Heather Marie McMeekan (1968-2024)
Well-known activist Heather Marie McMeekan, 56, died October 6, 2024, at Carle Methodist Hospital in Peoria, Illinois, surrounded by family and friends after a brief illness and complications from surgery.
Heather was born in 1968 in Lake Ridge, Illinois to Iris and George Platt. During her religion-affiliated junior high school years, she and classmates were repeatedly harassed and abused and the perpetrators got off despite being brought to trial. This situation where her dad was also a school board member became a movie filmed about it called "Cast the First Stone" in 1989. She was one of the most long-lived of the students in that class and forever retained an abiding passion for being the adult she needed during her tumultuous early years. She graduated from Marengo High School then received a B.A. in General Studies from Western Illinois University in 1990 and later a M.S. in Health EducationCommunity Health in 2000.
Janet Fitch (1946-2023)
Janet Louise Fitch, age 77, of Milwaukee, passed away after a short but intensive bout with cancer, on December 20, 2023. She leaves behind countless close confidantes, all of whom had their life directly enhanced by Janet’s emotional depth, hearty spirit, and creative spark.
Janet was a loving daughter to Ervin and Margaret Jankowski, and a big-hearted sister to Tom, Evelyn, Michael, Roger, Kathy, and Allan (Pawlicki). Her childhood antics, adventures, and mishaps earned Janet nicknames such as “Janko” and “Crash.”
Kathy Salzano (1964-2021)
Kathy Salzano, 57, of Elmhurst. IL, passed away on February 3rd, 2021, surrounded by family and friends.
Kathy, born to Jean & Robert Tracy in Texas, immediately brought joy and laughter into the world. Kathy went on to graduate from York Community High School as an honor student. After graduating from high school, Kathy went on to pursue a Master’s Degree in Spanish Linguistics.
Emily Meter (1935-2009)
Emily Eanswythe Custer Meter passed away peacefully, surrounded by friends, on Dec. 14, 2009. She was born on March 11, 1935 to Dorothy and Howard Custer in San Jose, CA. During her childhood she lived in Northern California, Greenbelt Maryland, and Wisconsin.
She met her future husband Donald Meter at the Channing-Murray House at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the two were married in 1961 at the First Unitarian Society of Madison. The church was special to Emily because she had been one of the volunteer stone-haulers who helped construct the Frank Lloyd Wright designed building.