Board of Directors
Wilma Beshoar, May 2003
Wilma moved to La Grange more than 40 years ago with her husband and three children, and was very active in the community while raising her family. She served as president of the following: Cossitt PTA, Band and Orchestra, and Home/School Council at L.T.H.S. She has also been president of PEO and was on the L.T.H.S. school board for 13 years (secretary for four years). In addition to her work with Plymouth Place, Wilma has also been very involved in her church, the First Presbyterian Church of La Grange – four terms as an elder, 13 years as church treasurer, chair of the finance and property committee, and past president of various committees. She has five grandchildren and enjoys gardening, swimming, singing in the church choir and traveling. Wilma’s aunt through marriage, Mrs. Juanita Beshoar, was a resident of Plymouth Place for many years.
R. Dean Conlin, May 2005
Dean Conlin is a partner in the law firm of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP, where he has practiced corporate insurance law for the past 34 years. Prior to that, Dean served for four years as trial and defense counsel in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He graduated from the University of Illinois and Harvard Law School. He and his wife, Linda, recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with their three adult children, Christen, Jeff and Anne, and two grandchildren, Maddie and Liza. The Conlins are active members of the First Congregational Church of Western Springs, where Linda has been new member coordinator for the past 23 years. Dean first joined the board in 1995, and served as chairman of the board from January 2000 until May 2002, when planning for Plymouth Place’s redevelopment began. After serving as a director emeritus for one year, Dean returned as an active director in May 2005.
James P. Gage, Vice President of the Residents' Council, May 2011
James was born in Philadelphia, PA and attended the Drexel Institute of Technology after serving in the Unites States Marine Corps from August 1943-June 1946. Jim and his wife Doris celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in September 2011. They have two children and two grandchildren who all live in the Chicago area. They raised their family in Western Springs and lived there for over 34 years. The Gages moved to Plymouth Place in June 2008. Jim worked for Liquid Carbonic Corporation. He started as Plant Manger of their largest CO2 plant in 1955 and retired as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1988. During his tenure there he held several jobs including National Director of Productions, Vice President of the Carbon Dioxide Group, Exectuive Vice President and President and Chief Executive Officer. Jim also server on the Plymouth Place Board of Directors during the 1980's. He has served as Chariman of the Residents' Council Finance Committee for the past two years and has recently been elected as the Vice President of Resident's Council in May 2011.
Charles J. Grund, AIA, Chariman, May 2004
Chuck Grund is a principal at Grund & Riesterer Architects, Inc. He is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology with a bachelor of architecture, and is licensed in Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. Chuck is a member of the American Institute of Architects, was nominated for the AIA Chicago Chapter Young Architect Award in 1994, and is a member of the Village of Brookfield Plan Commission. He was a past member/president of the St. Barbara Elementary school board, and has been an assistant B.A.L.L. coach. He is a visiting instructor at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Chuck begins his term as chairman of the Plymouth Palce Board of Directors and was most recently chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee.
Ralph Gutekunst, Past President/Advisor of the Residents’ Council, May 2008
Ralph and wife Janette were 35-year residents of La Grange before they moved to Plymouth Place. He received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and his M.S. from the University of Kansas in experimental psychology. His work in research, administration and consulting focused on the application of computer technology to issues in public safety. Ralph has been active in organizations dealing with older adults. He is the community team leader for Aging Well in La Grange, as well as president of the board of Interfaith Community Partners. He is currently Past President/Advisor fo the Residents’ Council at Plymouth Place.
Diane L. Hamburger, May 2011
Diane's career has been in marketing communications and public relations. She started in the field with the Quaker Oats Company where she held various marketing positions and was employed over 23 years by Nalco Chemical Company, Naperville, hwere she held the position of Division Vice President and managed the global promotional and advertising programs of Nalco's diverse business centers. A few years later, Diane joined the Illinois Finance Authority in Chicago as their marketing and public relations manager. She is now retired. Diane holds degrees from the College of Wooster where she majored in Biology and a Masters in Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University. Over the years, Diane has served on teh not-for-profit boards of the Business Marketing Association, Openlands, and the College of Wooster.
Mark Harris, May 2003
Mark Harris is a member of the law department of the Boeing Company in the Labor, Employment and Benefits Group in Chicago. His practice focuses on providing advice and counsel regarding compensation and employee benefit matters and related issues. Before joining Boeing, he was director of compensation and benefits for Tribune Company in Chicago, where he was responsible for the design and financial management of the company’s equity compensation, incentive compensation, welfare benefits and retirement programs. He also functioned as Tribune’s in-house ERISA counsel. He began his career as an attorney in the Employee Benefits Group of the law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery in Chicago. Mark received his B.A. in English from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, and his J.D. from the University of Michigan. He lives in Western Springs with his wife, Lori. Daughter Marni is a senior at L.T.H.S. and son Nate is a sophomore at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Mark enjoys various outdoor activities, including fishing and camping. He also volunteers his time on the board of local non-profit organizations, including Plymouth Place and Advocate Healthcare. He was chairman of the Plymouth Place board from May 2007 to May 2009.
Dr. Loren B. Horton, May 2008
Dr. Horton did his undergraduate work at St. Ambrose University, graduating in 1947 after four years in U.S. Army Ordinance, including one year in Japan after hostilities cessation. In 1951 he received his M.D. from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago, and interned at Cook County Hospital and AAFP MacNeil Hospital in Berwyn, Illinois. Dr. Horton had an industrial practice in La Grange from 1953-1990, where he also raised his family. He was on the founding staff of La Grange Memorial Hospital and has been involved in social, medical and medical organizational activities for many years. While Dr. Horton is retired, he does maintain his license to practice by continuing to attend medical education seminars. Dr. Horton provided medical assistance to Plymouth Place residents from 1953-1990.
Steve Pleimling, Past President, May 2003
Steve Pleimling is president of the Community Bank of Western Springs. He has more than 30 years of banking experience, most while working in the communities of Western Springs and La Grange. He is an active member of the Western Springs Business Association, the LaGrange Business Association and the La Grange Rotary Club. Additionally, he is on the board of directors of Senior Home Sharing, a not-for-profit agency that provides affordable housing for seniors. Steve is also a member of the employer advisory board for the La Grange Area Department of Special Education. He has served as president of the board for Community Support Services, the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Rotary Club of La Grange; he is also a past board member of the Rich Port YMCA, the Southwest Suburban Center on Aging and the West Suburban United Way. Steve has begun his tenure as chairman of the board of directors of Plymouth Place. He resides in Downers Grove with his wife, Janet. They have two grown sons.
Ray Powers, May 2007
Ray Powers graduated from Northern Illinois University with an accounting major and earned an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Chicago. In 1962, he received his Certified Public Accounting (C.P.A.) Certificate. His work experience includes roles as a financial accountant for U.S. Gypsum, staff accountant for Papermate, controller for Leaf Brands, and then controller and chief financial officer for Barton Brands. Ray retired in 2000 and enjoys playing golf. He and wife Nancy have been married since 1959; they have three children and 10 grandchildren. He has been a volunteer at the Western Springs Library, President of the Western Springs Police Pension Board from 1994-1998, treasurer of the Western Springs Swimming Pool from 1974 to 1987, and is a member of the Illinois Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.
Nancy Sutherland, Vice Chairperson, May 2005
Nancy Sutherland received a B.A. from the College of Wooster, Ohio, and an M.A. from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She spent time as an economics teacher in School District #102, before joining the firm of Mesirow & Company as an investment research and portfolio management assistant. In 1972 she joined Continental Bank, where she began as an investment assistant and worked her way up to vice president, Small Business Lending Group. From 1993-1999, Nancy worked for Shorebank Corporation in Chicago as vice president & team leader of the Austin Branch Commercial Lending Group, and as manager and vice president of the Portland, Oregon office. Nancy has been affiliated with the following not-for-profit boards: Chicago Theological Seminary, Openlands and the College of Wooster. She enjoys music, gardening and travel, and resides in Western Springs with her husband, George.
Tom Teegarden, May 2004
Tom Teegarden graduated from DePauw University with a B.A. in history/economics. He did his graduate study at Northwestern & Loyola Universities in marketing/finance, and received his M.B.A. in 1971. He has been a stockbroker for more than 37 years and is currently with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Tom has also been an active member of the First Congregational Church of Western Springs. He and his wife, Karen, have four grown children. Several of Tom’s relatives have lived at Plymouth Place: his great-aunt, Laura Foster (1946-1969), his grandmother, Lillian VanSands (1965-1970) and his mother, Alice. In addition, Plymouth Place residents Walter and Martha Kirchherr are his in-laws. Tom served as a board member from May 1994-May 2003, and served as chairman of the board from 2002-2003. He spent one year as a director emeritus before being asked by the board development committee to return as a member in May 2004.
Mary Voigt, President of the Residents’ Council, May 2009
An Arkansas native, Mary Voigt received her B.A. from the University of Arkansas and did one year of graduate study at the University of Iowa. A widow, Mary retired after 36 years with Standard Oil/Amoco/British Petroleum. She trained new hires/transferees to the Naperville site and handled benefits for on-site employees. As supervisor of cash accounts for Amoco Motor Club, she led a team in the development of a computerized inter-departmental billing system. Her volunteer experience includes the following: trustee for the International Association of Administrative Personnel Retirement Centers Trust. IAAP owns and operates a 166-cottage apartment center in Vista Grande, New Mexico, for retired secretaries. During her tenure as trustee, the association added an additional 66 units to the project. Alexander Doll Clubs National Association: Served on the by-laws committee during a time of reorganization, then served as treasurer on the national board for seven years. Modern Doll Collectors’: treasurer and member of the board for nine years. At present, Mary is serving as secretary for the board of directors of BP/Amoco Association of Greater Chicago, and as president of a local doll collectors’ club.
Rev. Dr. Richard G. Wolf, Senior Minister, First Congregational Church of LaGrange
Dr. Wolf grew up and attended high school in Homewood, Illinois. He received a B.A. from the University of Illinois (Urbana), a master of divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary at the University of Chicago, and a doctor of ministry from the Chicago Theological Seminary at the University of Chicago. Dr. Wolf has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ since 1984. He has been married to Margaret Wolf for 25 years. He has served in parishes in Elmhurst, Illinois (15 years), and Brookfield, Wisconsin (nine years), and has served on the board of directors for colleges, senior services organizations, YMCAs and interfaith groups.