GENEVIEVE TOWSLEY WOULD BE WOMEN OF THE '90S

July 16, 1999 — Source: Naperville Sun, The (IL)

This is in response to the July 27 column by Joni Hirsch Blackman who raised the question of "Life is not fair" with regards to Genevieve Towsley's sculpture placed in front of the Barnes and Noble building.

I worked for the Naperville and Lisle Sun newspapers for 12 years.

Towsley turned over her "Newcomers" column to me in the `60s with words of advice, namely "always check your source, facts, and never write anything second hand."  I wrote under her tutelage for years prior to becoming the Sun's photojournalist.

I received first-hand experience and enjoyed working as a photographer covering her feature stories.

What a woman!  Unbiased, sympathetic, tolerant, with love of teen-agers and those oppressed.

A sense of humor and a real trouper who continued to write even in her 80s. No, she didn't use shorthand.

Wrote all interviews in long hand.

Spent hours at an old Remington typewriter.

How she would have loved the challenge of today's computer.

In response to Dwight Yackley's donation: Yackley has been a moral supporter of Century Walk Corp. since its inception in '96. Yackley contributed $15,000 toward the reprinting of the sixth edition (with cooperation of Sun Publications) of Towsley's book titled "A View of Historic Naperville."  He provided the location while working with architects as to proper placement, lighting and further provided the two stone benches on each side of the entrance.

Allow credit be shown to the sculptress, Pamela Carpenter, with whom I networked to capture the spirit of this awesome journalist.

I shared how she dressed, held her pen, etc.

There are few who would have thrown their heart and soul into such a marvelous piece of art at such a nominal fee.

As a charter member of the Century Walk Corp., I applaud the board of directors, headed by Brand Bobosky, whose members have worked uncountable hours on providing the city with public art works on a minimal budget.

So far I have not found a long line of contributors with open wallets to help further the CWC goals, but sincerely grateful to local organizations, The Illinois Arts Council, private donors (some on the CWC Board) and the City Council for their recognition of the importance of the visual arts.

Although I tend to object to insinuations, it would seem the artistic creation of Genevieve Towsley provoked the columnist to articulate her concern for the placement.

One purpose is to space the artworks to create a WALK. Thus the name Century Walk.

Rest assured, as a true women of the `90s, Genevieve would never complain that "Life was not fair" and is completely comfortable with her present "backdrop."  Do stop by and be interviewed by one of the best, and please do me a favor -- give Genevieve a hug for me.

Dee Pasternak  Naperville

Section: NEWS — Page: 14