Niles East High School makes a Comeback

Skokie’s long-gone, but beloved Niles East High School could get permanent recognition starting next year from privately-funded foundation.

The Education Foundation for Excellence plans to start the first-ever Niles East Hall of Fame in ceremonies planned for Sept. 15, 2012 on the site of the former school, now a branch of at 7701 N. Lincoln Ave.

The college building replaced the old New Deal-era high school structure, which closed in 1980 amid controversy. But Oakton officials assured foundation vice-chair Alyse Burman and Niles East alumni that they could make room in the school for a place to honor the high school with memorabilia display and a Hall of Fame.

“When alumni would come up to our booth [at community events], they said they were distraught Niles East was not still standing,” Burman said.  “They still have ties to their alma mater. We started talking about it. What a great opportunity, to actually partner with Oakton Community College. We asked them if they’d be interested in having a [permanent remembrance]. The only thing left from Niles East is the flagpole. They hopped on it.”

While plans are still in the embryonic stage, Burman was able to secure the September date and Oakton’s participation. Like all other fund-raisers for the foundation – which distributes school supplies and emergency food baskets to needy students at and – the event would have a donation for attendees.

Burman is joined in the planning effort by husband Jeff Burman and Keith Baker, both Class of 1974. , with a large collection of Niles East artifacts, is helping out. They also have a running start in collecting more memorabilia from Howard Bresnik, Class of 1966.

In addition to donating copies of old student newspapers and prom items, Bresnik has the Niles East crest, which he obtained at an auction.

“It needs re-furbishing,” Bresnik said of the crest, which is stored in his garage in Buffalo Grove. “My vision for a number of years was to fix it up, encase it in plastic and erect it on the grounds of the school. I also still have some of original bricks from the school.”

Richard Gertz, another alumnus, donated a letterman’s jacket.

Robert Feder, Class of 1974, went on to become a popular Chicago Sun-Times TV-radio columnist. He’s now blogging for TimeOutChicago.com. Feder liked the concept of the Hall of Fame.

“I think it’s a wonderful way to remember the name and heritage of a great school while at the same time contributing to the community in a  meaningful way today,” Feder said. “We owe a great deal to Niles East for setting us on a path where our careers took us. Unfortunately, the school isn’t around anymore and I’m happy an effort is under way to guarantee Niles East is remembered in the future.”

Burman and her planners should have no problems selecting charter members of the Hall of Fame when they figure out a selection process. Niles East had future Nobel Prize winners in back-to-back classes.

Robert Horvitz, Class of 1964, was the co-recipient of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries concerning genetic regulation of organ development and programmed cell death. Martin Chalfie, Class of 1965, was the co-recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP.

The foundation raises $40,000 a year to aid the needy students, a much-needed effort in the poor economy. They have a number of fund-raising efforts, including two golf tournaments and a Pizza Awards night, which enlisted the participation of Lou Malnati’s, Village Inn and Pequod’s. The first pizza event, charging $10 admission, raised $3,000, with another night scheduled for Jan. 19.

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