Rita Fischbach

Taken from her obituary

Rita was born on June 6, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois to Austin Edward and Veronica Katherine (Burke) McDonough. They originally lived in an apartment on Manistee Ave in Chicago for her first 6 years as it was war time and housing was difficult to find. Her family moved in with her grandmother Agnes McDonough's after Austin's father died. She attended Our Lady of Peace Grade School until 7th grade. The family moved to Dorchester Ave. in 1953 and lived in their first house.

Rita's childhood was very warm and loving. She has a younger brother, Thomas James, and she had two caring parents, two grandfathers and one grandmother who were very good to her. She also had several Aunts who gave her much attention.

Rita attended Aquinas Dominican High School in Chicago, as did her mother and several aunts. She was an extremely strong student and received many academic awards. Athletics were not her talent. She attended and graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, a Jesuit college and majored in Mathematics. She met her husband to be, Peter Fischbach, in a math class when she was junior. She received her Master's Degree in Mathematics from the University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana in 1965. While she was there, she was a teaching assistant.

She and Pete were married on August 28, 1965, and she began teaching math at Marquette. Her daughter Anne Marie was born in 1967. She taught part time, staying home to be mom. Her son Thomas Peter was born in 1968. Pete joined IBM in 1969, so the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska with subsequent moves to Springfield, Illinois, Wheeling, Illinois and Hoffman Estates, . Her daughter Carol Lee was born in 1972. While she focused on being a great mom, Rita taught math part time at community colleges in the Chicago suburbs.

In 1976, Pete took a job in Peoria, Illinois. They settled in Washington, Illinois, where they have been living since. Rita began teaching part time at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois. Her teaching eventually became full time as the children grew older, and professional opportunities arose. Rita received her Ph.D in Vocational Education from the University of Illinois in 1993. To accomplish this, she went to school for many years part time, and one year full time, living in Champaign.

Opportunities arose at the college, and Rita became Dean of Vocational Education, and later Dean of Liberal Arts and Science. She held several offices in professional organizations. She had worked for Illinois Central College for 28 years as a teacher and administrator, retiring in 2003.

Rita's Professional activities included membership and holding office in IMACC (Illinois Mathematics Association of Community Colleges), ICTM (Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics) and many other professional math and teaching organizations.

Rita was a member of St. Patrick Church in Washington, where she was a member of the choir and was a driver for medical appointments. She was a regular Red Cross blood donor, co-chaired the Pride of Washington clean-up day for two years, and supported local efforts to improve the Washington community. She was a member of the Peoria Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Rotary Club of Washington.

She was an avid walker and litter cleaner upper, enjoyed reading, and spending time with her family. She and her husband Pete enjoyed traveling, especially their three trips to Alaska.

Editor's note: Rita was also a member of the WCHS school board for many years and was the first female school board president in the history of the school.