Robert “Bob” Hubbard Named 2024 Batavia Citizen of the Year

Batavia MainStreet is this year’s Spirit of Batavia honoree with a Batavia Community Impact Award also going to the Peace Bridge Initiative.

BATAVIA, ILL – December 18, 2024 – A life-long Batavian with a “long and distinguished” career as a community volunteer and community leader was named the 2024 Batavia Citizen of the Year (COTY) today. The Batavia Chamber of Commerce will honor Robert “Bob” Hubbard on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at the Chamber’s Inspire 2025: A Celebration of Those Who Inspire Us! annual awards event.

Additionally, Batavia MainStreet is the Spirit of Batavia award winner for 2024, with a Community Impact Award being given to the Peace Bridge Initiative for the efforts to add permanent “Peace On Earth” letters to the downtown pedestrian bridge along with associated projects. A committee of previous recipients of the Citizen of the Year award selects the Batavia Citizen of the Year from nominations received from the community. This group also chooses the Spirit of Batavia group honoree and can choose to give a Community Impact Award.
 
Margaret Perreault, president and CEO of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce, commented that once again, the committee chose a worthy winner.
 
“Bob Hubbard’s lifelong commitment to Batavia reflects the very best of community leadership and service,” stated Margaret. “A long-time member of the Batavia Rotary Club, where I have the privilege of serving alongside him, Bob exemplifies Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self.’

“A former local business owner, Bob has dedicated his retirement to making Batavia an even better place for all. His family’s business, Hubbard’s Furniture Store, was a proud member of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce for nearly 70 years, a legacy that speaks to his deep roots in our community,” Margaret continued. “Bob’s humility, generosity, and tireless efforts to give back embody the values we hold dear, and we are honored to recognize him as our 2024 Citizen of the Year.”

Robert “Bob” Hubbard is a generational Batavian, having grown up in Batavia and raised his family here. He was the third-generation owner of one of Batavia’s oldest businesses, which began in 1910 as Hubbard and Johnson Furniture Store. The store, most recently known as Hubbard’s Ethan Allen Gallery, was closed in 2011 when Bob retired.

Bob is married to Kathryn “Kathy,” who retired from teaching at Batavia’s H.C. Storm Elementary School in 2014 after 36 years. They are the parents of three daughters, Sara Hattrem, Elizabeth Hardey, and Emily Matile and have six grandchildren.

 In his nomination packet, George Scheetz wrote a seven-page compilation of roles and organizations that Bob Hubbard has been involved with through the years. Mr. Scheetz is the past executive director of the Batavia Public Library and historian for the Batavia Historical Society. He wrote that “the work of this one citizen has touched the lives of untold numbers of citizens of Batavia and beyond in many different and positive ways.”

This lengthy list includes the Batavia High School’s INCubator Entrepreneurship Program, CASA Kane County, Living Well Cancer Resource Center, TriCity Family Services, Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, Batavia Community Chest/United Way, and Rotary Club of Batavia, along with at least 10 other organizations. Bob has served on the board of directors for many of these, including several times as chairman.

The former businessman actively gives back to future entrepreneurs as the Community Champion for the Batavia High School’s INCubator Entrepreneurship Program. In this role, Bob serves as a mentor, coach, and business resource. Dennis Piron Jr., INCubator program instructor, wholeheartedly supports Bob as Citizen of the Year. In a letter, he said that without Bob’s efforts, “it would be impossible to provide students with the real-world business perspectives that define our program.”

Beyond recruiting up to 16 mentors and 40 coaches and judges each year, Mr. Piron said that Bob has been an integral part of managing the funding of this program, one that has benefited more than 500 students through the years.

“His leadership has helped us raise over $80,000 and obtain nearly $100,000 in grants and donations since inception,” he explained.

CASA Kane County

In 2013, after retiring from the board of directors at Living Well Cancer Resource Center, Bob was looking for another opportunity, one that would be more hands on, and CASA Kane County was suggested to him. After looking into the Court Appointed Special Advocate and Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL) program, he decided that this was a hands-on role where he could make a difference in the lives of children. 

CASAs are specially trained volunteers who become the crucial voice of a child in abuse, neglect and private guardianship cases. Bob has assisted multiple children through his 11 years of service and finds that being a CASA is one of his most fulfilling volunteer duties.

“It’s a lot different than being on a board of directors,” explained Bob. “You’re one of the worker bees, building a relationship, helping and making a difference.

“When you’re on a board, you receive some nice letter from people, and maybe if you are in a facility, you can have some conversations with people, but it isn’t the same,” he continued. “So, I like working as a CASA and also with the students in the INCubator class.”

In a letter of nomination, Batavian Bill Kettering commented about Bob’s devotion to the CASA/GAL program.

“The work is rewarding no doubt, but it also requires dealing with children in some horrific situations and requiring gut-wrenching decisions,” wrote Mr. Kettering. “Bob’s level of empathy is extraordinary, and his work with scores of children has made a huge positive difference for our community. For this alone, I feel Bob is worthy of this award and recognition.

“He is humble, not looking for personal recognition. He just wants to give back, and simply does so,” he concluded.

This humble theme carries through many of the letters of support sent on his behalf. George Scheetz expanded on this theme.

“Bob is a humble person not usually found in the spotlight; that is, he is a “quiet volunteer” and reticent about his own accomplishments,” wrote George. “He is a genuine, caring, kind-hearted person.
“Further, he is a resourceful problem-solver,” he added. “In short, Bob is willing to help anyone in any capacity whatsoever, and he proves it by his actions, time and again.”

A statement by last year’s Citizens of the Year, Dave and Marge Brown, summarizes why Bob Hubbard was chosen as the 2024 Batavia Citizen of the Year.

“We feel he exemplifies everything that the COTY award represents,” concluded Dave and Marge. “Through Bob’s unwavering commitment to our community, tireless volunteerism, and outstanding leadership, Bob embodies the values of compassion, service and integrity.  In everything he does, he exhibits the true spirit of community and remains deeply invested in creating positive changes for Batavia.”

Another theme that is clear each year is that the COTY winner generally feels that they receive more than they give.

“It (volunteering) is a great way to just learn more about what’s going on in your community, to meet more people, and help more people,” mentioned Bob. “Like most people who volunteer a lot, I get much more out of what I do than what I put into it.”

Spirit of Batavia Award – Batavia MainStreet

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce is also pleased to announce that Batavia MainStreet, celebrating their 25^th year in 2024, is this year’s recipient of the Spirit of Batavia award. This is the ninth year the award has been given to an organization that has made significant contributions to the Batavia community.

Batavia MainStreet is the dynamic engine that propels signature events in downtown Batavia, the Farmers’ Markets (indoor and out, year-round), and the popular business incubators known as the Batavia Boardwalk Shops. In 2024, Batavia MainStreet, a nonprofit organization, hosted the Illinois MainStreet conference, the perfect opportunity to showcase Batavia’s beautiful downtown to a state-wide audience.

According to Beth Walker, executive director of Batavia MainStreet, earning the Spirit of Batavia award attests to their mission to enhance downtown Batavia through dedicated volunteer efforts.

“Being named the Spirit of Batavia award honoree is very exciting and flattering; it is a nice honor,” commented Beth. “I see ‘community’ as central to the spirit of Batavia; we have the good fortune of being able to focus our mission on bringing this spirit to downtown through focused events and support of the downtown businesses that are critical for a vibrant downtown area.”

Batavia MainStreet operates via a staff of three, an active board of directors, and a contingent of volunteers. The current president of the Batavia MainStreet board, Bill McGrail commented that the organization took on “many extras this year.”

“It is incredible for Batavia MainStreet to be honored with the 2024 Spirit of Batavia award,” said Bill. “We hosted the Illinois MainStreet conference last November and we’ve shifted efforts to more promotional and regional marketing and events to try to bring more visitors to downtown Batavia on a more regular basis.
“Downtown should be the heartbeat of any city, and I am proud that Batavia MainStreet is being recognized with the Spirit of Batavia for 2024!” he concluded.

Information about Batavia MainStreet is available on their website, downtownbatavia.com, or contact them by calling (630) 761-3528 or email info@downtownbatavia.com.

Batavia Community Impact Award

Selected to win a Community Impact Award for 2024 is the Batavia Peace Projects initiative, led by the Batavia Parks Foundation. The first of a trifecta of projects was to raise money to install permanent “Peace on Earth” 12-foot letters with lighting on the downtown bicycle-pedestrian bridge, commonly known as Batavia’s Peace Bridge.

Building on this momentum and the knowledge that the bridge is one of the most photographed locations in Batavia, the Batavia Parks Foundation partnered with the City of Batavia to install a stainless steel “selfie station” on the Wilson Street bridge’s northwest overlook planter. The one-of-a-kind Batavia-branded selfie station fabricated by Blane Hinze of BRH Fabrication opened in May 2024. The stand is designed to hold cell phones so guests can take "selfie" photos with the PEACE ON EARTH letters in the background.

The third piece of the “peace” initiative is the Batavia Peace Garden that opened on the United Nations International Day of Peace on September 21, 2024. Volunteers installed the Batavia Peace Garden, located in one of the garden beds in the South Riverwalk Plaza, in keeping with Batavia's volunteer spirit. The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners, Batavia Parks Foundation, community members, and the Batavia Park District parks staff dug in to complete the project.

According to Britta McKenna, president of the Batavia Parks Foundation during these projects, the Peace Projects Initiative “capture the spirit of volunteerism and community engagement that is uniquely Batavia.” This initiative began when Craig Foltos had a dream over two decades ago to place 12-foot "PEACE ON EARTH" letters on the bicycle-pedestrian bridge in downtown Batavia, IL. That dream was realized through his charismatic efforts alongside volunteers, who donated resources and time to build the letters. In partnership with the Batavia Park District, the message of hope was proudly hung annually on the "Peace Bridge" during the holiday season.

To maintain these projects and to fund the development of future Batavia peace projects, a “Batavia Parks Foundation Peace Projects Fund” was established and is now accepting donations at the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley.

As an explanation, the Batavia Community Impact Award is not routinely given. The committee who determines the Citizen of the Year and Spirit of Batavia awards are also empowered to present Community Impact Awards if they deem it appropriate. This award goes to projects or initiatives that have a grand significance and impact on our community.

 Batavia’s Citizen of the Year, the Spirit of Batavia honoree, Batavia Community Impact Award and Ole Award (for new building construction or renovation) honorees are to be presented at the annual awards event for the Batavia Chamber of Commerce. Inspire 2025: A Celebration of Those Who Inspire Us! will take place on Thursday, Apr. 24, 2025, at Revelry 675, 675 South River Street in Batavia. For ticket information, register online at bataviachamber.org/events or contact the Chamber at (630) 879-7134.