patrick.oconnor@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/ patrick.oconnor
The Men’s Issue
Dear Readers,
Welcome to our Men’s Issue—a celebration of the people, passions, and pursuits that shape men’s lives today.
Over the past couple of years, there have been many stories that have moved me in ways that have left lasting impressions as well as of self-reflection. For this issue, we had the honor of speaking with four gentlemen that reside at Huntley Springs Retirement Resort in Huntley. The experience made quite an impact on me as well as my team.
The stories and photographs of these men are highlighted within a six-page spread. While I was a live participant of the interviews, it’s our senior writer Katie Bobrow and photographer Sharmila Taylor who were tasked with condensing almost 4 hours of riveting interviews and hundreds of photos into what you see here. While there is no way to fully convey the extraordinary lives of these men, I truly believe Katie and Sharmila honored them, and provided the respect and tribute they deserved.
Two personal takeaways from the experience: First, the importance of taking the time to talk with and ask questions of your own elderly family members about their lives. Listen to the answers and I'm certain you'll discover things you never knew. Second, I was struck by how these men all shared a generational sense of pride, strength, and devotion to family, along with a reflective outlook on life free of regret—profound insight for us all.
This heartwarming meeting would not have been possible without Dwayne and Colleen Bosse who are the live-in Community Managers at Huntley Springs Retirement Resort and were instrumental in lining up and coordinating the interviews. Every senior facility whether it be Independent Living, Assisted Living, or Memory Care should have a Dwayne and Colleen – the care they have for their residents is second to none! Our sincere gratitude goes out to them.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the journey.
Sincerely,
STEVE ROGERS, PUBLISHER
Discover Crystal Lake City Lifestyle in the towns of Crystal Lake, Village of Lakewood, Prairie Grove, and Huntley.
June 2025
PUBLISHER
Steve Rogers | steve.rogers@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Patti Noble | patti.noble@citylifestyle.com
STAFF WRITER
Katie Bobrow | katie.bobrow@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Klaudia Burian, Gina Jasovic
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sharmila Taylor, David Bradburn
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
inside the issue
Departments
Living With Purpose
Four
Bond Between Brothers
How three brothers learned to move from rivalry to respect— and why strong male friendships matter.
Styled for Him
From laid-back looks to grooming goods, we’ve got him covered this June.
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Havin’ themselves a good ‘ol time at Senior Care Volunteer Network’s Something to Talk About event. 2: Good folks, good fun at SCVN’s Something to Talk About: A Taste of Kentucky at the Vixen. 3—4: When fashion meets compassion. Style and smiles at Service League of Crystal Lake’s annual fashion show. 5: Couple’s night out while supporting CASA at this year’s Big City Bash. 6—7: Teams showed up ready for a night of friendly competition at Refuge for Women’s Trivia Night.
Want to be seen in the magazine?
SHARMILA TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY
SHARMILA TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY
Real Estate Report
5/2/2025 2/11/2025 4/4/2025 3/6/2025 4/11/2025 4/28/2025 3/7/2025
2/24/2025 5/1/2025
2/28/2025
business monthly
Shining Students Tutoring
Shining Students Tutoring in Huntley, Illinois, helps children, both academically and personally. With compassionate, expert tutors and customized support in reading, math, writing, and test prep, they meet students where they are and help them shine. Offering both online and in-person sessions, Shining Students serves families across the Northwest suburbs, including Crystal Lake. Whether your child needs a confidence boost or targeted academic help, they’re in caring, capable hands.
Corewerx
CoreWerx Studio in Crystal Lake, is an inclusive wellness space where individuals of all ages and abilities can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Certified instructors lead yoga, Pilates, meditation, sound bath, and music-based movement classes, fostering personal growth and community connection. The studio also hosts workshops, Kirtan gatherings, and special events that encourage transformation. Whether you're just beginning or deepening your practice, CoreWerx welcomes you to a supportive, empowering environment designed to help you thrive.
Black Market Bakery
Coming soon to downtown Crystal Lake, Black Market Bakery is the latest venture from the owners of Café Olympic. Known for their commitment to the community and for their delicious and creative breakfast food, they’re bringing scratch-made pastries, breads, and sweets to the heart of downtown. With the same local, small-business spirit that’s made Café Olympic a neighborhood favorite, Black Market Bakery will be a welcome addition to Crystal Lake’s charming downtown
LIVING WITH PURPOSE
Four remarkable men reflect on full lives shaped by love, resilience, and meaningful connections
ARTICLE BY KATIE BOBROW
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHARMILA TAYLOR
At Huntley Springs, a retirement community in Huntley, Illinois, time seems to slow down just enough to let stories of yesteryear take center stage. And if you listen closely, the men who live there will take the time to tell you what really matters. Their lives are filled with chapters of service, family, loss, reinvention, and joy, not just accomplishments
“It’s not how far you go, but what you learn along the way and the people by your side through it all.”
measured in medals or miles, but in the love they’ve given and the wisdom they’ve earned. These are men who’ve seen the world from the clouds, from a small-town basketball court, from a classroom, and even from the quiet of a Lego-filled apartment. Now in their 90s, they each carry the same message: it’s not how far you go, but what you learn along the way and the people by your side through it all. Recently, I was fortunate enough to sit down with four of these gentlemen, hoping to hear some interesting tidbits to include in this article. What I received was so much more. Meant to only last 90 minutes, we sat for hours, riveted by not just their stories but the way they lit up when they told them. What they shared
was more than stories, they shared the love and zest they had for life, it was evident in the way their eyes shone, the way the corner of their mouth would turn up in quiet pride, or the tears that would well, yet never spill over, when talking about the proudest moments of their lives.
Len Bunge, Ken Spooner, Peter Mazzoni, and George Bracke followed very different roads, from the battlefields of Korea to the basketball courts of Hebron, Illinois. From engineering dreams out of Legos to soaring through the clouds at supersonic speeds. But what ties them together is not where they’ve been, it’s how they lived: with purpose, with passion, and with pride.
Len Bunge is one of those rare individuals whose life seems stitched together by adventure and resilience. A Korean War veteran, former pilot, and USTA-rated senior tennis player, Len has spent his life chasing goals both in the air and on the ground. At Huntley Springs, it’s easy to see that the spirit of this man hasn’t dimmed with time. His smile is quick, his memory sharp, and his passions, whether for flying, tennis, or his grandchildren, still shine through. Len started playing tennis as a boy when his sister needed a partner and had no one else to play with. That early sibling moment sparked a lifelong love for the game. Tennis became more than just a pastime, it became a path of discipline, camaraderie, and competition, continuing well into his senior years with national rankings. His career with State Farm, where he rose to agency manager, brought opportunities to travel the world, and his feet never stopped moving, on courts, in airports, or along life’s winding paths. Even after losing his wife, Len has remained open to new experiences, showing off a photo of his latest outfit for an all-white party and a trip to the drive through safari with his companion, Dottie. He proudly pulled out a list of loved ones birthday’s from his wallet, rattled off photos of his grandkids with the ease of a man half his age, and joked about his frequent Amazon orders. There’s a vibrancy to Len that suggests some people don’t slow down, they simply shift gears.
While Len’s journey carried him across continents, Ken Spooner’s roots run deep in the small farm town of Hebron, Illinois. A starting guard on the legendary 1952 Hebron High School basketball team (locals know the water tower well), Ken was part of a story that still inspires; a small-town team of six players who beat every school in the state to win the championship, before divisions existed.
“A life well lived isn’t defined by titles or timelines. It’s shaped by resilience, by love, and by the willingness to grow, even in the final chapters.”
Ken lights up when he talks about that time. He remembers practicing with cottage cheese containers and a tennis ball, playing with the same boys he grew up with, and the thrill of hearing the crowd roar. Decades later, the high school surprised the team by embedding their signatures into the gym floor, a tribute that moved Ken to tears as he relayed the experience. Still proudly driving with a "Hebron 6" license plate, he often gets stopped by strangers wanting to hear the story.
But Ken’s life wasn’t all victory and applause. He grew quiet when speaking about his first
marriage and the time he missed with his children. There was regret there, not dramatic, just honest. It made his love for his current wife, Katie, even more touching. They met through a mutual friend when he worked in the men's department at Carson Pirie Scott, a job he took after years as a biology teacher and basketball coach. "That place brought me more than a paycheck," he said, with a smile. Ken still keeps in touch with the last living teammate from Hebron and says the underdog win wasn't just about basketball, it proved to him that anything is possible.
Peter Mazzoni's apartment is a world of color, structure, and memory. A retired mechanical engineer, Peter discovered Lego building during the pandemic, and now his shelves are filled with intricate models, from the Titanic to the Millenium Falcon. Humble and soft-spoken, Peter brushed off compliments about his work, but you could sense the quiet pride in the way he pointed out the added lights and custom touches. His creations aren’t just hobbies; they’re bridges. They offer ways to connect with his grandchildren and the broader retirement community, where his pieces are displayed.
Peter’s walls tell a story, too. Alongside his Lego builds hang family photos, including wedding portraits from his own marriage and generations before and after. "That’s my legacy," he said, gesturing to the frames. The son of Italian immigrants, Peter didn’t learn English until he was six. He was drafted into the Vietnam War at 23, and though he was in love, he delayed marriage until he knew he wouldn’t be sent to the front lines. The day he got his orders, nuclear research, stateside, he married the love of his life. It was the right decision, he said, with quiet conviction.
Where Peter was warm and reflective, George Bracke was reserved, the kind of man who doesn’t need to speak loudly to command attention. A retired USAF fighter pilot and later a commercial pilot with United, George has spent more time in the air than most, nearly 26,000 hours, or close to 1,000 days. He knew at age seven that he wanted to fly. As a boy, he’d hang around the local landing strip offering help, often rewarded with rides from pilots. One pilot asked where he lived, and after
doing a flyby over his house, George’s dad, out washing the car, recognized the small plane. “You weren’t in that thing, were you?” he asked later. George just smiled.
When asked what flying felt like, George paused. “It’s something I wish I could share. Flying among the clouds… there’s nothing like it.” He got mistyeyed remembering those days. But his real pride was his wife, who earned her GED at 16 so they could marry, and with whom he shared 67 years before her passing. George also lit up when his daughter entered the room, and the way he looked at her said more than words ever could. One son became a pilot, another an airplane mechanic. His legacy is, quite literally, in the sky.
Together, these men represent more than just impressive résumés. They remind us that a life well lived isn’t defined by titles or timelines. It’s shaped by resilience, by love, and by the willingness to grow, even in the final chapters. It’s the ability to sit across from someone, share a story, and feel it land. Life happens in the seemingly little moments, picking up a tennis racket with your sister, shooting hoops with friends, saying yes to something new, and showing up when others don’t.
In the sunset years, the applause may be quieter, but the meaning is deeper. What lives on are the people you show up for, the passions you pursue, and the lessons you leave behind. If there’s a common thread running through these conversations, it’s that connection matters. Connection with family, with community, and with yourself. The best lives aren’t perfect. They’re full, they’re honest, and they’re lived all the way through.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID BRADBURN
HOW THREE BROTHERS LEARNED TO MOVE FROM RIVALRY TO RESPECT—AND WHY STRONG MALE FRIENDSHIPS MATTER.
BOND BETWEEN BROTHERS
Photo Credit: Sharmila
Taylor Photography
Relationships, much like the tides, experience a natural ebb and flow— periods of closeness followed by times of distance. This rhythm is also true between brothers, whether connected
Trailing closely behind my older brother, it is safe to describe us as rivals. But it taught me resilience–and a hefty dose of patience. It also meant I inherited more than just his hand-
“BECAUSE THE WORLD IS ALWAYS SHIFTING, HAVING BROTHERS STEADIES THE GROUND BENEATH US.”
by blood or shared experiences. While the dynamics may shift over time, the significance of brotherhood remains steadfast. These bonds and their evolving nature, the importance of male connection, and the enduring impact they have on our lives is essential to both boys and men alike.
At best, family is at least a little complicated. A mash-up of hopes and dreams, moods, energies, interests, and proximity — which breeds both affection and, occasionally, contempt. That experience is universal, though it’s flavored by the specifics of our own lives.
In my case, I’m the middle of three boys. I was much closer in age to my older brother — just over a year behind in school — while our younger brother came along four years later. The last time we were all in the same school building, I was in fifth grade.
me-downs — I inherited his reputation. To say I lived in his shadow is a fair description. Shadows can function as shade, protecting us from the heat, but they can also obscure us, making it harder for others to see who we really are. I was often approached by people with some preconceived idea of who I was — sometimes positive, sometimes not. Was it lazy on their part? Maybe. But it was also efficient.
With my younger brother, things were different. I had the upper hand simply by age and experience. Sure, I did my fair share of tormenting — as my older brother did to me — but perhaps because of –or in spite of– our age gap, we played together more often, especially around the house. The dynamic was less combative, more collaborative. While the older two of us often shared sports and social circles, the youngest brought a different energy to our trio's dynamic.
Fast forward several decades, and the relationships between us have shifted significantly — and for the better. That evolution wasn’t automatic. It took time and honesty and developed out of a level of trust and some long hard discussions about how we experienced one another, and the world in general, growing up. The closeness we share now came not from simply letting bygones be bygones, but from wearing the rug threadbare until there was nothing left to sweep the dust under.
That kind of hard-earned bond is the same foundation that supports any lasting male friendship. It requires effort. Expectations must be managed. Space must be made — for time together, and apart. Without that maintenance, the cost is paid elsewhere: in isolation, dissatisfaction, stagnant relationships, or even diminished performance in work or other areas of life.
That’s not to say every interaction needs to be deep and meaningful. Sometimes, it really is just about the fun. Watching a game, talking nonsense about things that ultimately don’t matter. Tinkering on projects together. Sitting around a fire and watching the world burn–at least the world inside the fire pit. Sometimes, that is enough and other times it is everything.
Because in a world that’s always shifting, having our brothers — by blood or by bond — is what helps steady the ground beneath us, making the unknown more bearable, even if just for a little while.
Achieving the correct balance of investments for your unique goals can be easier when you work with the right financial advisor. I’ll take the time to learn what matters most to you — and together we can build a personalized investment portfolio that’s right for you. Let’s prepare for your future together.
Sheldon R C
Financial
Advisor
12167 Regency Huntley, IL 60142 847-669-7049
STYLED FOR HIM
From laid-back looks to grooming goods, we’ve got him covered this June.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY GINA JASOVIC
June is often a time to honor the father figures in our lives — the ones who teach, support, and show up in countless quiet ways. Whether you're celebrating a dad, grandpa, stepdad, or someone who's simply stepped in with love, we’ve rounded up a few thoughtful gift ideas to make them feel seen and appreciated.
Help him start the morning celebrating the joy of Italian coffee-making with a colorful coffee maker that will transport them to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
For men who want to feel relaxed, yet stylish, a pair of denim jeans–both comfortable and durable–paired with a linen, breathable-fabric shirt is an ideal choice. Whether it’s a laid-back workday or a meal out, this outfit has you covered
Pair this look with a transitional watch that can be taken from daytime casual to evening chic, and a cologne that captures the essence of the modern man. A perfect combination for a versatile guy in your life. They'll impress their barber at the next visit with personal care products packed with essential vitamins like A, C and E, hemp seed, and eucalyptus oils. All known to help strengthen and add shine and texture to any hair type. Perfect for the man who knows style starts at the top.
Thank you to Darrin & Alberto, owners of Curated by DA and The Market by DA, Woodstock, IL. For style inspiration and more, visit them online: curatedbyda.com and themarketbyda.com
N O U R I S
“Take care of your body when you’re young, and it will take care of you when you’re old” –Jack Burian, 87, when asked about longevity.
This month takes a closer look at what men really want at any age. When interviewed, the common threads became clear. Most men want to be respected, provide for their family, have fun, connect with their partner, build and maintain muscle and strength, eat tasty food but not have a heart attack, and enjoy easy access to each of these. Here’s a look at some dietary and lifestyle interventions which support heart health (men’s No. 1 killer), may improve the health of the brain, strengthen sexual health, mitigate stress, and promote energy for maintaining strength.
NBC-HWC A SPOTLIGHT ON FOODS FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH FOR MEN
ARTICLE BY KLAUDIA BURIAN
L N E S S
HEARTS LOVE PLANTS
Making lifestyle changes can be challenging, especially when lives are busy and the environment and food culture makes it nearly impossible to walk 10 steps without tripping over a burger joint. Incorporating more whole plants might start with ‘crowding out’ less healthy options rather than replacing them all at once. This approach may make the transition easier. For instance, try sitting down to just half a juicy burger, a few fries, and adding a salad or some veggies. Best ones for heart health? Onions and garlic decrease the stickiness of platelets (preventing clogged arteries); while beets, watermelon and all those leafy greens stimulate healthy blood vessels with nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels dilate, decreasing blood pressure and strain on the heart. If preparing veggies at home, the best way to prepare them is... any way you’ll eat them.
BRAIN AND SEXUAL HEALTH
What’s good for the heart, is good for the brain–and for vitality in all areas of life and relationships. The body is a system, and although the blood vessels in the brain and other parts are smaller, they benefit just as much with whole nourishing foods and natural lifestyle choices. For brain health, whole plants–especially healthy fats in nuts and seeds–are supportive for keeping tiny blood vessels happy, while also fueling a healthy gut. Why does this matter? Gut bacteria feed on fiber and help produce neurotransmitters, the body’s chemical messengers that affect everything from energy and mood to sleep. Keeping circulation strong and hormones (especially testosterone) balanced and supported through whole foods, regular movement, and limiting alcohol and added sugar also promotes long-term vitality and wellness in all areas of life.
STRENGTH STRESS
The body requires a variety of nutrients; vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates and fats to function optimally. Muscle building blocks may be protein, but in order to have the energy to build those muscles and make it through workouts, it also needs vitamins, carbs, and fats. Protein from whole foods is always best, and since lifestyles are busy, protein supplements can be beneficial. Animal proteins are an easy way to get all the essential amino acids the body needs to build and maintain strength, but because they are high in cholesterol and saturated fats (not great for the heart), it is equally important to round out with those plants. Grains, beans, nuts, seeds, broccoli, peas, and spinach contain nice amounts of protein and will contribute overall to maintaining muscle.
Stress (the body’s way of signaling there is some kind of danger) is an inevitable and natural part of life–and the body is very well-equipped to handle it. When it’s present in abundance — whether in your environment or your mindset — it can directly affect how your body digests food. heals the heart, handles anxiety and performs in many aspects in life and relationships. The aforementioned recommendations can all have a positive impact. Food can be very satiating to a body under stress, and creating a healthy environment can be a game changer. Sweetness has a natural calming effect on the system and is easily digested. Best choices are sweet berries, balanced with some nuts to keep blood sugar stable. Pair with some deep breathing and a friend for maximum effect.
