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Wilmette Park District mourns Terry Juliar
Terry M. Juliar
Shocked and saddened Wilmette Park officials paid tribute Monday to Terry M. Juliar, the district’s long time general manager for the Centennial Ice Rinks and Family Aquatics Center.
Mr. Juliar, the only manager the rinks have had since they opened in 1974, died May 14 at his Gurnee home, only hours after taking a bow at the conclusion of this year’s ice show. He was 64, and had worked for the park district for 38 years.
He was so integral to daily operations “that it really was his rink,” park board president Jim Brault said. During his tenure, thousands of children and adults took part in figure skating and hockey instruction, public skating and special events ranging from hockey tournaments to competitive figure skating.
Mr. Juliar, originally hired in 1974 to manage the ice rinks, was dedicated and diligent, district Director Steve Wilson said in a statement at the park board’s Monday meeting.
He also played an important role, with staff and in the community, in gaining approving of a referendum that allowed the district to reconstruct Centennial’s pool facility in the early 2000s.
Commissioner James Crowley who worked with Mr. Crowley as a member of the board’s Centennial committee, lauded him as a colleague and friend.
“Whether he was overseeing the running of the pool in the summer time or the ice rinks in the winter, he was always keeping watch over his second home; you see, Centennial was his home away from home.
“Everybody knew him and everybody liked him. Everybody will miss him … and in our final goodbyes, we will think of Terry with full hearts and unbending admiration.”
Mr. Juliar is survived by his wife Carla, also a park district employee, and their daughter Jackie. Visitation was May 17-18, with the funeral set for 11 a.m. Friday.
