In case you missed it, March 31 was Eileen Pech Day in Berwyn.
Pech spent the last six years volunteering her time as a member of the Berwyn Public Library’s Board of Trustees.
On March 23, the city honored Pech by naming a day in her name.
“You know, I think there are other people more deserving who have been in it a lot longer than I have as a volunteer,” said Pech. “It was a very eventful six years on the board.”
Pech said she measures her life in terms of libraries. As a girl, her mother took her to the local branch of the Chicago Public Library. Then she was old enough to walk on her own. Eventually, Pech graduated to
Chicago’s Central Public Library, which used to be located in what is now the Chicago Cultural Center.
“You’re kind of growing up through libraries,” she said.
While Pech served as chair of the Berwyn Public Library Board, a library oral history task force partnered with Morton West High School and the Berwyn Historical Society to create a Veteran’s Oral History Project. The project preserved the stories of Berwyn’s war veterans.
Pech also wrote a book on the history of the Berwyn Public Library.
Now Pech is retiring from the Berwyn Public Library Board. But she intends on continuing her work as a local historian.
So how does she plan to spend Eileen Perch Day?
“I’m going to be at the library,” she said.
Notable
Pech spent 19 years as a reporter for Berwyn Life. She retired in 2000.
& quotable
“I just always had this affinity for libraries,” Pech said.
Philosophy on history
“There’s the old (saying) about if you don’t learn from history, you’re doomed to repeat the same mistakes all over again,” Pech said.
Favorites
THINGS ABOUT THE BERWYN PUBLIC LIBRARY
“I really think our staff is very friendly.”
“There are so many fun things that are going on there.”
YEARS IN TOWN 45
EDUCATION Northwestern University
FAMILY Husband, Henry, and daughter, Nancy
