The 2015 Citizens of the Year are:
Tracey Cowart for Service to the Community: The breadth of services performed by Tracey is amazing. Her nominator suggested she probably qualifies in all three categories. Tracey works a multitude of programs for the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, Grace Pointe Church, and St. Baldrick’s Indie Bound event. She organizes and executes monthly collections for various causes including Operation Support Our Troops, Loaves and Fishes Pantry, DuPage Public Acton to Deliver Shelter, the Walk to Defeat ALS, the Naperville Humane Society and Wayside Cross Ministries, in which 1100 coats were collected and donated. A bagpiper, she plays for many events in the Naperville area. Perhaps most importantly, through her actions, Tracey motivates friends, family, and strangers to help the less fortunate.
Wayne Fischer for Service to Veterans: Wayne received multiple decorations while serving his country as a Marine helicopter pilot in Viet Nam. When he returned to civilian life he carried a deep service mindset and commitment to serve veterans, youth, and those on active duty into his activities in the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is a Past Commander of Naperville American Legion Post 43, the DuPage County American Legion, 11th District American Legion, and incoming Commander of the 2nd Division, Department of IL. While broadening the geography of his Legion service he has remained an indispensable leader and worker in Naperville Post 43. From major events recognizing the service of WW II and Korean era veterans, the upcoming Department of Defense 50th Anniversary of Viet Nam Commemoration, recognition of Blue Star families, Poppy Days, Post Officer recruitment, monthly dinners and serving as a trustee, speaking at patriotic events and honoring deceased veterans, there is simply no activity, no responsibility in the Post in which has not been involved, or caused to happen. He is also a dedicated and very active member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 3873, serving as a trustee and chair of the Lenten Fish Fry Fund Raiser.
Steve Mazzarella for Service to Youth: As a respected and loved teacher and diving coach at Naperville North High School, Steve’s life work involves youth. But the Legion honors him for what he did outside the classroom. He touched student’s lives by believing in them, by pouring time and energy into those who struggled, by caring about their outside activities and connecting to their real-life situations. This is powerfully demonstrated by his deep involvement in Operation Snowball, a teen led substance abuse prevention program. Mazz (as he is called) was actively involved in mentoring Operation Snowball for over 20 years. While the minimum of 250 hours he devoted to it each year is impressive, his tireless energy, enthusiasm, ideas and belief in the teens and the magnitude of his positive influence on them that resulted made him an easy choice as Citizen of the Year for Service to Youth.
