On Dec. 18, Oak Park Elementary District 97 School Board member Peter Traczyk marched triumphantly into the tail end of a board meeting, elated. After nearly a year, the district had come to an agreement with its teachers union.
“We’ve got a contract,” he announced to applause from his fellow board members.
Traczyk, 48, was found Feb. 7 by a passerby in the Sunset Bridge Meadow near North Avenue, east of First Avenue in Melrose Park. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:50 a.m.
The Cook County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide by gunshot after an autopsy was performed on Feb. 8, leaving the community to solve the mystery of why he would take such drastic action.
Out of respect for Traczyk, the School Board canceled its regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 10. The district also rescheduled public forums planned this week for its superintendent search, moving them to Tuesday Feb. 17 and Wednesday Feb. 18.
Prior to being elected to the District 97 Board, Traczyk served on the PTO at Beye Elementary School and on the district’s financial advisory committee.
As a District 97 trustee since 2007, Traczyk helped usher in the middle school International Baccalaureate initiative, supported the agreement reached with the village to build a new administration building and lent a strong voice in fiscal matters.
A two-time president of the District 97 School Board, Traczyk hoped to trade his membership there for trusteeship on the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 School Board in the April 7 election.
Known for his tireless civic commitment, Traczyk also represented District 97 on a variety of external boards and committees, including District 200’s recent Pool Committee. His death has led to an outpouring of grief from all corners of the village, including District 97, the Oak Park Teachers Association and the village of Oak Park.
“We are incredibly shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of our friend and colleague Peter Traczyk. There are no words that can truly express the enormity of this loss for our district and community,” officials from District 97 said in a prepared statement Feb. 8. “We will miss his brilliance and infectious sense of humor, which left an indelible mark on all who had the great honor and privilege of serving alongside him on the board during the past eight years.”
The teachers union had kind words to say about Traczyk as well.
“Peter was a wonderful board member, a true leader, a problem solver and a good friend to all who knew him,” Oak Park Teachers Association officials said in a statement released Feb. 8. “The school district is a better place for children because of his dedication, commitment and legacy of service.It is a very sad day for all of us.”
Anan Abu-Taleb has worked with Traczyk and other members of the District 97 School Board since he became Oak Park village president nearly two years ago.
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“It’s a pretty sad day for the whole village and his family,” he said Feb. 8. “I got to appreciate his leadership ability, his dedication to the community and how great of a man he was.”
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Traczyk, worked as a certified financial planner with ING Financial Advisers. A native of Connecticut, he moved with his family to Oak Park in 1997.
Tracyk is survived by his wife Cindy, a senior vice president for Torus Insurance, and three children ages 16, 14, and 12, each of whom is a student at either Oak Park River Forest High School or Julian Middle School.
Chuck Fieldman contributed to this report. Rebecca R. Bibbs is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.