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    In The News

    Community Mourns The Loss Of Retired Chicago Executive Airport Board Member, Ralph Shepstone

    Ralph Shepstone 82, left this world on Friday, November 14, 2008.

    Ralph's introduction to airplanes and aviation was different from most. It was as a boy in the UK during World War II when the Luftwaffe was terrorizing his hometown of Bristol, England. Near the end of the war Ralph enlisted in the British Army, graduating from Officer Candidate School in India. The year was 1945. After duty in Singapore and Malaysia, Ralph returned to England. It wasn't long, however, before he returned to India for sixteen years working for a British enterprise in the production of tea and rubber.

    It was during that time Ralph met his future wife, Jane, an American tourist from River Forest, Illinois. Jane and Ralph eventually relocated to Glenview, Illinois to make their home and raise their three sons Ralph, Geoffrey, and Keith.

    Ralph became involved with the airport as a member of the Palwaukee Municipal Airport Commission. In the 1980's, the Shepstones left the area to spend seven years living in Japan, Korea, and Italy. Upon their return, Ralph was an active member of the Commission, retiring in 2008.

    Ralph was influential in guiding the growth of Chicago Executive Airport from a relatively small general aviation facility to the world caliber operation it is today. He can be proud of his part in having the airport become one of the 40 busiest business aviation airports in the world.

    Ralph was also awarded the 2004 Prospect Heights Citizen of the Year award, for his service as Treasurer of the Prospect Heights Library District, and the City of Prospect Heights. In 2005, Ralph was awarded the Cook County Sheriff's Senior Medal of Honor for his spirit of volunteerism.

    Thank you, Ralph. Tail winds always.

    A remembrance celebration of the life of Ralph Shepstone will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 20th at the Rob Roy Country Club Village Clubhouse located at 270 Country Club Drive, Prospect Heights, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ralph's name to the Civil Air Patrol, Memo: Ralph Shepstone Flight Scholarship, 64 East Hintz Road, Wheeling, Illinois 60090.

    For further information about Ralph Shepstone, please contact Dennis Rouleau, Airport Manager, Chicago Executive Airport, 847.537.2580.