Outgoing Morton Grove Village Administrator Ralph Czerwinski became choked up accepting accolades from area elected officials during a celebration of his 50-year career at a June 18 legislative breakfast.
“I hate to be emotional about this job, because it’s really a practical job,” Czerwinski said. “But I appreciate the partnerships we’ve had with all you, the dreams of our board, the vision of our strategic plan and the push of our residents – and then asking them for money and them coming through with the money.”
Czerwinski, who steps down on July 1, addressed a roomful of federal, state, county and local officials who dedicated the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce’s legislative breakfast to him at the Morton Grove Public Library.
“The whole thing comes back to – however you’re doing your job – it comes back to the mission that you’re serving the people, and I really enjoyed that,” he said. “I want to do another 50 years because I’ve never come to work and not enjoyed what I’ve done.”
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, state Sens. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, and Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, state Rep. Mike Kelly, D-Chicago, Cook County Commissioners Josina Morita, D-Evanston, and Maggie Trevor, D-Arlington Heights, Niles Township Supervisor Bonnie Kahn Ognisanti, and Maine Township Supervisor Karen Dimond were among the long list of dignitaries who paid tribute to Czerwinski.
Kahn Ognisanti read a proclamation from the Niles Township Board recognizing Czerwinski for his public service, beginning at age 16 in the Niles Public Works Department, continuing as a firefighter and then fire chief in Morton Grove and Skokie for 30 years, and concluding as village administrator in Morton Grove for the last nine years.
“We all know you are retiring in a couple of weeks,” she said. “You are so deeply respected and honored in this community and beyond this village really.”
Villivalam, who presented Czerwinski with a copy of a proclamation approved by the Illinois General Assembly, joked that he had hoped the celebration was actually an attempt to get Czerwinski to continue working.
“Personally, I thought this was a meeting where we do an intervention to say he needs to do another 50 years,” he said, turning to Czerwinski. “‘What job haven’t you done?’ is a question I have. It is an honor for us to have worked with you and to recognize you today.”
Morita shared a copy of a resolution from the Cook County Board of Commissioners calling Czerwinski a “dear mentor, friend, and colleague to countless people throughout Cook County.”
“Thank you, Ralph, for your service, not just to Morton Grove but to so many parts of my district – Niles, Skokie, along with Morton Grove,” she said. “We are all better for the work you have done and want to thank you.”
Czerwinski became emotional in describing the first day of his career of public service.
“A 16-year-old kid walks into a public works facility and says, ‘Hey, I’m here for a job,’” he said. “Things have changed in 50 years. I was pushing paper and pencil on a drafting board, and today they work by CAD (computer aided design).”
Czerwinski joked that he was a “boomerang” in Morton Grove because he came, left and then returned.
“I was here for a while, went to Skokie, learned a lot, came back here and really enjoyed everything that’s happened,” he said.
Czerwinski recalled his service in Morton Grove fondly. He credited Village President Dan DiMaria, who was unable to attend the tribute to Czerwinski due to a death in his family, and the Village Board with providing the “driving force” for the “direction of the community.”
“Everyone I worked with and for has been positive for the village and the residents,” Czerwinski said. “People think taxes are horrible and government is bad. Every day I worked in municipal government, people have worked toward the satisfaction of the mission.”