The SCC Lifelong Learning Center of Oak Park-River Forest area and beyond (formal title Senior Citizens’ Center Oak Park-River Forest), 414 S. Oak Park Ave., each year for the past four years has honored distinguished community members with its Ulyssean Award. These awards, first presented during the Center’s 50th Anniversary Award Dinner in 2004, are named for Ulysses, the main character in the Odyssey by Homer. Ulysses had many adventures and challenges encountered after he was 50 years old. John McLeish describes successful aging as a “Ulyssean Journey,” one in which people continue to grow, create and develop.
The Ulyssean Award honors individuals in the community who exemplify this lifestyle and philosophy. The specific criteria for the award are: an individual must be age 50 or above, they must have demonstrated commitment to the continued quest for lifelong learning, and they must have had significant involvement in and made contributions to the community which have served to broaden our social, educational and/or cultural horizons.
The following individuals have previously been honored:
2004 Redd Griffin and Sherlynn Reid
2005 Virginia Cassin and F. Dean Lueking
2006 Lee Brooke and Chatka Ruggiero
2007 Gus Kostopulos and Gysbert & Sylvia Menninga
The 2008 Ulyssean Award winners are Roberta L. Raymond and Norbert Teclaw.
The Senior Citizens’ Center Oak Park River Forest is the oldest senior center in Illinois, established in 1954. This year’s celebration took place at a gala banquet on Sept. 5 at the Carleton Hotel. Local auctioneer Jim Bohenstengel conducted a live auction of several donated items among which are some beautiful handmade items produced by the talented older adult artist members of the Center.
The Center provides opportunities for individuals to take classes in art and painting, ceramics, quilting, weaving, lapidary, foreign language instruction and wood shop. They can participate in creative writing workshops, investment club, duplicate bridge and the Men’s Club.
-Pat Koko
Roberta L. Raymond
Known to most community residents as “Bobbie” Raymond, she is a compact dynamo who channels her energy into whatever project she undertakes. The Housing Center grew from her master’s thesis in the 1960s and she worked to unite many around the concept of a community that is racially diverse.
Bobbie was a child actress appearing in television shows, commercials, radio shows, in films and on stage before retiring to concentrate on sociology and integration.
She served on the original committees that created “A Day in Our Village” and the Oak Park Exchange Congress. She was a key player in STEP, which helped Oak Park to recycle paper before the “green” movement became the popular cause it is today.
Bobbie is an artist who teaches and runs a weekly figure drawing class at the Art League. She is also an author with numerous articles and one book (so far) but finds time to devote to many volunteer activities from The French Club to the OPRF High School Alumni Association. She works for, or serves on, boards of the Hemingway Foundation, the Housing Center, Oak Park Art League and more.
Bobbie is a true DOOPer (Dear Old Oak Parker)
Norbert M. Teclaw
Norb has been a teacher his entire life, even before he formally became a teacher. He has a passion for involving those around him in a learning experience whenever possible.
For 30 years he taught science, specifically physics, at Oak Park and River Forest High School. After retirement, he coordinated the Triton College Adult Education Program at the high school.
Education, especially helping disadvantaged students achieve their potential has been the hallmark of his life. He worked with CAM (Christian Action Ministry) and later with its successor (Christian Alternative Academy) CCA. He is president emeritus of that group. He also worked with District 97 in the 1960s to help plan the future of elementary schools in Oak Park.
For the past nine years, he has organized a Percy Julian Symposium that helps students go beyond their limits and work toward their potential as scientists.
Norb loves to travel and this love has been aided by a great voice. Both he and his wife, Nancy, sing with several groups and have been able to combine travel with choir concerts in this country, Europe and Russia.
Although he only came to Oak Park in 1962, he has devoted his energies to improving our community.