Forty Years Ago

Bob Marin, a member of the Forest Park Youth Commission, submitted a sad letter to the editor. It expressed grave doubts about the continuance of the group he represented. Excerpted, here is the gist of his letter:

“Much time and energy has been put into local youth causes,” Marin said, “yet the result is painfully disappointing. Unless citizens give less lip service and sacrifice some time over the next 30 days, I recommend that the Youth Commission be dissolved and its programs abandoned.”

And then there was the following Memoriam notice:

“In loving memory of my son, Alexander Kitcheos, killed in action JUNE 27, 1944, 502ND Parachute Division: Ach, dear Almighty God,/They tearing my son’s life apart./If I only found the place/And speak to God face to face,/I will ask him tenderly/Why he permit something to be/When he is live, but I can see.”-Loving Mother.

The English may be imperfect, yet not the love.

From the June 1965 issues of the Forest Park Review

Thirty Years Ago

The wrecker’s crane is poised to do what it must do-knock down the venerable village hall. Built in 1915, the landmark gives way to its modern, low profile replacement next door. Forest Parkers had a last chance to wander its halls the rest of the week, when the village held a moving sale.

“Dear Sally: I’m a girl of 23 who six months ago suffered a broken romance. I was really shaken up for quite awhile, but then I met another young man. When we began dating I told him about my tragic experience and made him promise to keep our relationship strictly on a friendship basis; that I wasn’t receptive to any talk of love. Well, up to now he has kept his promise exceedingly well-and now I find I’ve fallen hard for him, and I’m sure he feels the same way, but doesn’t dare break his promise. How can I build a fire under him?

“Recuperated.”

“Dear Recuperated: Simple. Just tell him frankly that you have completely recovered, that you’re ready to begin living again, and that he is released from his promise.”

From the July 1975 issues of the Forest Park Review

Twenty Years Ago

It was the three-way unfolding of a tragedy. As noted here in May, 4 year-old Sammy Tang was struck and killed as he darted onto an Oak Park street between parked cars. He was the son of Huu Gia and Tina Tang, owners of a Chinese restaurant in Forest Park. Then in June, possibly blaming himself for his son’s death, the father apparently lost control and inflicted superficial stab wounds on his wife and two other children. He was admitted to the psychiatric ward of Cook County Hospital.

Finally, the Rev. Timothy Fung, of the church in front of which the child died, established a committee to set up an apartment for the Tang family. At the time, they had been living under crowded conditions with a relative. Another donation fund was set up in Forest Park.

On another somber, yet hopeful note, Mayor and Roberta Marunde were gladdened at the release of their daughter, Kimary, 25, from brain surgery. Kimary was just beginning her career as a lawyer when her illness was diagnosed.

Time for a smile. This is the best I can pull from the old smile file: “Sins of omission are those sins we haven’t gotten around to committing yet.”

From the June/July 1985 issues of the Forest Park Review

Ten Years Ago

If all else fails, and it nearly always does-steal from your fellow columnist. Here are some John Rice suggestions from ten years back to raise revenues here:

 Toll Booths. With traffic soaring through our village leaving pollution in its wake, we should install these booths at Harlem and DesPlaines Avenues. Coming and going at 40 cents a pop, said rice, we could really raise some revenue.

 Cemetery Inspectors. Tombstones keep falling, sometimes with tragic results. About time we had a tombstone inspector. Just slap stickers on the leaners. When they topple, tax ’em.

 Madison Street Amusement Tax. Many out-of-towners visit our bars for laughs and entertainment. It’s about time these smilers got taxed, said Rice. Bartenders would do the leveling, but only on patrons who are having a good time.

There were two more, but I think our Idea Man spotted an army of white coats on the horizon. Thanks, John.

Who Remembers? mononucleosis (Very popular with the ’80s Boomers; not so much with Gen-X.) … Tony Orlando … Dawn … Dr. Albert Schweitzer … Reverence for Life … Louie Nye … Rhubarb pie … shew-fly pie (and apple pan dowdie) a sock in the eye … Someone gettin’ high? … Birdie, Bye-Bye … Fred Friendly … Sid Vicious … the Balfour Declaration … Tetley’s Tea … Paul Anka … Ford & Hines … Burns & Allen … Roe v. Wade … Who wasss Roe? Who was Wade?

From the July/August 1995 issues of the Forest Park Review.