FASHION

Oak Brook Women’s Club Activities Over The Years

BY MARCIA J. SPINGOLA, President, OBWC

In the early 1960’s the Oak Brook Women’s Club was more of a welcoming committee to people moving to this particular suburb from the Chicagoland area. In 1967, it was formally founded as the Oak Brook Women’s Club. At that time, Oak Brook was a burgeoning community of new businesses, residents and schools looking to establish roots in what was surely to become a very popular and highly desirable destination.

The women of the OBWC were young mothers and homemakers looking to forge friendships and engage in like minded activities while their young children were in school. Moving forward in time, many of those young women evolved into professions taking them out of the home and into the business world as well as the political arena. Members such as Karen Sherman Bushy who served as the first Village President, served two terms as President of the DuPage Mayor’s and Managers, Charlotte Pruss and Linda Gonnella have both served in the capacity of Village Clerk for several terms. Kathy Maher was President of Maher Lumber and in her spare time almost single handedly turned a crumbling school building into a museum dedicated to the history and development of Oak Brook

We also have members involved in the fine arts, most notably Rebecca Childers Caleel, Sculptor, whose pieces are much sought after and appear in private homes and government buildings. Other members took career paths in the private sector; corporate attorneys, physicans, PHD’s, accountants and college administrators among others. Another faction of the club and no less important are members who built stellar careers in the volunteer world; giving of their time in local hospitals, elementary schools and community outreach. Over the years the OBWC has made philanthropic donations to various Oak Brook organizations and causes such as: providing protective vests to the Police Department, new stretchers for the Fire and Ambulance Department, display cases for the Library and monetary donations to the Heritage Center.

To keep our friendships strong and our network viable, the OBWC provides members and guests with a monthly luncheon and live program at one of Oak Brook’s many fine restaurants and venues. Our membership has a variety of interests and we provide entertainment based on those interests. We have featured Jorge Holmes and Diva Montell,

historic re enactors, Leslie Goddard and Martina Mathisen, concert violinist Jennifer Silk, national authors Renee Rosen and Diane Henrique, rock star ex pat Jorie Butler Kent, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Native American Silver expert, Janet Scott Peterson, news anchor Ben Bradley and the list goes on.

We also feature activity groups which are the heart of the Oak Brook Women’s Club. For instance, we offer, bridge, mah jongg, theatre, various gourmet groups, fine arts, tennis, 9 and 18 hole golf, bowling, book review and studio arts and a common thread. We truly believe we have something for every one.

Our club is as diverse in our ages, activities and functions as is our community which we so proudly support.

This is our 57th year and we continue to welcome new members who are residents of Oak Brook. For membership information, please contact Debbie Stangarone at trulyblessed@gmail.com.

Oak Brook Women’s Club Hears About 19th Century “The Social Graces”

BY LARRY ATSEFF

On November 23, at Maggiano’s in Oak Brook, nearly 50 members of the Oak Brook Women’s Club got a real sense of what the “Gilded Age” was like in the late nineteenth century, thanks to Chicagoan Renee Rosen, and her new best seller, “The Social Graces”. She specializes in historical fiction which combines facts with a very active imagination to connect the dots on how people reacted to historical events with their actions and their conversations. As she puts it, “After I delve into a period of history, I can start hearing the people involved talking to one another and explaining to me what is going on and why, as if I am there.”

The book certainly rings true. It covers the late 19th century among Manhattan’s upper crust where a legendary battle royale raged on for decades between “old rich” Caroline Astor and upstart “new rich” Alva Vanderbilt for leadership of New York City’s high society. Since money was never an issue, these ladies continually outdid each other. The audience gasped when Renee explained that the elaborate events these ladies created, in today’s dollars, would regularly run into the several millions. Renee narrated and shared actual pictures of the times, in detail, with a slide show. These were times when women, especially wives of business and industry leaders, were quite limited. They weren’t allowed to have a job, or be in business, or be in any outside-the-home endeavor. Their “job” was to take care of the home and the children, while their husbands worked and made the income. Certain women of means didn’t accept that role and turned to social events and activities, like the opera, or creating lavish dinners, and events like elaborate balls where you wanted to see who was there and you wanted to make sure you were seen. They put themselves in charge of establishing fashions such as the décor of their homes and the clothes they might wear when they were to be seen in public. Importantly, they also used these events to raise funds for worthwhile causes. All in all, Renee captured the age and the drama, and club members appreciated the presentation. From Barnes & Noble: “… the book sweeps through three decades and based on true events; this is the mesmerizing story of two fascinating and complicated women going headto-head, behaving badly, and discovering what is truly at stake.” President Marci Spingola told the group they can look forward to more interesting presentations like this in the future.

Gopal Lalmalani

Designed in 1894, had no legal protection from demolition for redevelopment. It will be restored and protected with a preservation easement by new preservation-minded buyers.

BY CHUCK FIELDMAN

Gopal Lalmalani has enjoyed practicing cardiology for more than 40 years.

But the 72-year-old Oak Brook Village President has put much of his heart into serving the people of Oak Brook over the past 15 years.

Lalmalani served five years on the village’s Plan Commission, before successfully running for village president in 2011. He has been reelected to additional four-year terms twice — in 2015 and in 2019. And his three consecutive terms as Oak Brook’s top elected official matches the record held by former Village President Karen Bushy, who served from 1991 to 2003.

“I always was interested in getting involved,” Lalmalani said. “I’ve always had this bug in my head to serve, and I previously was involved with medical organizations. Some residents suggested that I get involved with the village, which led to me serving on the Plan Commission and then running for village president."

Lalmalani said he increasingly has spent more time on village-related duties since becoming village president. He has scaled back his cardiology practice by about one-third to allow more time for Oak Brook business, he said.

“It’s become a way of life for me,” he said. “I have dedicated my life to the community service of Oak Brook

and find that very fulfilling. I always am interested in what we can do to provide better services for our residents and businesses because we are here to serve them.”

Lalmalani said his ears and eyes always are open to Oak Brook residents and representatives from businesses in the village.

“They are why we’re here; I have no personal agenda,” he said.

Lalmalani has had some disagreements over the years with Village Board members, village staff, residents and business representatives about village business, but that’s all part of the process, he said.

“We need to tolerate all points of view,” he said. “I do what I truly believe is best for Oak Brook.”

Village Board member Michael Manzo, who also was first elected in 2011 and continues to serve, said Lalmalani’s willingness to always listen to others is a major strength.

“He may have an opinion in mind, but he’s always willing to listen to all sides and is very assessable to anyone who wants to talk with him,” Manzo said. “He’s always a uniter and brings people together.”

Manzo said he sees the passion Lalmalani has for the village.

“He pays attention to what’s going on and has made leaps and bounds in his knowledge of local government,” Manzo said.

One major factor Lalmalani considers best for Oak Brook is to continue the practice of not levying a municipal property tax. He also is against any additional taxes, such as for food and beverage, a stance that was part of his campaign when he sought re-election in 2019.

“How we can do better for our residents, without taxing people is always a goal, and not having a property tax is part of our branding and we are proud of that,” Lalmalani

Development in Oak Brook is continuing at a fast pace. Among current and recent projects are new retail stores and restaurants opening in, and around, Oakbrook Center, several commercial/office projects, the ongoing development of multi-use Oak Brook Commons on the site of the former McDonald’s Plaza on 22nd Street; and recent discussions about plans for part of the former 80-acre McDonald’s campus site, purchased in June 2019 by JPD Holdings.

“I’m a pro-business guy,” Lalmalani said. “I want businesses to feel like they are wanted. To survive moving forward, we have to be open-minded, but also, our residents don’t want too much traffic and congestion.”

One of the ongoing challenges for Oak Brook officials is maintaining a good balance of businesses that generate sales tax, which has been strong enough to allow for no property taxes, and developments that don’t generate sales tax revenue, but add to the community in other ways.

“Balancing development with sales tax generators is a challenge that we are aware of, and it is very important,” Lalmalani said. “Going back to (Oak Brook founder) Paul Butler, the idea has been for Oak Brook to be one-third open space, one-third commercial, and one-third residential. That balance makes Oak Brook a spacious and unique community.”

The continued challenges of helping to make Oak Brook the best place possible for its residents and businesses keeps Lalmalani going, he said. And having support from his wife, Neetu, and daughters, Puja and Supna has been critical to his ongoing work for the village.

“It’s not about me,” he said, “It has to be about the Village of Oak Brook.”

That attitude hasn’t prevented Lalmalani from being recognized with awards for his service to the village. He has received several awards from local, national, and international community service groups, such as Outstanding

Community Service Award from

Congressman Danny K. Davis,

Public Service Award from the

Metropolitan Asian Services,

Inc., and Special Recognition award from the Asian American

Coalition of Chicago. Lalmalani was born in Jakarta,

Indonesia and went to India for his pre-med and medical education. After receiving his

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree from G.S. Medical College in Bombay, India, Lalmalani practiced medicine for a year in Jakarta.

He came to the United States in 1973 and completed his internship, residency and fellowship in cardiology from Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago in 1978. He returned to school about 20 years later, earning his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Business School in 1999.

“After a while of practicing medicine, I felt I needed to open up my brain,” he said. “I wanted to find out how businesses run their operations. When I first got my MBA, my idea was to move into medical management, but I enjoyed my practice with my patients too much to do that.”

Lalmalani continues to enjoy his interaction and work with his cardiology patients, but a big piece of his heart will never leave Oak Brook. ■

“How we can do better for our residents, without taxing people is always a goal, and not having a property tax is part of our branding and we are proud of that” -GOPAL LALMALANI Oak Brook Village President