Museum Gala

Join The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest at our 2024 Museum Gala on Thursday, March 7 at the Nineteenth Century Club. This year we will honor Susan and Nick Bridge and John Rigas with the 2024 “Heart of Our Villages” Awards. 

Ticket sales for this event have closed.

Our Honorees

Susan and Nick Bridge are longtime residents of Oak Park who have given freely of their time talents and skills in support of many philanthropic and education community activities. Susan Bridge is a lifelong educator who served as a teacher and principal for more than 40 years, including eight years as superintendent/principal at Oak Park and River Forest High School (1999-2007). She has also been involved with PING!, Women Leadership in Philanthropy and the Rotary Club. Nick Bridge serves on the Oak Park Plan Commission and has previously chaired the Oak Park Public Arts Commission (2005-2009) and the Oak Park Environment and Energy Commission (2013-19). He has created or supervised the creation of numerous murals in the village and served as a volunteer mural teacher at OPRF High School.

John Rigas has served as a River Forest village trustee for eight years (1989-1997), during which time he chaired the Finance Committee, and was president of River Forest for four years (2009-2013). He also has served as a member of the OPRF High School District 200 School Board (2001-2009). He has been recognized by his alma mater, Illinois State University (College of Business), with induction to its Hall of Fame and was a member of the Foundation Board of Directors at ISU for more than 20 years.