Memories of Mary Ann
June 26th, 2008 at 02:40pm Wally Haas
I think the first time I met Mary Ann Aiello in person was about six years ago when she was fighting efforts to allow bow hunters to shoot deer in the forest preserves. She stopped by the News Tower and dropped off a VHS tape that showed how deer suffered when a hunter was slightly off target and only wounded the animal instead of killing it.
Over the next few years she would call me now and then about issues she knew the Editorial Board would poke its collective nose in.
We didn’t always agree with her, although I think we did most of the time, but we always had a mutual respect.
One of our biggest disagreements was over the city of Rockford’s plan to buy a hockey team and use the revenues from the team to help pay for renovations to the MetroCentre. We liked the plan; she didn’t.
Last year when the renovations began and some of the MetroCentre concrete was broken up, pieces were packaged (Rockford MetroCentre Renovation: Brick Breaking Ceremony, June 21, 2007) and presented to County Board members and other officials as a memento.
Aiello sent her package to me with a note that said since I was a supporter of the plan and she wasn’t, she thought I’d appreciate it more.
I did. I kept it displayed on my desk in its wrappings for quite a while until my office mates pointed out this winter that it would be a wonderful door stop.
It has been. I never told Mary Ann what I wound up doing with that lump of concrete, but I think she would have appreciated it.
I talked to her last month shortly after I found out she had cancer. She was in good spirits and I thought she could beat the disease even though people who had more facts than I did told me how grim the prognosis was.
She leaves a void on the County Board and in our lives that will be hard to replace. The eighth floor of the Winnebago County Courthouse will seem a lot emptier because she won’t be there.
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5 Comments Add your own
1. Kathy Geyer | June 26th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I live in Loves Park and Mary Ann used to be my county board member until the County Board districts were re-mapped. I was very upset when she changed parties from Democratic to Republican. I don’t remember when she did, it must have been in the early 90’s. I didn’t agree with many things she stated publicly, but I came to respect her intelligence and preparedness. She did her research. Anyone in public service should take note of her “stick to it - iveness.” and use that trait as an example. I also remember her cat appearing with her on local television - she LOVED that cat! I have personally never talked to her, but I would have loved to meet her for coffee some time!
2. Bob Kinnison | June 26th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I had the honor of serving with Mary Ann for almost 14 years. She was a friend, a people’s advocate and someone who let by example. I will miss her and her laugh. I’ll always admire the way she took to an issue and saw through. Party affiliation really didn’t matter to her, but serving the people did and for that she’ll always have my respect. God bless you Mary Ann
3. E.J. Pagel | June 27th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Many of the Rockford Area Libertarians hold most dear one of our meetings in early ‘07 when Winnebago County Board members Mary Ann Aiello and Pete MacKay were the guests. I had the honor of conducting the meeting, and, taking the role of our favorite interviewer, the late Chris Bowman, I led them into a winding discussion that covered all that’s good and bad about Winnebago County govenment… it was a barnburner! We all agreed that this show should go on the road to every township in the county– town hall meetings that should have been sponsored by the county board members in every district– but they must have hidden under their desks! They weren’t interested in having this discussion in their district! They were too busy with Chairman Christiansen, licking his loafers.
By filing for landmark status, Mary Ann and Bowman stopped the Bishop Doran from selling St. Mary’s Church cheap to the county so they could tunnel to the new Criminal Justice Center. (Questions about that referendum still remain, and I can name names.) She and Pete were kicked out of the Republican caucus, for insubordination and refusing to pay dues! Mary Ann brought 3 hockey experts to Rockford to be interviewed, and their comments are preserved on the winnco website. She stuck up for Terry Dyer, who was illegally removed from his position as Curator of Memorial Hall, and those responsible have never been brought to justice. (I can name names.)
She and Stephanie Caltegerone and others fought against the Trim-Rite hog slaugher plant, and have since been vindicated with proof of that industry’s many unfortunate ramifications in every community it’s ramrodded. She fought against leaf burning in residential areas, and unnecessary roadside mowing, with the late Polly Berg. She fought against the ethanol plant, which has now been exposed as a mere ploy to enrich the politically-connected with taxpayers’ dollars. She fought for all animal rights, for pets, with her beloved Smokey the fabulous cat, and for culling the deer overpopulation with sharpshooters, which she thought to be the most humane way. She joined the Illinois Minutemen in an effort to control the problem of illegal immigration in our community.
There were tons of issues through the years on which she demonstrated maverick leadership. She and Pete were really the only Republicans who weren’t under the thumb of the party honchos- “whomever the ‘clout’ really belongs to.” We can write a book on that.
Personally– she was witty, wonderful, and always ahead of the curve, sensing what help she could impart to any particular situation. Her commitment to family and community was beyond amazing, and she was so magnetic, and passionate on the issues…always willing to listen and talk some more!
Winnebago County taxpayers can’t afford to lose this kind of transparent, accountable representation that Mary Ann delivered, without fail, 24-7-365. The celebration of her life should be a clarion call for all citizens to be involved with their governent, lest it fail. With the death of one of the last good, untarnished public servants, the consequences are now more clearly grave– and they start right outside your front door.
4. cliff steele | July 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 am
My wife sandy and i recal the first personal meeting with mary Ann when our front door bell rang at our home in Rockfords west side community of Park-er-woods. mary Ann had heard that we had a computer with a printer as she was looking for more information about HOG SLAUGHTER PLANTS a one was to be built less than one half mile distant from hundreds of homes. We were to find out on that first visit that mary ann lived no where near the west side of the city…asking her why are you getting involved…you don’t even live near here..he reply was “a hog slaughter plant doe’s not beling anywhere in this city…!!
It was the beginning of a wonderful friend ship just like that old black and white movie. mary ann had nothing more than a telephone in her home to assist her in this fight to save the community…so we bought her a FAX machine…which I installed in her home…and it was then I met her mother…and bashful cat.
I recal visiting the CUTTING AND PACKING OPERATIONS of the trim rite group..mary ann and only a few could tell the difference between a PACKING PLANT and a SLAUGHTER PLANT. With the help of others on the small team of fighters about a year later victory was printed on the front page…NO HOG PLANT..It should have said…Mary Ann saved the west side of rockford.
With the continued fighting over 40 years to protect our home and community we finally packed up and left not only winnebago county but Illinois. mary ann was one that I let her know when she was alive how I respected her and admired her…We have missed her for the two years we have moved to KY…but now all that live in Winnebago county will miss her……….cliff & sandy steele Somerset KY
5. Rosanna Pulido | July 5th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I salute Mary Anne who had courage and integrity to face the issues of the day. We need more people like her on this earth. GoD Bless Mary Ann. May her family be greatly comforted to know she made a great mark where God planted her! She changed things for the good of all people!!
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