EPCHS Alum In The Spotlight: Cathy Aparo, Class Of 1973

“One thing that I have learned is that every day is a new adventure.”

Since being awarded the Evergreen Park Community High School Hall of Fame honor two years ago, 1973 EPCHS alum Cathy Aparo has gone on to an unprecedented sixth term as Evergreen Park Village Clerk, most recently re-elected in April 2021.

At a time when many people shy away from public service, especially politics, Aparo calls it the greatest job in the world. Over two decades, she has served as clerk with three Evergreen Park mayors: Anthony Vacco, James Sexton and Kelly Burke.

“Over these many years, I have worked with such dedicated professionals in all facets of village government, including the many individuals who have served on our Board of Trustees,” she said.

A lifelong resident, Aparo described growing up in Evergreen Park as “a wonderful experience.”

“I remember spending lazy days at Aqua Park, chasing the Good Humor truck for ice cream, going to the parade, and of course, playing until the streetlights came on at night time,” she said.

Attending EPCHS was “phenomenal,” she added.

“The sewing teachers will never forget me, and not for the right reasons,” she joked.

As the longtime village clerk, Aparo said the village’s main priority has long been “treating everyone with dignity and respect.”

“Many times, you are helping to solve a little problem before it escalates into one much bigger,” she said, adding that she is “very privileged to serve” every single Evergreen Park resident.

Aparo’s decades of dedication will be recognized this week when she will be named the Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year.

“Our future is very bright, and I am very happy to have helped be part of that,” she said.