“Jeanine is definitely watching over us again this year,” said Pat Nicarico, Jeanine’s mom.
The sun was shining bright at 7:30 in the morning on Sunday, May 16th, and over 700 runners filled the street as the 2010 Run for Reading 5k was about to start at River Woods Elementary School in Naperville, a western suburb of Chicago. It has been 27 years since Jeanine Nicarico was abducted from her home and murdered, but on this day the focus of her parents Tom and Pat Nicarico, their daughters Kathy and Christine and their extended family has been to celebrate Jeanine’s life instead of her untimely death.
Fourteen years earlier Christine Nicarico, Jeanine’s sister, was talking with a group of her colleagues from River Woods Elementary School about Jeanine’s struggle with reading and a special teacher who inspired her through her learning challenges. It was that day that Christine and her colleagues decided to found the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Literacy Fund. Since its inception over $150,000 in grants have been distributed, promoting literacy throughout public and private schools in Naperville.
Scott Zelinski and his wife, Gretchen shared Jeanine’s story with the Chicago Fins earlier this year and a group joined together to run and donate to help support Jeanine’s family and cause. Afterwards, everyone gathered for a brunch at the Zelinski home where there was a unanimous decision that the Chicago office should not only participate but find ways to help volunteer at the event next year.