Bears Chairman George McCaskey has his hands full these days with the negotiating the prospect of building a new stadium in Arlington Heights. But as complicated as the issues are, he still makes time for the important things, like reading stories to kindergarten students.
McCaskey was the guest reader last week at St. Raymond School in Mount Prospect, and by all accounts he loved doing it. He came at the invitation of Miss Patty Kramer, who has taught kindergarten at the school for 31 years.
“It was a real treat to return to St. Raymond’s to read to her kindergarten class. The kids were great,” McCaskey said. “I thought they’d be a little restless with the end of the school year so close, but, they were polite, attentive and curious. It was a lot of fun.”
During his visit, he captivated the class with his animated readings of The Tale of Custard the Dragon, Miss Nelson is Missing, and The Book with No Pictures.
George McCaskey reads from The Book with No Pictures.
“He did a fantastic job of keeping the students engaged,” says Nadine Scheller, who was conducting a tour with prospective parents when they peaked in on the guest reader, just he was reading The Book with No Pictures.
“The whole premise of the book was that there were no pictures, and it was all about funny sounds,” Scheller adds. “He was very creative with his sounds and the kids loved it!”
It turns out McCaskey is a longtime friend of Kramer and her family, and consequently, Kramer is a big Bears fan. McCaskey also grew up locally and attended St. Emily School, located across town, in Mount Prospect, so his roots in the Northwest suburbs are genuine.
“The kids loved having Mr. McCaskey read to them,” Kramer says. “He told the kids that he loves to read to kids and that grownups won’t let him read to them.”
Special guest readers in St. Raymond’s kindergarten rooms have run the gamut this year, from parents and family members, to first responders in Mount Prospect and even elected officials.
But bringing in the chairman of the Bears, well, that was special, even if McCaskey himself didn’t think of himself as a celebrity.
“George is one of the most caring and thoughtful people I know,” Kramer says. “His loyalty to the Bears — and his family and friends — is genuine and true.”
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