The Downers Grove Historical Society will honor longtime community leader Lisa Rasin for her decades of dedicated service at a special celebration on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the James Henry Breasted Auditorium at Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Ave., Downers Grove.
A familiar name in Downers Grove, Rasin has been a driving force behind countless community initiatives. Her volunteerism spans major organizations, including Kiwanis, the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the YMCA, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Chamber630, SEASPAR (South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation), and Rotary, where her leadership during RotaryFest has been described as a “full-time job.”
Most recently, Rasin was named co-chair of the FISH Pantry, after years of volunteering and fundraising for the organization. Her commitment to making Downers Grove a more welcoming and compassionate place has earned her respect across generations of residents and fellow volunteers.
“Lisa Rasin embodies what it means to give back,” said a spokesperson for the Historical Society. “Her work has touched nearly every corner of our community, and this recognition is long overdue.”
The event is free and open to the public, though seating is limited. Registration is required at www.dghistory.org/event/mda-lisa-rasin/ For more information, please email info@downersgrovehistory.org.
Lisa Rasin: A Life of Stepping Up and Giving Back
When Lisa Rasin moved to Downers Grove in 1981, she wasn’t entirely sold on the idea. She had a busy life, sharing an apartment with a friend and enjoying the vibrancy of youth and independence. But love—and a bit of gentle persuasion—brought her to Downers Grove. Looking back, she says she wouldn’t live anywhere else.
“I didn’t want to be here at first,” Lisa recalls. “But there was a plan for me to be in Downers Grove. It was meant to be.”
That sense of purpose and deep-rooted connection runs through everything Lisa does. Her journey began on Tripp Avenue, where she lived in a two-flat – her aunt lived upstairs, and her large family lived downstairs. The oldest of five children, Lisa grew up in the northwest suburbs after her family moved from the city. She attended Maine West High School, and when her father passed away suddenly from a heart attack when she was 19, Lisa made the difficult decision to forgo college and work full-time to help support her mother and siblings.
“My mom worked the night shift as a nurse, 11 to 7,” she says. “And I stepped up. I had to.”
That early sense of responsibility stayed with Lisa. In high school, she was part of a color guard group called the Corsairs, where she held a leadership position and developed the skills of collaboration and commitment. “I think that’s where it all started,” she says. “Being in a group, negotiating, working with others. And being willing to take a leadership position.”
She carried those qualities into adulthood, both in family life and in community service. Lisa met her husband, Craig, through their shared love of drum and bugle corps—he marched in the Cavaliers, and she was part of a loyal group of fans who followed the corps wherever they performed. Their shared passions and friendships eventually brought them to Downers Grove, where they built a life rooted in connection and purpose.
If you’ve ever volunteered at a local fundraiser, attended a Downers Grove Rotary event, or delivered groceries to someone in need, chances are Lisa Rasin had a hand in it.
From Color Guard to Community Catalyst
Lisa’s first job was in healthcare, working in intake for Lutheran General Hospital’s alcohol treatment center. Later, she moved into banking and retail, eventually landing in outside sales at Business Machine Agents (BMA) in Downers Grove—a job that sparked not just a successful career, but, partly through involvement in the Downers Grove Chamber of Commerce, a deep connection to the community.
She and her husband Craig made their mark in Downers Grove. While managing their careers, they also helped to ‘raise a neighborhood’.
“We never had kids, but we raised the whole block,” Lisa laughs. “We have organized the neighborhood block parties through the years. I still hear from those kids—they’re adults now. I love that.”
Lisa’s career took a meaningful turn when she joined SEASPAR (South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation), first as a volunteer, then as Director of Fund Development. She created fundraising events from scratch—everything from accessible walks to high-profile concerts and golf outings, including a sold-out performance of Million Dollar Quartet at the Tivoli.
“I did it all—grants, tickets, seating charts. I had my hand in every part, and I loved it,” she says. “It was never just a job.”
Lisa retired from SEASPAR in 2019—but only for a weekend. “I left on a Friday and was at the FISH Food Pantry that Monday,” she says. “I always knew when I retired, I’d help run the pantry.”
Her timing couldn’t have been more vital. When COVID-19 hit, just months later, demand for food skyrocketed. Lisa and her team reinvented the pantry’s operation overnight, creating a safe, choice-based, drive-through model that never missed a meal.
Recently moving to the position of co-manager of the Downers Grove FISH Pantry—now operating from its new location at the Downers Grove Township Center—she continues to play a pivotal role in the pantry’s ongoing growth and success.”
A Rotary Force and Relentless Advocate
Lisa has been a fixture in the Downers Grove Rotary Club for years—recruiting members, chairing fundraisers, and keeping things fun. She delights in pulling people together—often with a touch of humor, a lot of planning, and a natural flair for making things happen.
She has also served on the boards of the Downers Grove Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation, the YMCA, Kiwanis, co-chaired the Relay for Life (American Cancer Society), and more. “If I see something that needs to be done, I do it,” Lisa says. “And I like to bring people with me.”
Her generosity isn’t limited to formal titles. Lisa is often the one quietly solving problems behind the scenes—providing transportation to elderly neighbors, mentoring younger volunteers, and stepping in with care and competence whenever needed.
A Life of Joy, Work, and Purpose
Lisa Rasin is not one to sit still. She still lives in the same Downers Grove home where she and her husband, Craig, once hosted lively parties, welcomed neighborhood kids, and sparked countless spontaneous gatherings. Today, her days remain just as full—whether she’s delivering supplies to the food pantry, shopping for groceries, or coordinating a Rotary event.
Known for her boundless energy, unmistakable warmth, and passion for uplifting others, Lisa has quietly—and often single-handedly—helped weave the fabric of community life in Downers Grove for more than four decades. Her kindness and leadership, along with her deep involvement in local organizations like Rotary, the YMCA, SEASPAR, and various fundraisers, have made her a beloved and vital force in the village.
When asked what keeps her going, her answer is immediate: “People. I love people. And I like to make things better.”
Though she once hesitated to leave the city, Lisa can’t imagine living anywhere else now. “I couldn’t do what I do without the support of Craig and my family,” she says. One of her greatest joys is spending time with loved ones—especially her great-nephews, Cooper and Beckett.
“Some people leave Downers Grove,” she says with a grin. “I’d leave for a month in the winter. But I’d never leave for good.”
And Downers Grove is all the better for it.