uniquely Hinsdale.

— Heather Hester, lifelong resident and volunteer

Plain and simple: It’s the people

who make Hinsdale such a perfect place to live. It’s the business owners who make downtown so charming. It’s the neighbors who rush to help when a tree falls in your driveway. It’s the village workers who protect the quality of life. It’s the friendships – new and old – that get us through even the most difficult days.

— Ben Bradley, WGN evening news anchor

“Hinsdale is a community in the truest sense of the word.”

My husband Jerry and I (high school sweethearts) would come to the village of Hinsdale to attend live summer stock theater performances at the Hinsdale Theater during the summers of 1957-58. We actually celebrated our engagement dinner at the old Spinning Wheel, which was located on the Amita Cancer Center property. Jerry and I purchased property and built a modest two-story home, which we moved into the during the blizzard of 1967. We love the village and, as educators, were impressed with the excellent education that was provided to D181 students. Hinsdale has been a wonderful, safe and friendly community for us as well as our children. The friends that we have made are truly a gift.

— Lois Mejdrich, retired District 181 teacher and volunteer

Hinsdale is a community in the truest sense of the word. Kindness, love, caring, hope, giving and an open heart are all words to describe Hinsdale. I have lived here since I was 13 and see all these beautiful attributes daily. This community is present and willing if a family needs support with prayers, meals, errands and an ear to listen to when things are difficult or to cheer when good things happen. This community is there to support first responders and hospital workers to let them know we care. We are so blessed to have a hospital in our community. Families Helping Families, an organization at the high school is more evidence of this community kindness. The long line at the Hinsdale Food pantry for donating food being longer than the line for those who need food is more evidence of the love in this community. This community is knowing store owners and workers by name and appreciating their kindness and hard work. This community is saying hello to all who pass us when walking in the street or the aisle of the grocery store and looking out for each other if a wallet is left behind in a grocery cart. Our children feel this way as they return to raise their children. So many of our friends’ children are returning to this community because of the true sense of community that you feel being here. This has never been more true than in 2020. I very much enjoy living in Hinsdale because it connects all of the favorite areas of my life: my childhood, my family and my work. I grew up in Hinsdale – attending Oak School, Hinsdale Junior High (now HMS) and Hinsdale Central High School. I appreciate running into my old friends who have also moved back to this extraordinary town to raise their families. Moreover my two brothers and in-laws also live in Hinsdale, thus my four children have been blessed to grow up alongside their aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. Regarding my career, after working at JPMorgan Chase for 24 years I made the decision to work for Hinsdale Bank and Trust, allowing me to serve my local community, not only in banking needs across the western suburbs – but also having the great pleasure of supporting local sports, charities and organizations.

— Rick Eck, president of Hinsdale Bank and Trust

My wife and I have lived in Hinsdale for 45 years and have found this community to be the perfect setting for both our family and our careers. Hinsdale has the feel of small town America but is only minutes from Chicago. The school system is tremendous and provided both our sons excellent educations and gave them a competitive edge entering college. Hinsdale has provided us the opportunity to be involved in community organizations that have been very rewarding personally and given us lifelong friends.

— Dave Pequet, owner of MPI Investments and philanthropist