2010 Cook County Citizen of the Year Sue Hennessy with her father, Vincent (Bud) Hennessy near the Fisherman’s Picnic grandstand Saturday, August 7, 2010.
Sue Hennessy, Cook County’s 2010 Citizen of the Year, spends most of her time at the Grand Marais Playhouse in the Arrowhead Center for the Arts (ACA), but from there, her positive influence has spread far and wide. According to Playhouse board member Jane Gellner, the Grand Marais Lions Club received more than a dozen letters nominating her to be the 2010 Citizen of the Year. She is the administrator and artistic and technical director of the Playhouse and ACA facility manager for Cook County Schools.
Hennessy, a 1984 graduate of Cook County High School and the youngest of Bud and LaVerne Hennessy’s seven children, was bitten by the theater bug during her involvement in the Playhouse as a teenager. She started college as a music major and member of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities marching band but finished with a bachelor of arts degree in theater from Concordia College- Moorhead.
Hennessy is very good at soliciting volunteers, but she does a lot of work herself, from running the business end of the Playhouse to building sets and directing plays. She is a master carpenter and maintains memberships in professional theater organizations.
Left: 2010 Cook County exemplary students Kipp Sande (L) and Jaclyn Biesemeyer enjoy riding in a convertible in the Fisherman’s Picnic parade Sunday, August 8, 2010. Above: Senior Citizen of the Year Alton Berglund waves to the parade crowd.
Through her extensive experience in New York theater and at the Guthrie in Minneapolis, Hennessy has developed a broad network of professional contacts who have helped Grand Marais Playhouse productions with everything from stage fighting and dance choreography to costume and set design and sound. A letter from the Playhouse board, comprised of Shelby Anderson, Sandi Furlow, Jane Gellner, and Maureen O’Phelan, states, “Sue also has the ability and connections within the greater arts community to bring in highly regarded professionals who work and teach alongside community members.”
The Playhouse board’s nomination touted Hennessy’s influence as a mentor of theater. “Sue’s teaching skills have allowed others the confidence to do jobs they might not have had an opportunity to do otherwise,” they wrote. “The people [who] work with Sue come away from their Playhouse experience with lifelong skills. … Sue’s deep love of theater has transferred over to many of her students. Many of the students involved in theater have gone on to make careers for themselves in the arts or theater through her tutelage and guidance. …The opportunities offered in Cook County, most of which are free or low-cost, are simply unparalleled.”
Part of the success of the Playhouse stems from Hennessy’s ability to run a tight ship. “She is disciplined, organized, and gives 100% of herself to the productions,” the board wrote. “Sue affects the lives of many people who live in Cook County. Sue does not turn anyone away who wants to be in a production. Thisis an amazing fact in itself! …Remember the Wizard of Oz?
There were close to 100 actors (mostly kids!) in that production. Sue had the talent to get the assistance she needed to keep the production in control, provide a great experience for the actors, and ultimately gave our community a fabulous performance!”
Hennessy’s impact goes beyond the local citizenry. “Sue Hennessey has played a vital part in making our community well-rounded, with Playhouse productions and arts events that are wellthought of throughout the country!” the board wrote. “We are aware of individuals who schedule their summer vacations around our summer play schedule. …By providing our county with such top-notch productions year after year, Sue has helped spread the name of Cook County as an arts destination point.
“There is evidence everywhere of Sue’s golden touch,” wrote the board. “Through her vision of excellence, she has provided us with the opportunity to escape our world through the arts by enjoying a ‘story’ through music, drama, poetry, dance, or whatever the medium be. …How lucky we are!”
Up on the Fisherman’s Picnic grandstand receiving her award on Saturday, August 7, Hennessy credited her parents with helping her become the person she is. All of her brothers and sisters as well as her father were able to attend the award ceremony.
Senior Citizen
of the Year
Lifelong Cook County resident Alton Berglund received his due when he was named 2010 Senior Citizen of the Year.
” Born in 1924, Berglund still lives on the Maple Hill farm where he raised dairy cows for many years.
At the awards ceremony Lion Rosemary Lamson pointed out that Berglund has served the community on various boards for a combination of more than 100 years: on the Soil & Water board 37 years, hospital board 22 years, county board 12 years, welfare board 12 years, Arrowhead Electric board nine years, and in the Farmer’s Service Administration nine years.
Berglund and his wife Carol have three children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and retired from Erie Mining Company.
“He is a very dependable, honest hard worker and caring person,” said Lamson.
Exemplary students
Cook County’s 2010 exemplary high school students, Jaclyn Biesemeyer and Kipp Sande, are leaving excellent reputations behind them as they go off to college.
If her achievements so far are any indication, Jaclyn Biesemeyer is going to make a difference in this world. According to Lioness Bev Denyes, “She is selfless and loves to serve others.” She has undertaken various community projects and raised money toward Haitian relief after this year’s devastating earthquake. She participated in Minnesota-based Students Today Leaders Forever, a nonprofit dedicated to developing leadership through service and community action.
Kipp Sande earned the respect of his schoolmates as a Cook County High School student, as evidenced by being voted homecoming king last fall. He was a member of the National Honor Society and played both football and golf. He will attend the University of Minnesota this fall.
Leave a Reply