Goodbye to Bacon
Judy Bacon is retiring from the South Loop
07/15/2012 10:57 AM
Judy Bacon, center, at her retirement party
Somehow, I misconstrued my invitation to the party. I thought it was a celebration of a simple anniversary: of Judy Bacon's several years of service as the development director at East-West University, a thriving South Loop educational institutional on the 800 block of both South Michigan and Wabash. I wandered over to the university early evening on Friday, expecting a few handshakes, pats on the back and kisses on the cheek. Instead, I found the end of an era--Bacon's retirement.
Judy Bacon was known for being a South Loop stalwart as part of her job guiding East-West to its current prominence in the neighborhood. She was active in getting to know South Loopers, coming to our events--and creating her own. She was instrumental in starting the South Loop Historical Society at East-West, and the tours she organized were always a lot of fun.
But she's packing it in. She's going to babysit for her granddaughter Anna Haley in Park Ridge a couple of days a week, and she's going to devote time to the Kalo Foundation in Park Ridge, as well--which promotes the arts.
Her party was fun. I could tell--now that I've experienced the new South Loop Costco--that that was where the wonderful food was from. I could recognize the look, the quality and even the taste already! Also had fun chatting with Bonnie Sanchez-Carlson, who heads the Near South Planning Board. We laughed about the fact that her email had been hacked earlier in the week. That in and of itself isn't funny-- but a lot of people thought it was mine! Bad enough being hacked and having your email send out spam from a Chinese viagra clinic or some such, but to be blamed when it wasn't even yours is pretty bad, too! I think a lot of my friends thought I doth protest too much; one was so convinced it was me that she said she couldn't figure out why NSPB was sending an apology on my behalf. Duh!
In any case, Judy vows she'll still frequent the South Loop, and still join us for our events. And I'm holding her to her word!
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By Ken Gaines from West loop
Posted: 07/24/2012 9:22 AM
I have had the pleasure of working with Judy Bacon for nearly 9 years in my postion as Chairman of the Department of Business at East-West University. She has a wonderful heart and truly cares about the studens and others she worked with. We all wish her well in her future as she will now be able to spend more time with her children and granchildren who she truly loves. Good luck and God bless.