Above / Tom O’Hale, Mikhail Onanov, Denise O’Hale presented Mayor Emeritus George Pradel with an oil painting to show gratitude for his attitude toward serving the City of Naperville for 20 years.
A year ago on May 13, Mayor Emeritus George Pradel was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that affects the immune system, the bones and blood.
Embracing a year of ups and downs, time in and out of the Edward to receive treatment, Pradel welcomes his progress, especially now that he’s out and about again.
With some adjustment to his treatment, Pradel said by the end of April he was feeling so energized that he’d been to a White Sox game, attended several fundraisers, and enjoyed lunch at Hugo’s.
The Mayor Emeritus also wanted to share a surprise he’d received, a portrait in oil depicting him at the State of the City in his signature top hat.
He went on to explain that more than two years ago, his friend Tom O’Hale commissioned artist Mikhail Onanov, originally from Azerbaijan, to paint his likeness. O’Hale provided Onanov with a small black & white newspaper clipping of Pradel. When finished, O’Hale had planned to present the larger-than-life portrait to Pradel at the end of his 20-year stint as Mayor in May 2015.
Time marched on and it wasn’t until this spring that the presentation was made.
“I couldn’t believe that the artist used a tiny newspaper photo to paint this picture of me,” Pradel said.
And he went on to add, “It’s been great lately to see so many people that I know and love. I’m feeling pretty good and my outlook has changed. I walk with a cane, about one mile a day, and I love it when friends honk at me when they see me outside.”
