Oak Park Township Supervisor Clarmarie Keenan, who was 66 years old, died July 30.
Keenan was born Sept. 30, 1957, according to a Nelson Funeral Home obituary. She lived in Oak Park for 30 years. Keenan was first elected as the township supervisor in May 2017, according to her LinkedIn. She also served as a trustee on the township board for more than 18 years before that.
She served as the executive director of the Nineteenth Century Club from 1992 to 2003 and as president of the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce. The Nineteenth Century Club has long been a leader in charitable activities, education and civic involvement initiatives, according to its website.
“As executive director [of the Nineteenth Century Club], Clarmarie brought a degree of professionalism to the position that had not been present before,” Mary Ann Porucznik, a historian at the Nineteenth Century Club, told Wednesday Journal.
During Keenan’s term as executive director, Porucznik said the club changed its name, welcomed male members, had the first “Painted Lady House Walk,” and increased scholarship funding. The club also undertook a large fundraising campaign and building renovation to make the clubhouse accessible to all during Keenan’s term, Porucznik said.
Keenan was also a member of the Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest and a member of Old Saint Patrick’s Church in Chicago, according to the obituary. From May 2017 to June 2020, she was a development manager at the Forest Preserve Foundation, according to her LinkedIn.
A private visitation and interment will be held for Keenan, according to the obituary, which asks for well-wishers to make contributions to charity instead of sending flowers.
Village President Vicki Scaman said she’d like to share her condolences with Keenan’s mother, close family and friends. Keenan has a long list of accomplishments and service to Oak Park, Scaman said.
“That commitment to service was so center to who she was as a person,” Scaman said. The village president previously worked at the township as a grants coordinator.
Scaman recalled how she used to write an inspirational quote of the day on a whiteboard in the township. Keenan adopted that practice when she left, Scaman said. Scaman also remembered when she, Keenan and other female leaders in the community would get together at dinners to share support.
Those who knew Keenan also knew that she was proud of her Irish heritage and often wore Irish jewelry, Scaman said.
Keenan will be remembered in Oak Park’s history, Scaman said.
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