Family, members of the community, and county officials gathered Thursday to commemorate a garden at the Indiana Dunes Tourism Visitor Center in Porter for the late Judy Chaplin, who had served on the tourism board for 11 years.
Chaplin, who died May 21, owned Shady Lawn Florist and was an involved volunteer, said Lorelei Weimer, executive director of Indiana Dunes Tourism.
“She wanted to make a positive difference and she loved the dunes. She wanted growth to be done in a way that kept the charm and small-town appeal of our area,” Weimer said, speaking to a crowd of a few dozen who gathered in the garden.
Next to a white hydrangea tree and a number of drift rose bushes, a memorial name plate read, “In memory of Judy Chaplin—great things bloomed during her service on the tourism board.”
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Weimer, who noted that Chaplin had seen the building of the new visitor center on Indiana 49 five years ago, said, “Judy got to hear a lot of our woes with the landscaping of the area and really appreciated what it became.”
Chaplin’s husband of 55 years, Jim Chaplin Sr., was joined by three of their four children, including Jenny Neary of Colorado, Kathy Pliske of Jackson Township, and Jim Chaplin Jr. of Valparaiso. The Chaplins other daughter, Mary Feuser, resides in Florida.
Indiana Dunes Tourism Board President Mitch Peters thanked the family and said that Judy Chaplin was crucial to the board.
“Judy was a special part of our board, a special person to all of us and she is in all of our hearts,” Peters said. “The board won’t be the same without her.”
Weimer said that Judy Chaplin was a strong advocate for the dunes and she was known for defending what she saw was in the best interests of the dunes.
“She had strong principles, strong beliefs, and she was a fighter and would fight for what was right. You wanted Judy in your corner,” said Weimer.
County Commissioner John Evans said that he misses her.
“I’ve known her most of my life and she always wanted to know everything before she made a decision and voted. She always did her homework. She was very important to the community,” Evans said.
Weimer said that the garden is a place to reflect and celebrate the life of Judy Chaplin for her dedication to the community.
Chaplin was honored in July with the Distinguished Woman Award from the Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce, and on Aug. 21 by the Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis with the Hoosier Hospitality Award.
Heather Augustyn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.