
John Swanson, former OPRF superintendent, dies at 96
John Swanson was superintendent of Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 from 1974 until 1987, and worked to maintain the traditions of the school while taking an empathetic approach to student discipline, according to colleagues.
Swanson, 96, died of kidney disease Feb. 21 at the Johnson Health Care Center at the Covenant Living at Windsor Park retirement community in Carol Stream, said his daughter, Kathryn Soneson.
John Charles Swanson was born and raised in Rockford, and graduated from East High School in Rockford. He received a bachelor's degree from Wheaton College in 1949 and subsequently a master's and a Ph.D. in education from Northwestern University.
From 1952 until 1957, Swanson taught and was a dean at Wheaton Academy in West Chicago, where he also coached basketball. He then returned to his alma mater, East High School in Rockford, where he was a counselor and an assistant principal, before becoming principal of the newly opened Guilford High School in Rockford.
In 1969, became an assistant superintendent for curriculum in the Deerfield Highland Park High School District, a post he held until taking over as superintendent of the Oak Park and River Forest High School District.
As Swanson saw the school district's student body becoming more diverse, he hired the district's first-ever African American administrator, Larry Walker, in 1982. Walker's title was associate superintendent, but he essentially functioned as Oak Park and River Forest High School's principal.
'Jack was the most caring administrator that I've ever known or even the most caring human being I've ever known. He was just good at everything, and he was so sensitive and down-to-earth with everything,' said Walker, who now is based near Las Vegas. 'He pushed me to be the best I could be.'
Swanson created a variety of initiatives as superintendent, including, at Walker's urging, a student assembly to recognize Martin Luther King. Swanson also created human relations awards for students based on their kindness toward others, complete with a recognition breakfast. Swanson also brought all staff — not just teachers but custodians and cafeteria workers — to a conference on the day before school started, to place everyone on the same page, Walker said.
Don Vogel, the district's former media coordinator, recalled Swanson's organizational skills as well as his penchant for a personal touch, such as sending staff handwritten notes for accomplishments.
David Hanson, a District 200 board member during the latter part of Swanson's tenure, remembered Swanson as an empathetic leader.
'In student punishment issues, students would come and appear before the board, and we, including Jack, had the feeling in so many cases that we're sorry we have to punish the students — we wish we could punish the parents,' Hanson said. 'It's a perspective that comes from viewing people as human beings and analyzing them and developing your feelings that way.'
In 1982, District 200 learned that its chief custodian, 23-year district employee Reinhold Kulle, had been a Nazi who worked at the Gross-Rosen concentration camp during World War II. Kulle had covered up that fact on his visa application to come to the U.S.,
The situation drew headlines, and the District 200 board in January 1984 dismissed Kulle, who had been an exemplary employee, under a deal in which he agreed to take early retirement from the district that summer. Three years later, he was deported to Germany.
'Jack would always recognize the best features in any other human being, and when we dealt with the Reinhold Kulle situation, there was only one way to go — to dismiss him,' Hanson said. 'But Jack had sympathies with Reinhold, as did many of the faculty members, because he was looking at it from the human side, not from the board side, in that analysis.'
After retiring as superintendent in 1987, Swanson was an interim school superintendent for districts in River Forest and Rockford, and he also volunteered for Circle Urban Ministries, Lawndale Community Development Corp. and Lawndale Christian Health Center on the West Side. He also worked with the group World Relief to help refugees acclimate to the U.S., and he and his first wife spent a year on a Christian mission in Manila.
Swanson's first wife, Ellie, died in 2004 after 54 years of marriage. His second wife, retired Wheaton College professor Zondra Lindblade, died in 2022. In addition to his daughter, Swanson is survived by a son, Robert; a brother, Armour; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A visitation will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday,at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 29W260 Batavia Road in Warrenville, with a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m.
Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Akoma Gospel Choir celebrates 30 years of service and song
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — In 1995, a female gospel group was formed as part of a day long celebration for the 75th anniversary of the women's right to vote. Today, that group known as Akoma is still together, celebrating their love for God, sisterhood and community. Akoma Gospel Choir began singing together three decades ago. 'African American women from different walks of life… all different denominations,' Dr. Arlette Miller Smith told News 8. Some 40 Rochester women from Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal churches devote their time, talent, and treasures to this choir with a West African name. Akoma means 'patience,' 'endurance,' 'consistence,' and 'faithfulness.' News 8's Theresa Marsenburg: They know it's a committment. Dr. Arlette Miller Smith: It's a passion. In 1995, a group planning the 75th anniversary of the Women's Right to Vote wanted to end the all-day city-wide celebration with a special performance. Dr. Arlette Miller Smith was among the organizers. 'We were all sitting around the table and someone says 'I think we need to have a gospel choir.' And everyone looked at me and said, You make that happen.'' So — she did — with the help of a local church musical director, who called on other choir directors and members from various churches around town. 'And as we say, 'And the rest is the herstory,'' Dr. Miller Smith said. 'It's truly the Glory of God,' Evelyn Greenwade Boatwood said. 'And our community,' Dr. Miller Smith said. Evelyn Greenwade Boatwood is part of the 1995 'Original Recipe' — as they called themselves. 'We're not a traditional choir. It's a broader perspective,' Dr. Miller Smith said. 'We are passionate about our educational arm.' Each year, Akoma awards college scholarships to young African American women graduating from area high schools, some $30,000 to date. 'For me, it's about a mentorship as well. I've learned so much in faith and just being a woman. A Black woman,' Vice President Colette Hardaway said. They call it a sisterhood, and their prayer is to sustain Akoma so their story… and their song, never ends. The 30th annual Akoma Scholarship Concert this Saturday evening at Monroe Community College is free and open to the public. Each member of the Akoma makes a financial commitment to the scholarships. They also ask for donations and welcome sponsorships. For more information, visit the Akoma website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
Charlotte homelessness is on the rise
Each January, volunteers go out across Charlotte and count the number of people living on the streets, in cars, parks and tents. Why it matters: This year's point-in-time survey shows that homelessness is rising in Charlotte, underscoring a national trend. With 444 people identified as unsheltered, it was the highest count since 2010 and more than double the total from 2020, just before the pandemic. By the numbers: Those 444 people represent a 16% increase from last year, with 116 new people identified. Four families had children, the highest number of unsheltered households with minors ever recorded during the local point-in-time count. The survey is widely considered an "undercount" due to the difficulty of finding unsheltered people. Zoom out: According to Mecklenburg County's tally of people across homeless programs, 2,415 men, women and children were experiencing homelessness as of April 30. 164 are veterans. 147 are unaccompanied youth. 75% are Black/African American, representing a disproportionately high figure. 3% are Hispanic/Latino, although that demographic makes up only 14% of the county population. The big picture: Unsheltered homelessness is rising at record levels nationally due to rising rents, a lack of affordable housing, gentrification and other issues prevalent in Charlotte.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
When is Juneteenth 2025? Is there mail? Are banks closed? All about the federal holiday
It's known as America's Second Independence Day, and it's coming soon. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It's the longest-running African American holiday, and it became a federal holiday a few years ago. Here's what to know about the holiday. Yes, Juneteenth is a federal holiday in 2025, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. It is one of 11 federal holidays observed every year. The others are: New Year's Day Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Washington's Birthday/Presidents Day Memorial Day July 4 Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Christmas Day Juneteenth will be marked on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Unlike other federal holidays, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving, which are observed on a specific day of the week, Juneteenth is celebrated on the actual day. Juneteenth commemorates the day — June 19, 1865 — when federal soldiers arrived in Galveston to take control of Texas and ensure the slaves were freed per the Emancipation Proclamation, according to the History Channel. Juneteenth — short for June nineteenth — marks the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June 19, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston. It became known as "Juneteenth" by the newly freed slaves of Texas, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture at the Smithsonian. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. But its effect was limited, according to the National Archives. It only applied to states that seceded during the Civil War, leaving slavery intact for slave states that stayed with the Union. It also could not be enforced until Confederate states were under Union control, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Therefore, it took until June 19, 1865, for slaves in Texas to be freed. Slavery in America was formally abolished with the 13th Amendment, which was ratified Dec. 6, 1865. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. President Joe Biden signed legislation on June 17, 2021, according to USA TODAY, after Congress passed The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act that same month. Juneteenth began rising to prominence in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, sparked protests across the country against police brutality, USA TODAY reports. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., first introduced the Juneteenth bill in 2020 following the killings of Floyd and Breonna Taylor of Louisville, Kentucky. His initial attempt to pass the bill was unsuccessful. No. As a federal holiday, the U.S. Postal Service is closed that day, and there will be no mail delivered. FedEx pickup and delivery services will be available on June 19, according to the company's website. FedEx Office locations will also be open, USA TODAY reports. Juneteenth is a Federal Reserve bank holiday, meaning the organization that regulates the nation's banking system is closed, according to Banks aren't required to close for Federal Reserve holidays, but they often do. Transactions made during these holidays won't be posted until the next business day. Branches of Capital One, Bank of America, PNC, Truist, CitiBank and JPMorgan Chase will be closed on Juneteenth, USA TODAY is reporting. Capital One Cafes will remain open. The New York Stock Exchange is closed on federal holidays and will be closed on Juneteenth, according to its website. Trash pickup may be delayed because of Juneteenth, depending on the hauler. Contact your municipality or private provider to learn more. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When is Juneteenth 2025? Is there mail? Will banks be open? What to know