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Born in Washington,
D.C., Rita attended several grammar schools in different parts of the
country before her career Marine father finally settled the family in
Palatine, Illinois in 1958. Rita attended both Bradley University and the
University of Illinois and has worked in the real estate, insurance and
banking fields. From 1977-87, she was the sole proprietor of an antique and
gift store in downtown Palatine. She is currently employed as a Director of
Government Affairs by the Save-A-Life Foundation, an organization dedicated
to teaching basic life saving techniques to children and bystanders. Rita
and her husband John, of forty years, raised their three children in
Palatine, and have nine grandchildren. Elected the first woman Mayor in
1989, and reelected in 1993, 1997 and 2001, she previously served as Village
Clerk for eight years. She not only devotes her time to Village concerns but
also uses her expertise and skills to serve on the Executive Boards of the
US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, Illinois Women in
Government, Northwest Municipal Conference and the Solid Waste Agency of
Northern Cook County. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for the
Illinois Municipal League, Greater Woodfield Convention and Visitors Bureau,
Northwest Housing Partnership, Roosevelt University and Harper College and
member of various other organizations. In addition, she has traveled to
Taiwan, Turkey, France and Italy to speak about governmental issues
effecting our municipalities with the hope to build closer ties with these
governments. Somehow, she has even found time in her busy schedule to go
skydiving for charity!
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