Born March 25, 1916, Chester J. “Chet” Rybicki died March 6, just a few weeks shy of his 97th birthday.
Rybicki served as Mayor of Naperville for two terms from 1975-1983, and is best known for collaborating with the leadership of Jim Moser to set the way for the private-public partnership that has come to be the city’s natural treasure in the heart of downtown Naperville.
A tribute to that effort is depicted in a Century Walk sculpture titled “Riverwalk Visionaries.” An appreciative visitor left a bouquet of flowers at the sculpture earlier in the week.
After two terms as mayor, Rybicki became a member of the Rotary Club of Naperville in 1986. He also was a longtime member of St. Raphael Catholic Church.
As a member of the American Legion Post 43, Rybicki often reminisced about enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1942, and serving during World War II until he was discharged in 1945.
Shortly after his military service, Rybicki began a marketing career in Chicago.
Rybicki came to Naperville with his family in 1960. He commuted to Chicago, moving up to a new office in the Sears Tower upon its completion in 1973 until his retirement in 1975.
The Chicago native was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian, nicknamed “Mickey,” his wife for 61 years. They had three children.
Several years ago, when his vision became challenged by macular degeneration, Rybicki, then 94, asked for assistance in writing how he wanted to be remembered. During several visits to capture Rybicki’s fondest achievements, the enlightening storyteller said his biggest and most cherished accomplishment was his 61-year marriage to his “wonderful wife Mickey.”
Rybicki also shared a poem he’d written and saved in his memory to his wife upon her death in 2002.
My Dearest Darling By Chet Rybicki My dearest darling, I love you so More than you could ever know. Your twinkling eyes and smiling face I always love you to embrace. I loved holding you tight to me. That made me very happy. One day the angels came and took you away. This was my whole life’s saddest day. It’s hard to believe on earth you are No longer alive, you were such a wonderful mother and wife. My darling, rest assured Some day again I’ll lie along the side of thee For all the rest of eternity.Naperville’s Mayor from 1975-83
According to Rybicki, his crowning joy was participation in Naperville’s growth and development —especially during the 1970s and 1980s— helping to build a great place for families to raise children.
Beginning his public service in 1962, Rybicki tallied 75 years concurrently on a number of township as well as Naperville boards and commissions, including the Naperville Plan Commission, YMCA Board and Naperville Public Library Board.
This photo of the Naperville City Council was taken at the Mayor’s State of the City Address held at Tellabs in 2011. Until recently, Rybicki, pictured right of Mayor George Pradel, enjoyed attending civic events such as Riverwalk breakfasts and weekly Rotary Club of Naperville meetings held at Meson Sabika.
Rybicki noted that he wants to be remembered as the mayor who served during Naperville’s sesquicentennial celebration in 1981, a time when the city’s downtown survival was being challenged by large indoor shopping malls, namely the development of the Fox Valley Mall.
Under his watch, Naperville Settlement established strong roots to educate, where residents and visitors can visit “yesterday’s Naperville” today, he said.
His special pride and joy is the public/private partnership that he developed with the City Council, business leaders and the citizens of Naperville to establish the Riverwalk that revitalized downtown Naperville.
Today the award-winning Riverwalk not only enhances downtown, but keeps downtown Naperville thriving and attracting new business development.
During the last decade, Rybicki enjoyed his early-morning coffee groups where a bunch of men met at Colonial Cafe to reminisce and keep up with local issues. Rybicki listened to talk news radio all day long and few people were as up-to-date on current news.
One member of the coffee group, Ron Ory, remembered when Rybicki had requested photos he’d taken of the Riverwalk. “Chet paid me the ultimate compliment by using my Riverwalk images for his tombstone,” Ory said.
When asked what final thoughts he’d like conveyed upon his death, Rybicki answered, “I am forever grateful to my daughter-in-law, Mary Rybicki, for her care. She takes me to the store twice a week, takes care of my books and many, many other things.”
Mindful that because of his lost vision, his wife Mickey had done all the driving during the last few years of her life, Rybicki expressed his appreciation to folks who took him to Rotary, Riverwalk breakfasts, City Council meetings, Marine Corps Balls, etc. “Thanks to all the people, too many to name, who have helped drive me to places all these years.”
One friend, however, was mentioned by name for his commitment to Rybicki. “God’s been good to me, especially by bringing me friends like Bob Owensby.”
Mayor Pradel Comments
“His legacy includes working with Jim Moser and other community leaders to support the creation of the Naperville Riverwalk. He also fought hard to have Naper Boulevard built and made it an integral part of the City’s infrastructure. Also, in 1976, he commissioned then Chief of Police James A. Teal to investigate the building of a safety village. He turned the project over to me to carry through and it became Safety Town in 1977.
“As they say, behind every good man is a great woman. For Chet, that woman was his lifelong love Lillian, who was known as ‘Mickey.’ Every meeting, luncheon or public event he attended, she was right there with him. Their love for each other was an inspiration.
He was so involved in City life until his last days and never hesitated to share his thoughts with me on some of the big issues of the day. Even in his final days, he made sure to tell me what he thought needed to happen in our beloved town! I will miss my good friend so very much and will never forget how he helped make Naperville the wonderful City it is today.”
Flags on public buildings in Naperville have been lowered until further notice in honor of Mayor Rybicki’s contributions to Naperville, according to the city’s news release.
Rybicki is survived by his children: Michael ( Mary) Rybicki of Naperville; John (Susan) Rybicki of Texas; and Cheryl (Raymond) Foster of Washington, D.C.; and his five grandchildren: William Rybicki of Chicago; James Rybicki of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Dennis Martens of Florida, and twins Elizabeth Foster and Michael Foster of Washington, D.C. And one great granddaughter, Ada and a great grandson Henry of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Arrangements are by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home , 44 S. Mill Street, Naperville, IL 60540. Info: www.friedrich-jones.com. Visitation is from 4-9PM, Fri., March 15.
—PN
Updated March 15, 2013