The Landmark, August 19, 2020
LETTERS
Schools should be free to pursue safe, in-person learning The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed our lives in immeasurably ways in 2020, perhaps no more so than the effect it’s had on our elementary and secondary level students. In District 96, the school board and administrators have grappled with a wide array of circumstances, challenges and concerns, and have come forth with a science-based Hybrid Return to School plan that balances the health concerns our students, teachers and staff face with the understandable and important need to keep everyone healthy and safe during the continuation of the pandemic. The plan allows for in-person learning, but maintains a remote option for all those who as of yet feel uncomfortable putting their children in a socialized environment. As the parents of four children in the District 96 system, my spouse and I intend to send our children to school to try to maintain a small sense of normalcy for them. But our choice is personal, and we understand and empathize with those
Forest Preserves’ focus on nature, not parking In 1929, Cap Sauers, general superintendent of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, warned in a report that “constant and incessant demand is made upon the Board of Forest Preserve Commissioners for uses of the preserves contrary to the intent of the law and which, if permitted, would eventually destroy their real significance.” On Aug. 11, the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark ran an article and editorial regarding a request by Riverside-Brookfield High School to develop a parking lot and ball field on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. This is just the sort of issue that Cap Sauers referred to nearly 100 years ago. Recently, the Conservation & Policy Council of the Forest Preserves of Cook County revisited the challenge that perennially faces the Forest Preserves. After months of research and analysis, we adopted a position paper on land acquisition and disposition. The council’s position is clear: “[T]he disposition of Forest Preserves land by sale or other conveyance should be completely halted through a moratorium, until principles are agreed upon that make land disposition possible solely in rare and extreme instances. The functional disposition of land through the
OBITUARIES
who are choosing a different path. As a policymaker, I feel it’s imperative District 96 and similarly situated districts be allowed to attempt in-person learning to determine whether it can work -- with the caveat that if the COVID statistics worsen, a return to all-remote should occur. Public education is the cornerstone of a functioning community. It’s the most important thing we can do to ensure continuity and stability, especially during these difficult times. The predisposition to be concerned and tentative is understandable, but shouldn’t block a comprehensive approach to at least trying to return children to in-person learning. Both state and federal government officials have lots of work to do to make our schools safe during the pandemic, including increased funding for PPE, immediate and accessible testing, broadband access, infrastructure improvements and front-line worker pay to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to public education. But now is the time to pull together and support our school’s attempt to do that which is hard but necessary.
Michael J. Zalewski
Riverside Michael J. Zalewski represents the 23rd District in the Illinois House of Representatives. approval or tolerance of inappropriate land uses on Forest Preserves land should be forbidden, with robust efforts undertaken to reverse this practice.” In addition to noting the benefits of open land in a natural state and calling for increasing the amount of land conserved in Cook County, the paper notes that the Forest Preserves must stop the subtraction of acres by sale or trade to other owners or by encroachment or misuse of Forest Preserves property. The ongoing pandemic has made even more clear that the public needs and values nature and access to it. People of all ages, neighborhoods, and backgrounds find solace, freedom to move, and joy in the forest preserves that the public owns and pays for. While we acknowledge the need for ball parks and parking spaces, they are not the business of the Forest Preserves. Nature is. In the third-largest metropolis in the United States, Cook County residents are blessed with forest preserves that include a great diversity of natural habitats native to northern Illinois. We aim to maintain the vision of civic leaders when they first established the system. Giving up land bit by bit would betray a great public trust, and incrementally diminish this extraordinary public asset.
Wendy Paulson, chair
Conservation & Policy Council Forest Preserves of Cook County
Laurel Ross, chair
Land Acquisition and Disposition Committee
Robert J. Ardisana, 77 Pilot, printing business owner Robert John Ardisana, 77, of Riverside, died Aug. 14, 2020. Mr. Ardisana was born Sept. 12, 1942 and was known as an adventurer who always had a project in the works. He went on his first airplane ride in a crop duster at his aunt and uncle’s farm in Wisconsin when he was just a kid and knew from that day that he belonged in the sky. He flew various small planes throughout his life as a private pilot out of Midway, then Lewis University and most recently Bult Field, though he said his favorite plane was the Stearman. With everlasting enthusiasm and seemingly endless energy, Mr. Ardisana was also an entrepreneur and small business owner of Nova Printing and Litho in Chicago. He was a scuba diver and part of the Penguin Scuba Club in the 1970s. He enjoyed sailing, skiing, and traveling with his children and wife. He especially loved trips to state and national parks. He enthusiastically shared stories of his adventures with family and friends alike. Mr. Ardisana always kept busy with home improvement projects, car work, building a kit airplane and maintaining his fishponds. He was quick to lend a helping hand and could fix just about anything. An avid reader, often reading multiple books at a time, it seemed like he knew something about just about everything. He was an animal lover and shared a special bond with many dogs over his life and his macaw Sweet Pea. He is missed tremendously by his family and friends. Mr. Ardisana was the husband of 38 years to Corinne Ardisana (nee Ciemiega); the father of Laura (the late Edward) Dagdick, Mark (Debbi) Ardisana, Katherine (Steven) Domian, Robert (Karen) Ardisana, Rhiannon (Travis) Cleveland, Racquel (Joseph) Penney and Ryanne (William) Hanley; the grandfather of Richard Graves, Jonathan Graves, Bryan Ardisana, Mark Ardisana, Cassandra Quinton, Steven Domian, Devin Hard, A.J. Ardisana, Grayson Cleveland, Kennedy Cleveland and the late Charles Graves; the great grandfather of six; brother of eight; brother-in-law of Doreen (Charles) Christensen; and the uncle and great uncle of many nieces and nephews. At this time family has elected to keep services and interment private. Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements. Those wishing to express condolences online can visit HitzemanFuneral.com. If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Robert John Ardisana Family.
Lynn A. Larsen-LaMantia, 60 Award-wining kitchen designer Lynn A. Larsen-LaMantia, 60, of Riverside, died Aug. 12, 2020. She received a master’s degree in architecture at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and worked alongside her husband, Joe, since 1997 with their own kitchen design firm,
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Landmark Kitchen Design. Ms. Larsen-LaMantia became an award-winning certified kitchen and bathroom designer. In her younger years, she enjoyed riding her bike, swimming, skiing and participating in triathlons. She grew to become a world traveler and enjoyed traveling to New Orleans often with her husband, Joe. For the past 25 years, Lynn and Joe lived in Riverside where she enjoyed all its historic beauty. She was the wife of Joseph LaMantia; the daughter of Dr. Vernon and the late Mary Larsen; the sister of Catherine (Bob Pardo) and Anne Larsen; the aunt of Erinn and Shannen; the stepmom of Anthony (Ashley), Matthew (Lauren) LaMantia and Lindsay (Jordan) Schuster; the step grandma of Rosie Schuster and Jackson LaMantia; daughter- in-law of Tony (Jane) LaMantia; and the sister-in-law of Andy (Leah), Tony, JR, Robert LaMantia and Nancy (Michael) Gacek. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lynn’s name to the Riverside Historical Museum, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, 60546 are appreciated. Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, Riverside, handled arrangements.
Patricia A. Stejskal, 65 Dedicated volunteer loved the outdoors Patricia Anne Stejskal, 65, of Mundelein and formerly of Brookfield, died suddenly on Aug. 12, 2020. Born Sept. 19, 1954 in Chicago to Joseph and Dorothy Stejskal, she was raised in Brookfield. Ms. Stejskal was a graduate of Illinois State University and became a teacher at Argo High School. She was given the opportunity to become a missionary and teach in Taiwan at Morrison Academy. This is where she met her best friend of 39 years, Nancy Cassell. She and Nancy were not blood-related sisters, but they were sisters in Christ. Ms. Stejskal worked for the American Red Cross for 19 years and then for McHenry County College until her retirement on May 1, 2020. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed canoeing, birdwatching, hiking, snowshoeing and was always up for any adventure. Ms. Stejskal also loved serving people and her community. She was a member of Gracepointe Church in Mundelein, where she was active in volunteering and leadership. She was on the Freemont Township Board of Trustees for two years and loved volunteering in her community. Her giving and servitude never stopped even after her death. She was an organ donor and will touch many lives long after her passing. One thing everyone knew about Pat was that she loved Jesus. Her joy and contagious smile left anyone who met her, even for just a moment, changed forever. She always had a smile and always had a kind word to say about everyone. She was the devoted and loving daughter of Joseph and Dorothy Stejskal; the sister of Joseph (Mildrey) Stejskal; the best friend and housemate of Nancy Cassell; Aunt Pat to Joe Stejskal IV and Sara (Ben) Dirks; great aunt to Bryson and Piper Dirks; and sister-in-law to Nancy Eckert. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 22 at Gracepointe Church, 1221 W. Maple Ave., Mundelein, at 9:30 a.m. It is an outdoor service, so please bring a lawn chair and a mask.
