Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania’s Columns
  • Advertise
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Aaron Hanania
      • Steve Metsch
      • Steve Neuhaus
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
    • Submit a Press Release
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Seniors
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Court orders ex to provide transportation so Dad can see his daughter Civil Rights
  • Brandon Johnson leads a protest demanding to defund the Police. Phot courtesy of the Vallas for Mayor Campaign
    Johnson Refuses to Answer Whether He Would Pursue Stricter Penalties for Repeat Gun Offenders At WGN Debate  Chicago
  • Orland Fire Protection District extinguish fire in apartment building at 144th and Ravinia Sunday Jan. 30, 2022
    One fatality in Orland Hills Home fire Cook County
  • Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to lie and slander people Blogger
  • Writing my very first news story that ran in the Messenger Press Baby Boomers
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Senator Michael Hastings supports bill to protect consumers from pesky auto-renewal charges Features
  • Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8 Entertainment
  • Paul Vallas candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023. Photo courtesy of the Paul Vallas website
    Paul Vallas calls out Johnson’s lies walking back calls to defund and undermine police Chicago
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Psychological support for divorcing dads topic of CLE at Leving firm Chicago
  • Ronette McCarthy, a candidate for Mayor of Palos Park, addresses the Palos Park Village Board on the issue of expanding Wu's House parking into land adjacent to the huge restaurant on the east.
    Whoa is Wu’s House in Palos Park Blogger
  • Pekau campaign signs violate village ordinances News
  • Rotary Club of Orland Park Logo
    Orland Park Rotary offering scholarships to graduating seniors Education
  • Carl Sandburg High School, Orland Park, School District 230
    Carl Sandburg band invited to London’s New Year’s Day Parade 2024;  Education
  • Higher Education veteran Tracy Sullivan announces candidacy for Moraine Valley Board News
  • Chicago ALderman Raymond Lopez announces his candidacy for Mayor of Chicago on Wednesday April 6, 2022. Photo courtesy of Ray Lopez announcement video
    Lopez and O’Shea endorse Vallas in Chicago mayor race Chicago

Remembering Summit Mayor Joe Strzelczyk

Posted on May 22, 2015September 28, 2018 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Remembering Summit Mayor Joe Strzelczyk
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Loading

Summit Illinois Mayor Joseph Strzelczyk died Sunday, May 17, a few days before he would have celebrated his 76th birthday. Strzelczyk was a people’s mayor, kind, generous and caring. Despite his small handful of relentless critics who falsely claimed he was absent during his recent battle with cancer, Strzelczyk worked hard for the citizens of the Village of Summit right up until he died, surrounded by friends and family

By Ray Hanania

Mayor Joe Strzelczyk (1939-2015).
Mayor Joe Strzelczyk (1939-2015).

I’ve known Joe Strzelczyk for more than 30 years. I interviewed him years ago when I was hosting a Saturday and Sunday radio show on WLS about what was then his favorite topic, softball.

“Mayor Joe” as he was fondly called, loved softball almost as much as he loved the Village of Summit where he lived all of his life and where he entered politics in 1990 as a trustee. In 1997, he became the suburban hamlet’s mayor, a job he held until Sunday (May 17, 2015), when he died.

The thing about Joe Strzelczyk is that he was a good human being. I never heard him get angry at anyone. His small handful of critics – something every good government official will attract – were relentless in their criticism, even up until this past week, falsely claiming that Joe was absent from his duties.

He wasn’t. Summit was always on his mind. It was his life.

When he called me at the end of last year asking if I could help with media, I agreed doing it mainly because I enjoyed the opportunity to also sit with him and reminisce about his life, local suburban politics, and the changes in Summit.

He was at his office often, even during the past few months when his cancer worsened. Yet he was still engaging. He wasn’t distracted. His mind was focused and deliberate, although he was soft-spoken which was a part of his kind and generous character.

Joe and I also shared our military service. We both served during the Vietnam War, him at the start of the war beginning in 1962 in the Army, and me at the end of the war in the Air Force. He later served five years in the Army Reserves and I served 12 years in the Air National Guard.

He also knew a lot of the people I covered as a reporter, although like I said, Mayor Joe loved softball as much as government service. So we shared remembrances about stories big and small.

The biggest challenge I had with Mayor Joe was spelling his name. My dyslexia would always kick in and I’d often mix the “e” and the “y” in his last name.

But I never confused the fact that Joe Strzelczyk loved the Village of Summit and he loved the people who lived there. He probably knew every one of the village’s 12,000 residents by name.

The real tragedy in suburban government, especially in the Southwest Suburbs, is that the mainstream Chicago news media – the “big media if you will – always ignore the good that southwest suburban officials do and they focus on the missteps and mistakes. Joe made some mistakes. But who is perfect?

When it comes to his public service, though, Joe Strzelczyk was a “Babe Ruth.” His service was a grand slam that helped get Summit back on its financial feet, bringing down crime, and maintaining an unprecedented openness with his constituents, which is one reason why he always won re-election, the longest serving Summit Mayor, with such large voter support.

Ironically, Mayor Joe died a few days before his 76th birthday, May 21.

I know the people of Summit will miss you Joe. You were a great public official. Kind. Humble and willing to take criticism the way great baseball teams sometimes lose a game.

I know you’re up there in that great softball diamond in the sky, giving advice to others on how to do the right thing in public service while waiting for your turn at bat.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter. He is President/CEO of Urban Strategies Group and has done some media consulting for the Village of Summit. He can be reached at rghanania@gmail.com.)

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Court orders ex to provide transportation so Dad can see his daughter - March 23, 2023
  • Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to lie and slander people - March 21, 2023
  • Writing my very first news story that ran in the Messenger Press - March 19, 2023
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Baby Boomers, Features, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:government, Illinois, Joe Strzelczyk, Mayor Joe, obituary, politics, summit

Post navigation

Previous Post: Are handicap parking privileges being abused?
Next Post: Would Chicago just stop whining already?

Related Posts

  • Remembering the Daily Newspaper Baby Boomers
  • Summit’s Katie 3rd in “Voice” News
  • Gary Grasso, Republican Candidate for Congress int he 6th District
    Grasso accuses Pekau of blatantly distorting his own record to deceive voters Cook County
  • Convicted sex predator Anthony Martin, senior vice president at Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison's company Morrison Security. Photo courtesy of the Cook County Courts
    Sean Morrison drops the ball fighting for Cook County Republicans Blogger
  • Hollywood in Lyons News
  • Wolves Hockey. Photo courses of the Wolves
    Wolves Hockey Playoff tickets on sale starting Thursday Briefs

More Related Articles

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Sanders and Cummings blast Drug Company obstruction of Generic Drug price hike probe Baby Boomers
Dads' Rights attorney Jeffery M. Leving with State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford. Rep Ford joins Dads’ Rights Attorney Leving on WVON & WCPT Radio Cook County
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Scavenger Sale info 2022 Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas changes 2022 Scavenger Sale to benefit bidders and communities Chicago
Domino’s is looking to hire 2,000 new employees across 113 franchise-owned locations across Chicagoland. All of the new positions offered are for delivery drivers, pizza makers, customer service Domino’s Pizza to hire 2,000 more in Chicagoland Business
View of the Grand Canyon. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania Lifetime Senior Passes to National Parks increased Baby Boomers
(From left) Chief Schofield, cardiac victim Raymond Morrissey, Lisa Morrissey, Lifetime Employees Jason Fox and Jen Strickland, and Lt. Mark Duke. Orland Fire Protection District presents lifesaving commendations News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to lie and slander people
    March 21, 2023
  • Writing my very first news story that ran in the Messenger Press
    March 19, 2023
  • Ronette McCarthy, a candidate for Mayor of Palos Park, addresses the Palos Park Village Board on the issue of expanding Wu's House parking into land adjacent to the huge restaurant on the east.
    Whoa is Wu’s House in Palos Park
    March 14, 2023
  • Foxx policies punish police rather than the criminals
    March 8, 2023
  • Pekau silences accountability to expand his political power
    February 27, 2023
  • Terrorist Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin who is guilty of massacring civilians in his war against Ukraine. Photo credit Wikipedia
    America should stand with Ukraine and set aside internal politics
    February 24, 2023

Subscribe

  • Ray-Hanania-Newsletter-300-wide-Banner.jpg

Trending

  • Ronette McCarthy, a candidate for Mayor of Palos Park, addresses the Palos Park Village Board on the issue of expanding Wu's House parking into land adjacent to the huge restaurant on the east. Whoa is Wu’s House... Whoa is Wu's House in Palos Park Residents in Palos Park thought they had t... posted on March 14, 2023
  • Orland Park Mayor Keith P... Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau continues to lie and slander people By Ray Ha... posted on March 21, 2023
  • Brandon Johnson leads a protest demanding to defund the Police. Phot courtesy of the Vallas for Mayor Campaign Johnson Refuses to Answer... Johnson Refuses to Answer Whether He Would Pursue Stricter Penalties for Re... posted on March 22, 2023
  • Karie Friling the former Director of Development Services and former Asst. Village Manager for Orland Park, Illinois, discusses with host Ray Hanania, the proposed referendum introduced and pushed by Mayor keith Pekau to eliminate the professional Village Manager and Managerial Form of Government. Former Orland Park Asst V... Former Orland Park Asst Village Manager analyzes misguided referendum to el... posted on February 23, 2023
  • Pekau campaign signs viol... Pekau campaign signs violate village ordinances Pekau and his endorsed cand... posted on March 13, 2023
  • NEWS
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Court orders ex to provide transportation so Dad can see his daughter
    March 23, 2023
  • Brandon Johnson leads a protest demanding to defund the Police. Phot courtesy of the Vallas for Mayor Campaign
    Johnson Refuses to Answer Whether He Would Pursue Stricter Penalties for Repeat Gun Offenders At WGN Debate 
    March 22, 2023
  • Orland Fire Protection District extinguish fire in apartment building at 144th and Ravinia Sunday Jan. 30, 2022
    One fatality in Orland Hills Home fire
    March 22, 2023
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Senator Michael Hastings supports bill to protect consumers from pesky auto-renewal charges
    March 18, 2023
  • Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    March 17, 2023
  • Paul Vallas candidate for Chicago Mayor 2023. Photo courtesy of the Paul Vallas website
    Paul Vallas calls out Johnson’s lies walking back calls to defund and undermine police
    March 15, 2023
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

The Political Pundit

Political Pundit Aug. 24, 2021. Taliban thanks president for boxes of MAGA hats
  • WORD PRESS REVIEWS
  • MyCloud by Western Digital, a hard drive that doesn't last. Don't purchase Western Digital.
    Western Digital tubes its loyal customers for profit
    October 17, 2021
  • Macho Themes website front page. Don't buy their themes. They don't work
    Difficulties with Macho Themes for WordPress
    August 21, 2021
  • TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Senator Michael Hastings supports bill to protect consumers from pesky auto-renewal charges
    March 18, 2023
  • Wreaths Across America Radio logo
    Wreaths Across America Radio Announces New Strategic Partnerships with Veteran Radio Programs
    February 6, 2023
  • Dr. Helen Edwards Fermilab particle physicist
    Foster, Durbin, Duckworth introduce resolution to name Fermilab Research Center after renowned physicist Dr. Helen Edwards
    February 3, 2023

Follow Ray Hanania at
Gab.com, MeWe.com
IDobbinate.com,
Twitter, Facebook

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

First Installment of the Property Tax

What We’re Reading

Arab News Newspaper Leading English Language Publication in the GulfArab News Newspaper

Ray Hanania on Politics
SW News Newspaper Group

  • SPORTS
  • Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    Major League Rugby 2023 Championship to take place at SeatGeek Stadium July 8
    March 17, 2023
  • Chicago Wolves 2022-2023 season
    Chicago Wolves top Stars for second win in a row
    October 25, 2022
  • Stagg Marching Band Pit Crew as efficient as a NASCAR pit stop! The team that does a lot of the work to help the Stagg High school band perform works behind the scenes like a NASCAR pit stop. The students are profiled in this feature
    Stagg Marching Band Pit Crew as efficient as a NASCAR pit stop!
    August 31, 2022
  • Soccer. Photo by Md Mahdi on Unsplash
    International soccer returns to SeatGeek Stadium
    August 7, 2022
  • NEWS RELEASES
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Psychological support for divorcing dads topic of CLE at Leving firm
    March 14, 2023
  • Tony Award Winner Robert Falls returns to Goodman Theatre to direct his adaptation of "The Cherry Orchard" Photo courtesy Goodman Theatre
    Tony Award Winner Robert Falls returns to Goodman Theatre to direct his adaptation of “The Cherry Orchard”
    March 6, 2023
  • Popular Ziyad Brand Green Za'ater. Photo courtesy of Ziyad Brothers
    Ziyad Brothers reports that the appeal of Mediterranean foods continues to rise among consumers
    February 16, 2023
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    No-contact order protects child from reported abuse
    February 16, 2023
  • Author Patrick Girondi
    Prominent producer to write screen adaptation of story on the fight against Thalassemia
    February 8, 2023
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • Ronette McCarthy, a candidate for Mayor of Palos Park, addresses the Palos Park Village Board on the issue of expanding Wu's House parking into land adjacent to the huge restaurant on the east.
    Whoa is Wu’s House in Palos Park
    March 14, 2023
  • Popular Ziyad Brand Green Za'ater. Photo courtesy of Ziyad Brothers
    Ziyad Brothers reports that the appeal of Mediterranean foods continues to rise among consumers
    February 16, 2023
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Announces Call for Transportation and Community Grant Program Applications
    January 23, 2023
  • money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash
    Buckner unveils plan to help businesses and strengthen job
    January 19, 2023

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Click this link to watch or use the widget below:

Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.
Email Ray Hanania for more information about performing at your event at rghanania@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme