Special ed pioneer honored
WAUKEGAN -- As a community gathered in the gymnasium of the school named in his honor, the tributes were as diverse as they were numerous Tuesday night for retired special education pioneer Robert E. Abbott.
The original Abbott Middle School principal, Rita Melius, recalled how the building was without folding chairs until she called Abbott, and he helped secure them through his ties to the Little Fort Lions Club.
The current principal, John Samuelian, thanked Abbott not only for his service to the community, but for hiring the woman who would become Samuelian's wife.
And Lake County Board member Mary Ross Cunningham told the crowd of more than 300 people that one of her children benefitted directly from the special education programs started by Abbott in the 1970s.
"I'm a proud mother. I'm a very proud mother, and I'm not ashamed to have a child who came through special ed," Cunningham said, turning to Abbott and saying "you touched my heart ... I look at my son today, and I want to say thank you for saving my son's life."
Tuesday's ceremony, which capped Robert E. Abbott Day in Waukegan schools, was held on the cusp of American Education Week (Nov. 15-21). Superintendent Donaldo Batiste said the Board of Education wanted to honor "one of our favorite educators" to observe the week, and he noted that Abbott's popularity prompted a change of venue for the board, which normally gathers in a small room at Lincoln Center.
"Mr. Abbott, I just want you to know that because of the number of people who wanted to see you tonight," he said, "we had to find a place that was large enough not only for our current employees, but also for all of the people whose lives you have touched."
Among those on hand for the fete were Mayor Robert Sabonjian, aldermen Rafael Rivera (9th Ward) and A.J. "Tony" Figueroa (4th), and state Rep. Eddie Washington, D-Waukegan. At one point, more than 30 people stood up when asked who had been hired by Abbott during his years as an administrator.
Abbott was first hired by the district in 1967, working as a teacher for the handicapped at what was then West Elementary School on Washington Street. Over the next quarter-century, he served in such capacities as learning disabilities coordinator and director of special education.
A lengthy resolution read on Tuesday lauded Abbott as "a visionary in the field of special education (who) saw the importance of early intervention well before it became a national trend." Among the programs started by Abbott are the Waukegan Early-Evaluation Program and bilingual assessment and education.
Samuelian said Abbott's influence spread beyond Waukegan, telling the crowd that "not just the middle school, but the entire district -- and not just the district but the entire city, Lake County, the state of Illinois, the entire country -- benefitted from Mr. Abbott and what he did for special ed."
In May 1992, just prior to his retirement, the school board voted unanimously to change the name of West School to Abbott Middle School. Board member June Maguire, who was on the board at the time, recalled casting her vote.
"We had many good names presented," she said, "but we felt the person who deserved it most was Mr. Robert Abbott."
