BOB "BIRD" STEVENS FUND LIVES ON THROUGH CRS

by Mel Muchnik

It is hard to believe that two years have passed since that fateful day when Bob "Bird" Stevens, President of the Park Forest Running and Pancake Club, and a member of the Calumet Region Striders, flew over his handle bars in a forest preserve, and suffered an unbelievable accident that left him paralyzed, and ultimately took his life 15 months later.

The response of the running communities throughout Chicago southland and northwest Indiana, and well beyond, was nothing short of extraordinary. Our running club (The Park Forest RPC) created a trust fund, acting as a funnel to numerous drives to assist Bob and his wife Althea. In all, more than $40,000 was contributed to the fund, and another substantial amount before the Fund was ever established was sent to Althea directly for an account the family established. Now our work is done, but the legacy and the efforts will continue through the continuing fund established by CRS in Bob's name.

A check for the balance of the fund was presented to Jean Tolchinsky, CRS President, at the Midwinter Frolic in Park Forest on January 9. And I would be remiss if I did not cite the glorious efforts of Shirley Kowalisyn and the many, many of you in CRS who raised money in so many different ways. The fund was enormously successful in raising substantial funds from a generous Chicago area running community, participation by many running clubs throughout Chicago and beyond, notably the Park Forest Running and Pancake Club and the Calumet Region Striders. Our expenditures included money to assist Bob during his ordeal in the year following the accident, complete payment of all funeral expenses, major financial assistance to Althea to help her and Bob survive the financial drain and then to restart her life, a bench/tree/monument in Murphy Park across from the Woods entrance (location within to be identified by Village landscape architect in coordination with former Trustees), and a major contribution to the CRS Bob Stevens Fund for Disabled Runners, whose goals for continuity are identical to those established by the Fund. Most importantly, we honored Bob, in life and now in eternity. He was more than our President.

To our Bird, our friend and the eternal Emperor of the Park Forest Running and Pancake Club.

• Mel Muchnik, President, Bob "Bird" Stevens Fund for Disabled Runners
• Trustees:
  • Tom Nowak (Treasurer)
  • Richard Limacher
  • Penny McCreight
  • Margaret Brady
  • George Scully (attorney -serving pro bono)

Note: Mel Muchnik is the familiar voice we hear at the start and finish of many area races large and small, from the Merrillville Hospital Hustle, April Fool's Run in Park Forest (created by Althea and Bob Stevens), the Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago , and the Lasalle Banks Chicago Marathon. He is an active member of the Park Forest Running and Pancake Club.

Application for Bob Stevens Disabled Runners Fund Assistance

If you would like to contribute, please make your check out to:

Calumet Region Striders
Bob Stevens Disabled Runners Fund (in memo area)

and send to:

CRS
PO Box 225
Griffith, IN 46319