Rita and John Harvard

John and Rita (Fredenhagen) Harvard born in 1929. They were classmates and friends in High School and married in 1981.

John and Rita (Fredenhagen) Harvard were raised in Naperville in the 1930's and 1940's when Naperville was hardly more than 4,000 residents. They have experienced explosive growth in their lifetime which today numbers 140,000. Both attended Naperville High School, now Naperville Central High School, from 1943-'47, graduating in a class numbering 100! Edward Hospital, originally the site of the Edward TB Sanatorium was located on Washington St. which was two lane and seldom used! The volunteer Fire Department shared a small building in downtown Naperville with the Police Department.

Rita, daughter of Grace & Walter Fredenhagen, along with brother, Ted, donated land to the City of Naperville for the creation of the Grace and Walter Fredenhagen Park in downtown Naperville. (This is the site of the first Prince Castle Ice Cream Store later to become the Cock Robin Ice Cream Shop.)

In 1947 John contracted Poliomyelitis that was a dreaded epidemic of that time. After recovery, John delayed his college education but enrolled and graduated with a B.S. degree in Industrial Administration trom the University of Illinois in 1952. He was employed by USG Corporation until 1990 after 38 continuous years with the company. His career was in technical sales to the industrial and construction industry holding a position as National Account Manager at retirement.

Rita, a 1951 Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL graduate with a B.S. degree in Biology, has been recognized for her many volunteer efforts to enhance the quality of life in Naperville. She served as the first woman President of the Rotary Club of Naperville 1994-95. Rita was the only woman on the Steering Committee that planned and built the Grace United Methodist Chureh which was dedicated in 1970.