Prospect School in Clarendon Hills is going to look a little different moving forward.
Gabriel Angel has been a fixture at the school since starting work there in October 1997. But Prospect’s head custodian is retiring now, as the longest tenured of the four current retirees in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181.
“Mr. Angel has always been someone our staff could count on, quietly making sure everyone had what they needed and helping in any way he could,” said Prospect School Principal Kristin Cummings.”After so many years at Prospect, he is truly part of our family. His kindness, dedication, and steady presence will be deeply missed by all of us.”
Angel’s work history for District 181 actually began before he started at Prospect, as he worked for an outside company that served Oak School in Hinsdale, before being hired by the district to help at Prospect.
“Before D181, I worked in a restaurant, but basically this has been my only job,” he said, adding that his work generally has included cleaning, maintenance and snow removal.
“Anything that is needed,” Angel, 61, said. “I like helping students and teachers; it’s my second family. I like to keep the place clean. I want it to be as clean as their homes, since they have to spend so much time here.”
Angel said his job changed in some ways over the years at Prospect.
“It’s really not too different with the people, but the building is different,” he said. “We are more green now, so things are easier to clean than the materials were when I first started. Like we had to strip and wax the floors every summer previously. Now, with the new flooring, we just clean it regularly. Stripping floors and waxing floors used to take a lot of time, but now we don’t have to do it.”
While his 29 years at Prospect makes him the longest-tenured employee retiring this year in District 181, Angel isn’t at all surprised his career kept him there for all those years.
“I always knew I would be here a long time,” he said. “I really like it — it’s like my second house. I love Mike (Duggan, director of buildings and grounds) and Debbie (Prasch, buildings and grounds coordinator). I will miss the people here the most.”
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Duggan has worked with Angel during all of his own 14 years in the district.
“Mr. Angel was already head custodian when I came,” he said. “Mr. Angel is always prompt, willing to come in early and stay late, especially in the winter. He is a team player and well-liked by all of our staff and the Prospect community.”
Duggan said he will miss Angel’s positive attitude, energy and desire to make Prospect a clean, safe and homey place for all students and staff.
“Twenty-nine years is an incredible commitment, and it’s a testament to the kind of person Mr. Angel is,” Duggan said. “That level of dedication doesn’t go unnoticed — he’s made a real difference in the district, and we’re better for having had him at Prospect since it was built. It’s bittersweet to see him go, but he’s more than earned this next chapter.”
Angel said he decided to retire now because his mother is ill.
“I will be traveling back and forth to Mexico to help her,” he said.
Other family members will occupy much of the additional time he will have in retirement.
“I like to spend time with family, especially with my son and daughter,” Angel said. “My son has one son, so I have one grandson, and my daughter is having a baby girl soon, so I will enjoy time with my grandchildren in retirement.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.