Memories of Life in Downers Grove

A History of DG AARP

Downers Grove Chapter #104 of AARP, Inc. was organized in October 1970, incorporated in 1971 and chartered in 1972. It is an offspring of the Senior Friendship Club and all members who applied to be charter members were already national AARP members. There are 249 names on the charter membership list. By December 1974 there were 441 members.

This was an active group. On October 12, 1972, 52 members attended a dinner-theater party at Drury Lane where after dinner they enjoyed a light comedy starring Cesar Romero. On October 26, 1972, 78 members went to Chicago to see the Ice Follies followed by a smorgasbord at Sweden Manor.

In 1973, Chapter #104 was active in a Tax Aide Program. By 1981, Chairman Eric Kempke honored twelve people who worked on this program at five different sites, helping more than 400 persons. Throughout the years, members continued to be active in this program.

One of our first presidents, Donald Young, in 1973 promoted a Defensive Driving Course. This program has been developed by AARP into a course called 55 Alive, since it is a classroom refresher course for drivers age 55 and older. Successful completion of the two-day course may qualify participants for a reduction in liability insurance. This program is still available at (the Downers Grove Park District's) Lincoln Center.

In 1974 Chapter #104 actively supported the expansion of the DuPage County Hospital and in 1979 promoted the installation of the cardiac facilities at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

It has always been one of the goals of Chapter #104 to provide helpful information on health, financial matters and legislation at the local, state and national levels. Chapter #104 had knowledgeable chairpersons for health, legislation and community affairs.

In 1992 Chapter #104 became involved with the SALT (Seniors and Law Officers Together) program. Then president, Robert Rimnac, and Downers Grove Police Chief George Graves were particularly involved in this program to promote the security and safety of seniors.

In recent years we were able to contribute more than $5,000 to local charities through our fundraiser, the bakeless bake sale, initiated and presided over by Lorraine Doskocil, who received the Chapter's Community Service Award from AARP in 1997.

However, it seemed that Chapter #104 has run its course because of changing times with many other opportunities for seniors. We voted in December 2004, after 33 years, to dissolve the chapter. An invitation was received from Hinsdale Chapter #1835 to attend their meetings and many of the members joined the Hinsdale Chapter.

Freda Mullen