Five-term Wadsworth Village President Glenn Ryback was proud of the country living atmosphere he helped maintain in his village during his 30 years as a trustee and president.
“I want to keep Wadsworth the village of country living,” Ryback said in a News-Sun interview before his most recent election campaign in March.
When asked to talk about Ryback recently, Wadsworth Trustee Geralyn Hansen, who is in her fourth term as a village legislator and has known him for more than 15 years, the town’s lifestyle was the first thing to come to mind.
“Everything he did was about keeping Wadsworth a village of country living,” Hansen said. “It was his whole life.”
Ryback, Wadsworth’s village president since 2007 and a real estate professional for more than three decades, died Sunday of natural causes, according to a statement released by the village. He was 71.
During his time as village president, Hansen said Ryback never missed a village event whether it was the annual Christmas tree lighting or the town’s Easter Egg Hunt. He did not let anything stop him.
“Even when he had a hip replacement, he was there hobbling around the Easter Egg Hunt,” Hanson said. “Even if he didn’t know you were there, he would find you.”
Though Wadsworth does not have a Fourth of July parade, Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said Ryback was a regular at her city’s American Independence Parade.
“On the Sunday before the Fourth of July, he was always there,” Taylor said. “He defined commitment to community. He was all about people and bringing the community together.”
Just as Ryback was always present for Wadsworth residents, Scott Drabicki, a Realtor at Indian Creek Real Estate owned by Ryback, said Ryback knew how to guide agents without putting undue pressure on them.
“He was my manager and he was like my best friend,” Drabicki said. “He would tell you how it is straight. If I needed help, he was always there. He had an easy approach. It was never aggressive.”
Ryback was born Oct. 8, 1952, and graduated from Glenbrook North High School. He earned a master’s degree in business from Northern Illinois University. He started Indian Creek Real Estate in 1989 in Gurnee.
Along with helping people buy homes, Ryback bought houses himself, renovated them and then either sold or rented them. Larry Jones, a real estate developer, Wadsworth resident and friend of Ryback, said they often talked business.
“He had a masterful way of doing business,” Jones said. “He was very successful at it. He was a strong force in Wadsworth and set a new paradigm for the community.”
As a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wadsworth, Hanson said Ryback was active in the church.
Taking his civic and political leadership beyond Wadsworth, Ryback was involved in the Democratic Party and in several governmental related organizations. Lake County Democratic Chair Lauren Beth Gash said he was an asset to the organization.
“He always had a smile on his face,” Gash said. ” His optimistic viewpoint was always encouraging to our candidates. It’s a tremendous loss.”
Along with serving as a trustee and then village president of Wadsworth, he was a member of the board of directors of the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission since 2000.
An active member of the Lake County Municipal League, Ryback served two years as its president and three years as vice president during his tenure. He was also vice chairman of the Lake County Council of Mayors
Ryback is survived by his son, Peter Ryback, daughter Carissa (Mark) and brother Donald (Brenda) Ryback.
Visitation is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wadsworth and the funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church.
