Father’s Day is Special for All Dads
Glencoe Grand Prix – John W. Bleck, Robert Bleck, Thomas Bleck and Brian Bleck
Father’s Day is special for us dads. We are glad for an excuse to do whatever we want for a day. Our families make a big deal over us, if only for one day each year.
Here at Bleck Architects, the dads are making plans for their big day.
Bob takes advantage of the usual good weather to get out for a long bike ride to Wisconsin and back. That usually means a trip of 100 miles or more, called a “century”. Chuck has been a tennis player since playing on the team at Waukegan East High School and he plans to be out on the court on Father’s Day.
Their dad Tom Bleck is taking a trip to Canada with a group of fishermen. Since retiring from the architecture firm nearly 20 years ago, Tom has enjoyed doing building projects and travelling to visit his far-flung family. Even so, he still keeps his hand in architecture and serves on the Plan Commission of Beach Park.
Tom’s dad Henry Bleck was a civil engineer with offices in Waukegan. Three of Henry’s boys became engineers and architects and joined him in his office in the building designed by Tom on Glen Rock Avenue in Waukegan.
Together they developed a diverse client base, primarily in Lake County, Illinois.
Tom talks about the early days of running the firm and raising 9 kids with his wife Virginia Pavlik. In the 1960’s Lake County declared a moratorium on sewer connections. Fortuitously, at the same time an old friend asked Tom to help out designing grower-owned cranberry processing plants in New Jersey and Wisconsin. Since then, Virginia loyally refused to purchase any brand of cranberry juice except the Ocean Spray brand.
In the late 70’s, the firm began working at the new theme park in the once sleepy community of Gurnee. Tom and Virginia reminisced about the fun they had on the maiden voyage of the American Eagle roller coaster, riding with Mr. and Mrs. Marriott, the original owners of the theme park. Chuck and Bob spent many Father’s Days in the past with their dad at Great America.
Tom’s legacy at the firm will be long remembered and appreciated. Chuck and Bob wish their dad and all dads a wonderful Father’s Day. It’s your special day, so let your families make a big deal over you and get out and have some fun.
