By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — Late Rockford Speedway owner Jody Deery’s final bequest to the community has made her already large family even bigger.
Deery, who died June 13 at age 97, willed that St. James Catholic Church and the Catholic Diocese of Rockford be recognized with an ownership stake in Deery Properties, the family’s development group that will redevelop the 76-year-old race track after this season.
That means the organizations will reap part of the financial benefits as the Speedway is transformed into commercial property.
“They’re my ninth and tenth siblings I never knew I had,” quipped Brad Deery, the third youngest of the eight Deery children.
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The Deery family and longtime friends and colleagues of Jody Deery gathered for a luncheon Friday at Forest Hills Lodge to celebrate her legacy of generosity and recognize her bequest to several community organizations. Aside from the two “new siblings,” Jody Deery also gifted a combined $320,000 to 16 organizations.
“There was the business side to Jody, which was remarkable,” her son Tom Deery said. “But the charitable side, if you really look at it in a whole, was even more remarkable.”
Jody Deery was a deeply faithful Catholic who was committed to giving back throughout her life. Among the many organizations for which she volunteered was Catholic Women’s League, which received one of the 16 Victory Lane-style $20,000 checks on Friday. Jody Deery had served the organization since 1979.
“Jody Deery was our mentor, our friend and quite frankly our momma hen,” said Jacque Bolger Buffo, membership chairwoman for the League. “For 43 years she influenced the members of Catholic Women’s League in person. This legacy will continue for ages as we accept this bequest today with gratitude and hearts full of joy.”
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Jody and Hugh Deery bought an interest in the Speedway in 1959 and became sole owners in 1967. She took over running the business in 1984 and broke barriers as a woman, including in 1994 when she became the first woman named Auto Racing Promoter of the Year.
All of her children — Gunner, Ted, Jack, Susan, Tom, Brad, Chuck and David – had duties at the Speedway over the years. David and Susan now run the business.
Bolger Buffo said Jody Deery truly shined as a mother of eight, grandmother of 18 and great-grandmother to 18.
“She showed all of us how to love family unconditionally,” she said.
Gunner Deery, who at age 73 is the eldest of the siblings, said Jody worked extremely hard while simultaneously making it seem effortless. Jody grew up on a farm in southern Wisconsin and brought that hardworking mentality with her to the Speedway. She also brought a deep compassion for people and willingness to help others.
“She just did so many things for so many people,” said Gunner Deery, who is an infectious disease specialist in Michigan. “Her legacy is as a teacher, mentor, generous, God-fearing and God-loving lady.”
Kris Machajewski, CEO of the YWCA Northwestern Illinois, said that when she joined the YWCA Jody Deery told her she better always make sure there’s a seat at the table for women.
“That has always stuck with me in everything that we’re doing and everything that I do,” Machajewski said.
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The YWCA was also a recipient of a $20,000 gift.
“It’s just part of her gracious spirit that has lived on, and this gift is just such a wonderful surprise,” Machajewski said.
The Deery family says it’s now focused on putting together a successful 76th and final season at the Rockford Speedway, but future development plans are starting to take shape.
“We’re right at the tipping point where we really can’t say anything at this moment, other than there’s great things coming,” Brad Deery said. “We’re going to deliver some awesome, sales tax-generating businesses to the city of Loves Park.”
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Brad Deery, who now lives in Iowa, said it was an honor for him and his siblings to be in Rockford on Friday to carry out their mother’s spirit of generosity.
“It’s a sad moment,” he said, “but it’s also a very joyous moment for us to fulfill one of her wishes.”
Recipients | Jody Deery gifts
Each of these 16 organizations received $20,000.
- Catholic Women’s League of Rockford
- Saint Elizabeth Center
- American Cancer Society
- Blackhawk Area Council of the Boy Scouts
- Rock River Council Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois
- American Heart Association
- American Lung Association
- Parkinson’s Disease Foundation
- YMCA of Rock River Valley
- YWCA Northwestern Illinois
- Arthritis Foundation
- Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
- Corpus Christi Monastery of the Poor Claires
- OSF Saint Anthony School of Nursing – Jody Deery Scholarship
- Saint James Church
- Catholic Diocese of Rockford
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas