Can you provide us with some information about your background? Your education and career?

I was born in a large family, one of ten children, each of whom were expected to go to college and expected to find a way to pay for it. I paid for college with babysitting money and part-time jobs and eventually a student loan my senior year. After graduation, I worked at a law firm for three years before returning to the University of Illinois for Law School. I went on to work at Pederson & Houpt in Chicago (other great Illini), where I was encouraged to give back philanthropically. I later worked for Federal Signal as their Deputy General Counsel.

While working for Federal Signal, a trusted friend and colleague told me that as parents, you are your kids primary influence for the first twelve years as they soak up everything from you; once they reach twelve, the rebellion starts, and they look to the outside world for influences. Once they are 21-22 years old, parents begin to see the benefits of their time in the first twelve years. That day, I decided to leave my job and give my full attention to the kids. I got involved in my community by joining their school and park district boards, and philanthropic organizations. My latest “career” includes the management of our organic farm in Piper City, Illinois.

Can you tell us more about how you have stayed connected to the University of Illinois since your time as a student?

I stay closely connected to the University of Illinois through athletics, alumni friends, and board service. Despite the size of the University, my late husband and I maintained so many close friends from our time in Champaign. Our community in LaGrange is full of Illini friends; our four kids also graduated from UIUC, and our sons married wonderful Illini gals. I love Coach Bielema’s term: This large network of alumni is FamILLy!

I now serve on the University of Illinois Foundation Board and the Chicago Athletic Advisory Board.

Giving to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is clearly important to you. Can you explain what compelled you to give and keep giving? What do you hope your philanthropy accomplishes for the University?

We first started giving to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through athletics. We created an endowed scholarship at a time when corporate matches weren’t available for athletics, so it was difficult to raise money for scholarships. We met and got to know some of the worthy scholarship recipients, and felt like this was a perfect way to give back. During the renovations of the State Farm Center, I had the opportunity to make a gift in memory of my late husband. The west horseshoe drive leading up to the State Farm Center is now known as “John Penicook Drive.” John enjoyed donating anonymously and never would have done this for himself, but he would have been eager to do this for someone else. This was my opportunity to honor him and benefit the University.

What is your favorite University of Illinois memory?

My favorite memory involved a night full of shenanigans and mischief when a group of us knuckleheads climbed a painter’s scaffold to the roof of the Assembly Hall. That night I met a farm boy named John Penicook, whom I would marry six years later. That was the start of something special! As our Illini FamILLy grows, we continue to make so many new favorite memories.