Newer member Alicia Cosky, first ward alderperson for Sycamore, gave her Classification Speech at this week’s Rotary meeting.  Cosky hails from Detroit and comes from a family of five children.  Her grandparents emigrated to the U.S. from Poland.  Her father taught high school English, and Latin, and was his school’s debate coach while her mother remained busy raising their family. She said both her parents instilled the values of faith and education in their children as they grew up.  Alicia’s spouse is Sandy and they have been together for 28 years.

 

Alicia attended Dominican High School in Detroit where her interest in politics took hold (she held various class offices eventually becoming class president).  She worked her way through college earning a degree in health and physical education from Wayne State University.  After three years of teaching Junior High, she got a graduate assistant job at Northern Illinois University allowing her to pursue her master’s degree.  This was followed by 14 years employment with campus recreation during which time she earned her doctorate.  An opportunity to join Aurora University opened up and Alicia was Chair of their Physical Education Program,  Director of the School of Health, and then Dean of Faculty Development, retiring in 2020 after 28 years of service.

 

Cosky has a lengthy list of volunteer activities.  She was Director of DeKalb Corn Fest Races for 25 years,  regional coordinator for Northern Illinois Senior Olympics for 15 years, a CPR site director and member of the County CPR coordinating committee, a national coordinator and trainer in the Fitness Program for Older Adults, exercise instructor at Oak Crest Retirement Center, a volunteer with DeKalb County Hospice, a Hope Haven meal preparer, and a volunteer with DeKalb County Community Gardens food distribution through Westminster Presbyterian Church.  She is a firm believer in health and fitness awareness as one ages.  She has run in five marathons, the first back in 1975, and continues a program of walking, biking, strength training, and balance and core workouts.  Her hobbies include growing hybrid Tea Roses and doing family photography.

 

Sycamore Rotary is happy you’ve joined us as part of your retirement plans.

August 20, 1833 – 23^rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, is born in North Bend, Ohio.  He was the grandson of the ninth President, William Henry Harrison.

 

August 23, 1912 – Actor/Dancer Gene Kelly (whose many credits and innovations include dancing with an umbrella in the 1952 musical film “Singin’ in the Rain”) is born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

August 21, 1936 – College and Pro-Basketball Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He was a 4-time NBA MVP, and 13-time All Star while playing for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and LA Lakers.  He won NBA championships with the 76ers and the Lakers.

 

August 25, 1918 – American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein is born in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

August 21, 1959 – President Dwight Eisenhower signs a proclamation admitting Hawaii as the 50^th State of the Union.

 

August 23, 1927 – Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti are executed in Massachusetts for the killing of two people during a factory payroll robbery.  Prior to the executions, there are protests claiming unfair treatment of the pair because they had radical political leanings and were Italian.

 

August 24, 79 AD – Vesuvius, an active volcano in southern Italy, erupts and destroys the city of Pompeii and also the cities of Stabiae, Oplontis, and Herculaneum.

 

August 24 and 25, 1814 – During the War of 1812, Washington, D.C. is invaded by British forces who burn the Capitol, the White House, and other public buildings.