Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Special to suffredin.org

Wilmette resident Mary Adair received the 2009 Unsung Heroine Award from the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues.  The award was presented by Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

Adair, representing Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin’s 13th District, was honored along with sixteen other women - one from each of the 17 county districts – during Women’s History Month.  The 12th Annual Unsung Heroine Awards Breakfast was held on March 13th at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall.  Television personality Merri Dee emceed the event.

Unsung Heroine honorees were selected based on their contributions to their communities, families and professional endeavors that are vital, but seldom recognized.  They are drawn from the community they serve.

Mary Adair has been single handedly organizing and putting on the “Armchair Travel” program for nearly 35 years.  For the past 20 years, the programs have been held at the Wilmette Public Library.  She finds volunteers for about 50 programs a year. Mary – who will turn 90 later this year- starts each program off with a warm welcome and a couple of jokes. 

The Armchair Travels is presented at the Wilmette Library every Thursday afternoon.  The 50 programs presented annually by volunteers are attended by between 25 and 80 people every week.  Many of the attendees are regulars and many of the “regulars” are senior citizens although the program is open to all. 

“For 35 years, our community has benefited from the volunteer efforts of Mary Adair.  Mary is a true heroine and we are better off because of her dedication,” commented Commissioner Suffredin.

Commissioner Larry Suffredin represents the 13th County Board District, which includes areas of Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicago’s 49th and 50th Wards.