Georganne Arnold Chalmers died January 8, 2022, at peace, after 89 eventful years. Born August 7, 1932 in Evanston and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Georganne graduated from Northwestern University in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in Speech. She soon joined a newly built television station in Rockford, WREX-TV, and over the next seven years wrote copy, sold time, hosted a cooking show (the actual cooking was her mother’s), interviewed Ronald Reagan, and got to direct live news broadcasts.
Georganne married Ken Chalmers in 1961 and settled in Evanston where she became active in and later President of the Evanston Junior League, focusing on Thrift House and Art in the Schools. After the birth of their two children, the couple moved to Winnetka where she was active in the community, on the golf course and tennis and paddle courts for nearly 50 years.
Georganne rarely joined a board she did not end up leading. At the Winnetka Community House she was on the Board of Governors, President of the Woman’s Board, and Chairman of the Antiques Show. At Northwestern University she was President of the Alumnae Board and of the Kappa Alpha Theta house. At Christ Church Winnetka she sat on the vestry, was Chairman of the rummage sale, the book department and led the rector search committee. She was Chairwoman of the Winnetka Women’s Board Ball, President of the Women’s Golf Club, President and Campaign Chairman of the United Way, and a multiyear member of the Caucus. All of which culminated in her being named Winnetka Woman of the Year in 1990.
Mother of Doug (Liz) and Julia (Adam), Nana of Elinor and Henry Chalmers of Hinsdale and Mason, Tate, and Ainsley Werner of Winnetka. Georganne said goodbye to Ken in 2013 but was fortunate to see her beloved Cubs win the World Series in 2016 and to spend her last years back in Evanston, overlooking the lake, traveling, reading and socializing with friends – both longtime and new – right to the end.
A memorial service will be held at Christ Church, Sheridan Road, Winnetka, on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Georganne’s name to the Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, IL 60093 (mycommunityhouse.org), or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (she was a 20-year survivor), 500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 (pancan.org). And well wishes will be gratefully received at [email protected].
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