A longtime mayor of Harwood Heights who recently passed away at age 90 is being remembered as personable, kind and encouraging.
Ray Willas, who died last month, led the suburb, which borders Chicago’s Northwest Side, from 1973 until 2001.
“To have been our mayor for 28 years, that really says something about him,” said current Mayor Arlene Jezierny, who took office in 2009. “The residents all loved him. He was really a people’s mayor.”
Willas was born in Chicago on March 17, 1932, and served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara, daughter Mary Kay and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
The Willas family made their home in Algonquin for the past 20 years and were members of St. Catherine of Siena Church in West Dundee.
Ray Willas was laid to rest with full military honors on Oct. 14 at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.
“He guided our village to become a very livable community that was enjoyed by all the residents,” Jezierny said. “I had been making village calendars and Ray appointed me as a trustee to fill a term. I later got elected to that position and now I’m mayor. I attribute all that to Ray and him being a great mentor.”
Jezierny recalled that Willas was a pilot who flew small planes out of Wheeling’s Chicago Executive Airport, formerly known as Palwaukee Municipal Airport. She said he also loved the Corvette Stingray cars he owned.
“Ray worked for the Harps Bakery in their test kitchen with baked goods like cupcakes,” Jezierny said. “He would often visit residents and bring them muffins and cupcakes when he talked with them. He always had a nice, open dialogue with people.”
She added, “When I was on the Zoning Board, Ray introduced me to Chester Markiewicz, the owner of Old Warsaw Buffet. He also got me involved with the Senior Club at St. Rosalie parish. He did a great job mentoring not just me but everyone involved with the village.”
Willas’ funeral arrangements were handled by Miller Funeral Home in West Dundee, which had several expressions of condolence on its website.