Zatarski from p.1 Later, she served as Council Officer of Sports for Club Hawthorne. The two served as Zone Captains for many years and served with Bud & Barb Frank in chairing the Rummage Sale for a number of years.

The liaison with the Franks has been a happy one. In 1999 a group of six formed the Auctioneers. Bud and Barb Frank, Ted and Diane Zartarski, Willie Mae Lee, Doreen Francis, Betty Bell and Elaine Hoffner. There you have it – a few of our many volunteers with a dedication to Hawthorne's success over the years!

But the involvement of Ted and Diane did not stop with these aforementioned clubs. Add to that Christmas Tree Lighting, Special Events, Kitchen Club workers, Precinct 37 workers – oh, did we mention Hawthorne's Ambassador?

Special events. The Zatarski team planned and executed an annual Field Day as well as the July 4th celebrations for several years. That's when I led the parade on the 4th with a torch. You know, the real torch bearer – Olympic, that is – was Jim Serfass. He did the real thing a few short years ago. We'll have to tell that story later.

Things are a little slower today.

Things are a little slower today. Diane helps with special affairs by the Kitchen Club and Ted is active with the Aces & Eights Club. Their active leadership roles have slowed – and rightly so. The fact that they have served faithfully and with genuine joy stands out for all of us. We treasure this gracious couple who have shared with us these many years.

G. Wolf – Reporter

Timeline Complete !

Hawthorne's Historical Museum has undergone an upgrade. A Timeline of the major events that mark the beginnings of our community has been established. Credit for this accomplishment goes to Pat Hurlburt with assistance of her husband. You should visit our Museum. This is otherwise identified as the Conference Room in our clubhouse. An education awaits you. Come by and browse whenever another special meeting is not using the room.

Hawthorne Remembers is the Official Newsletter of the Hawthorne Historical Society Pat Hurlburt, Chair Grace Wolf, Co-Chair George Wolf, Secretary/Treasurer and Editor

AARP Chapter 1775

The Hawthorne Retirement Community was made possible by the vision of AARP, NRTA and the Colonial-Penn Insurance Company. On March 7, 1974 a festive dedication was held with a parade and speeches by the chief executives of these three organizations. Hawthorne was presented as the Gateway to a New Life offering a New Concept in retirement living.

The aim of our development was to provide safe, comfortable homes in a pleasant surrounding – quality living in a quality environment and a first class social and recreational program.

In March 1974, Hawthorne had less than 500 residents. Seventeen activities had been established. Here's the list: AARP, Bingo, Boating, Bridge, Brown Bag, Crafts, Dancing, Garden Club, Golf, Hospitality, Music, Pool/Billiards, Shuffleboard, Singles, Special Programs, Swimming and Vespers. Also, a Weekly Bulletin was hand delivered each week to every resident.

AARP was a key player in the development of Hawthorne. In April 1974 our residents applied for a Chapter designation. This was received on November 8, 1974 and Hawthorne Chapter 1775 was official, with a membership of 389.

Penn Notes reported that this step was a "milestone celebration in the development of Hawthorne as the outstanding and unique American community for Senior Citizens."

The uniqueness was, and is today, that older persons in the same age group as its prospective residents have a significant role in the initial planning, subsequent development and continuing role in Hawthorne's future. By mid-year 1976 Chapter 1775 had up and running these committees: Consumer Services, Driver Education, Hospitality, Insurance, Legislative Library, Membership, Social Services, Tax Aide and Meals on Wheels.

The importance and benefit of Hawthorne's AARP chapter cannot be overstated. Here is where the resident leadership became evident. We were a rental community until the residents actually purchased the entire development from Colonial Penn at the close of 1982. The resident leaders in this major change were individuals who served in the AARP chapter.

The principle goals of the AARP organization were implemented in those initial years of Hawthorne. That Colonial Penn found they could not successfully manage this endeavor financially brought our

See AARP p.4

Hawthorne RemembersVolume 23 Number 7

November 2018 www.hawthornehistorical.org

Ted & Diane Zatarski - Volunteers Extraordinaire

Ted and Diane Zatarski have been full-time residents of Hawthorne since 1991. Not very many members of our community can make that claim.

Their knowledge of our premier retirement community was from Leonard and Ruby Dvorak, who were the Zatarski's aunt and uncle – early residents of Hawthorne. The Dvoraks are listed in the 1976

Hawthorne telephone directory. So, we have a family connection with Diane and Ted.

Another family connection is Cousin Rosemary Staros and husband Jim who resided in our community in the 1990's. Also Don Nowakowski, Diane's brother, was a resident of Hawthorne until his death in 2015.

Coming from the Back of The Yard area of Chicago, Ted and Diane, although living in the same neighborhood, did not get

acquainted until Diane was 17. They married in 1960 and raised three daughters – Jan, Diane and Lisa, who live in the Chicago area today. Ted & Diane have four granddaughters, one grandson and one great grandson.

Newcomers became the first source of involvement for Ted and Diane. They chaired this group while learning all about Shuffleboard. Diane became Chairperson of Shuffle.

see Zatarski p.2

AARP from p.3

residents to conclude that we could manage these efforts with financial integrity.

We are the benefactors of the determination of our resident leadership – gleaned from AARP chapter 1775 back in 1981-82.

Every resident of Hawthorne should hold membership in our current AARP Chapter 1775.

G. Wolf - Reporter

Autumn

When summer's heat at last abates, Nature takes out Her virgin slates And writes on them promises new Of lovely things She plans to do; First, gentle breezes She will send To make warm weather doldrums end. The rain, no longer slashing down, Will beautify the withered ground And kiss the flowers made for fall So that they once again stand tall. The empty homes, lonely and still With snowbirds She will quickly fill. She'll watch the Great Hall activate With all the programs on the slate. When Hawthorne is alive once more, Nature can quietly close the door To wait in Her special retreat For the next season She will greet.

Betty Crilley in Hawthorne Herald Sept 1986 Check out this issue on our web site !

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