deLacey family helps with gym makeover
Dundee Township residents don't have to think hard to be reminded of the contributions Dorothy and Eugene deLacey made to area sports and education programs.
Walk into Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville and see the trophy display built around Eugene's legacy.
For nearly 30 years, he coached boys' basketball at Dundee High School until 1959. During his tenure, he earned the reputation as being the winningest coach, with 691 victories under his whistle. That included a state championship.
As for Dorothy, she was a champion of students and their educational programs. She fought her sometimes fiery fight while serving as a member and president of Community Unit District 300 school board and on Immanuel Lutheran School's Board of Education.
She held former Gov. Jim Thompson to task for more education money from the state's lottery and lambasted state lawmakers for approving legislation without giving school districts the funds to implement it.
"Right up until the days before her death last year (aunt) Dorothy was on the telephone calling people and asking them for money to support (Immanuel) school," said her nephew, Christ Wendt.
She died at the age of 95.
During her life, Dorothy earned her own trophy when District 300 administrators built and named a school, the Dorothy deLacey Early Childhood Education Center, in her honor.
After their deaths, though the honors and contributions continue. Last month, the couple's family donated more than $5,000 to the East Dundee private Lutheran school so its tattered gymnasium floor could be resanded and refinished.
"That money really helped out a lot," said Ken Becker, Immanuel principal. "Over the years we knew we had to do something with the floor, but we didn't have the money to do it. It hadn't been refinished in years.
"The new floor brightens up the entire gym."
New emblems of the school mascot, the Eagles, were also put on the floor.
"Both my aunt and uncle loved sports and kids," Wendt said. "We wanted to make sure the donation was put to good use."
The school is along Van Buren Street.