ELMHURST CHAMBER TO HONOR EX-BANKER FOR GOOD WORKS
AT ‘TEE OFF FOR TOCHE’ 55TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING ON JULY 22

ELMHURST, Ill., (July 16, 2003) – John Wartinbee of Elmhurst, Director Emeritus at Community Bank of Elmhurst, will receive the “Tee Off for Toche” Good Works Award at the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s 55th Annual Golf Outing at Oak Meadows Golf Course in Addison on Tuesday, July 22.

“John is being honored for his many contributions to the betterment of the Elmhurst Chamber and Elmhurst business community through his exemplary service as a banker, his strong commitment to the work of the Spring Road Business Association and Elmhurst Noon Lions Club, and his personal support of the golf outing,” said Chamber President John Quigley.

Named in memory of late Chamber President A.J. “Toche” Terrones, the Good Works Award will be presented to Wartinbee at the golf outing dinner, which begins at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets to the dinner only are $60.00 per person, with two beverage tickets and a choice of roast beef of baron or salmon Scandanavian included.  For reservations, contact the Chamber office by phone at (630) 834-6060 or e-mail at info@elmhurstchamber.org.

Past recipients include Elmhurst Mayor Thomas D. Marcucci (2002), Betsy Hanisch (2001) and Tom Coffey (2000).

Wartinbee, 68, enjoyed a 41-year career in banking, with the last 30 years in Elmhurst.  He worked at the former York State Bank & Trust Co. (now US Bank) for 18 years, hired by William C. “Bill” Gooch Jr., now the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer at Community Bank of Elmhurst.

When Gooch began two years of work to organize Community Bank in the early 1990s, Wartinbee rejoined his former boss.  He then served with “Your Hometown Bank” as an Executive Vice President and Director for 10 years.

Wartinbee has been active in the Elmhurst Chamber since his days at York State Bank, including service as Treasurer.  He served the Spring Road Business Association for nearly 30 years and helped to organize the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  While at York State Bank, he also volunteered his time for the York/Vallette Business Association.

Active in the community, Wartinbee is the Secretary and a Past President of the Elmhurst Noon Lions Club, which he joined in 1994.  He also is Congregation President at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elmhurst.

Wartinbee and his wife, Cecilia, celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on July 12.  They are the parents of five (Carolyn, Jane, Thomas, Sally and Patricia), all of whom graduated from York Community High School.

Before coming to Elmhurst, Wartinbee worked 11 years for several Wisconsin banks, starting out in 1962 at the former First Wisconsin National Bank (now US Bank) in Milwaukee.

A native of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Wartinbee holds a Bachelor’s degree (1961) in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s degree (1965) in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  He also has done attended classes at Luther College in Iowa and the former La Crosse State College.

Wartinbee enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955 and served three years, including a stint in Germany.  While serving overseas, he and Cecilia, a high school classmate, were married twice—in a German civil service on July 10, 1957 and in the military base chapel on July 12, 1957.  Their engagement anniversary is July 11.

Established in 1918, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a voluntary organization of business and professional men and women who have joined together to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community.

The Chamber also serves the needs of its members through services, programs and events that provide opportunities for networking and referral, business education, development and promotion, governmental representation and community involvement.
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