Our Public Works Department gets well-deserved praise for the excellent services it provides. It starts with the leadership. Director Sal Stella succeeded John Doss on July 1, 2021. He continues the department’s tradition of providing top-notch snow removal, maintaining water quality and managing our urban forest. I love seeing those “I love public works” signs on display.
Sal is a hands-on director. He helps out at every public event. He also works behind the scenes, giving teenagers their first summer jobs. His department is very responsive about disposing of dead branches and dead squirrels. Recently, I had a new request for Sal. A Forest Park Review reader wants a series profiling the residents who have had honorary streets named for them.
We first had to identify all the residents who have received this honor. Village Hall didn’t have a comprehensive list of the honorees. The clerk referred me to Sal Stella. After all, he’s the guy who climbs the ladder to unveil the honorary street signs. Sal, though, didn’t have a list either. So he used the old-school approach of sending an employee to drive around town and inventory all the honorary streets.
Sal then sent me a list of 22 names and the locations of each of their honorary streets. I was astonished by this same-day service. Many of the names on the list are familiar to me but others aren’t. For example, I was not acquainted with Dr. Austin Prabhu, whose “Dr. Austin Prabhu Way” was dedicated by then Mayor Anthony Calderone at 900 Dunlop, on May 26, 2018.
Dr. Prabhu emigrated from Bombay, India in 1978. He earned his PhD in Business and in 1981 moved to Forest Park, where he became active with Lions International and continues his work with that organization, alongside his wife, Karen. Dr. Prabhu is an internationally-renowned humanitarian whose work helps vulnerable populations. He is known for being happy, humble, honest and filled with gratitude.
Another couple with downhome values, Anthony and Dorothy Spinelli, were honored in 2014. Their honorary sign at 1000 Circle was located near the couple’s longtime home. They were married in 1937 and moved to Forest Park in 1948. They had three kids, Antoinette, Arthur and Benjamin. The boys were among the first Little Leaguers in town and their dad was scoutmaster of their Boy Scout troop.
Angelo drove a truck for 62 years and was a member of the AFL-CIO. Dorothy loved to read, and make, old-world recipes. ABC News covered their 77th wedding anniversary. Their secrets to a long marriage were communication and family ties. Angelo and Dorothy had seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. They both passed away at the age of 102.
“Isaac Beal Way” is located at 800 Marengo. Beal was honored for volunteering as a Neighborhood Watch Ambassador for 30 years. He shared stories with Mayor Rory Hoskins about facing racism in the South, serving in the U.S. Air Force and working for the CTA. He also babysat future mayor, Richard M. Daley.
Beal declined to be interviewed by the Review. His wife, Mary Beth, explained that he was shy. Beal was humbled and grateful for the recognition. He said, “I try to do right for Forest Park. I love Forest Park and I will continue for as long as I live.”
So, there we have it — a sampling of honorees from completely different backgrounds who share the salt-of-the-earth values of Forest Park. We still have 19 more honorees to write about from the list Sal Stella compiled.
Meanwhile, we look forward to watching Sal and his Public Works crew defend their title at the annual Casket Races this October.
