Lake County Women’s Coalition honors history makers

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Women's Coalition guests: (back left) Rees Wilcox, Doris Devore, Joan Allstrom, Sen. Suzi Schmidt, Amanda Wolf, Mary Leben; (front left) Dee Jay Kweder, Virginia Blomquist, Ann Hughes Johnson, Sally Zeit, Susan King, Margaret Young. | R. Hauge~Sun-Times

Updated: May 27, 2011 5:01AM

Twelve area women, known trailblazers in paving the way for gender equality, were honored Saturday by the Lake County Women’s Coalition which is continuing its vigilance on issues and concerns that impact women.

“All of these women are history makers, but they have been overlooked,” said Barbara Richardson, retired Lake County coroner and founder of the coalition, an alliance of women’s organizations formed in 1995 to mark the 75th anniversary of women’s right to vote.

“History is our strength and every one of them has a story to tell us,” added Richardson who has been on the board of the College of Lake County Foundation for 30 years. She is also on the board of Midwestern Regional Medical Center in Zion.

The breakfast meeting, held at the State Bank of the Lakes in Grayslake, drew more than 100 people. Sponsors included the Women’s Center of the College of Lake County and the American Association of Women in Community Colleges.

“This event allows us to look back and celebrate the women who were trailblazers in opening the doors for other women,” said Debbie Larker, coalition vice chair.

“These are role models for us and we need to remember their contributions and be thankful,” she added.

Some of the women were posthumously honored.

Virginia Fiester Frederick, the late state representative from Lake Forest who died May 30, 2010, at the age of 93, was among them.

Margaret Kaiser of Waukegan, who died in 2001 at the age of 101, was another. She was the founder of the Lake County chapter of American Association of University Women and board president of the Lake County YWCA. She had served the YWCA untiringly for 30 years, according to Larker.

Stephanie Sulthin, the late clerk of Lake County Circuit Court, was the first woman elected to a Lake County office. Another one was Eleanor Luby of Waukegan, who for 45 years was a member of the Lake County chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, a social sorority.

Other women honored include:

Sue DeWulf, founder of the Lake County chapter of Aux Plaines, the international organization of woman pilots.

Mary Leben of Antioch, an interior decorator who is founding member of the Lake County Women’s Business Exchange.

Sally Zeit, founding member of the Lake County League of Women Voters.

Margaret Young, founding president of the Waukegan Women’s City Club.

Ann Hughes-Johnson of Waukegan, founding member of the 10th District of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.

Emily Reese Wilcox, Virginia Blomquist and Doris Devore, all founding members of the Waukegan Area Church Women United.

More than $1,000 was raised at the breakfast for a scholarship fund, according to Larker.