Retired teachers Susan and Dick Schindel of Aurora have been involved with so much community service over the many years that it really puts most of us to shame.
But they will never tell you about their charitable service unless you ask, which I did during a recent visit with them. I was amazed to learn about all of their service, and a rather short article won’t be sufficient to tell the story of their dedication to our community.
Each grew up on Aurora’s East Side, and they met and started dating while students at East High School. They were involved with extracurriculars at the school, with Dick graduating in 1966 and Susan in 1967.
Dick attended the University of Illinois, played football for two years there, and graduated in 1970. Susan attended Augustana College, the University of Illinois, and graduated from Aurora University in 1972.
Both became well known and respected educators in our community, with the majority of Dick’s service coming at his East Aurora alma mater. He coached several sports on different levels at East, and was notably the head football coach from 1983-87. Susan’s 34-year career included service in Catholic schools, and in East Aurora and Oswego school districts.
As the marketing education teacher and DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) advisor, Dick became involved coordinating the club’s many service projects.
“The beginning of my interest in community service came through the school and DECA,” he said.
The marketing classes organized student volunteers to help with projects in the community and, growing from that, the Silver Cord Award was established. Students who completed at least 40 service hours received the award, and it expanded to include students in the entire school.
“I was proud of those efforts,” Dick said.
With Vicki Stull of the Fox Valley United Way, along with the school’s counselors and social workers, he helped to establish the Forgotten Teens program to remember teenagers during the holidays. He also brought the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program into the school and, under his leadership, the DECA students were consistently involved in valuable community service.
Since his retirement from East High in 2004, Dick’s activities in community advancement have only increased.
He has been a member of the Aurora Noon Lions Club, and served as its president for a time. Among the club’s many charitable projects has been sponsoring events for hearing-impaired children. He has served as president of the Aurora Area Retired Teachers Association which, in recent years, has focused its fund-raising on aiding our city’s two food pantries. He has also served as a board member of the Aurora East Educational Foundation, which awards grants to District 131 teachers and scholarships to East graduates.
Having established his business, Dick’s Mini-Donuts, in 1996, Dick uses it to help schools and other organizations with their fund-raisers. Few people know that he generously shares the profits from doughnut sales with the organizations which invite him to come.
Not being busy enough, he has helped with holiday assistance through the Fox Valley United Way, and served as its board chair for one year.
By her own admission, Susan Schindel prefers to work behind the scenes to support her husband’s efforts. But her own resume of service to all of us is very impressive.
She is the membership chair of the Aurora Area Retired Teachers Association and, through the organization, volunteers with her husband at both Aurora food pantries. She has served as a volunteer at the Dominican Literacy Center, which individually mentors and teaches English to immigrant women. She has also trained as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer to advocate for a child’s best interests in court cases.
As a couple, the Schindels recently created two scholarships through the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley to help students pursue their goals. Together, they also volunteer in several of the ministries at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish.
More Top Picks Best Neck Massagers For Tension Headaches
As with many of the servants I meet, I asked the Schindels “what makes you tick” in your desire to help so many.
“I like to help people, and so many need help,” Dick Schindel said. “If I can assist through organizations of which I’m a member, through my little business, or just as an individual, that’s what I like to do.”
Susan Schindel has only a slightly different perspective.
“When I was 42, I faced a cancer diagnosis,” she said. “My surgeon hoped I could achieve a five-year mark for survival. Now 30 years later, that event was life changing for me — helped me to get my priorities in place. I faced another life-threatening event in 2008.
“We are all one, with the same wants and desires. It all begins and ends with love, for ourselves and for others. When you can give freely, it’s calming to your soul.”
Tom Strong is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.