The Brookfield Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame has reorganized after a prolonged hiatus brought on
by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The committee has decided to induct its next class, the Class of 2020, on March 5, 2022, with a breakfast
ceremony at Tiffany’s Event Center, Brookfield, said hall President Diane Riefstahl.
The Class of 2020 inductees were announced in August 2020 as Jack Damioli, BHS Class of 1977;
Harold Danko, Class of 1965; Dr. Adam Elhaddi, Class of 1994; James Seckler, Class of 1998; Amy
Maliner Zell, Class of 1990; and James E. Hoffman Jr., Class of 1935, a posthumous selection.
The committee decided not to hold a ceremony honoring two years of inductees, to allow the 2020 class
to have the proper spotlight, Riefstahl said. There will be no Class of 2021, she said.
As with the Class of 2019, the Class of 2020 will meet with students in a series of assemblies and in-class
presentations a day before the induction ceremony.
“We thought it went great, because each of them had such a different approach to the students,” Riefstahl
said of the Class of 2019 presentations. “You could see by the way students wanted to hang around and
ask questions afterward, it sparked interest, it sparked conversation, and that’s what we want. We just
want Brookfield students to know that you can go on and achieve great things in a variety of different
occupations.”
A mixer will be held March 4 at Yankee Run Golf Course, Brookfield, for inductees and their guests.
The committee is raising money by selling Boscov’s Day of Charity shopping passes. The department
store chain, which is opening a store in the Eastwood Mall, Niles, holds a soft opening in which people
who have bought shopping passes from non-profit organizations can buy merchandise before the store
officially opens to the public, Riefstahl said.
“We sell these shopping passes for $5 each and we get to keep the entire $5,” she said. “They are doing so
many groups such a favor by offering this. I think it’s a really great thing.”
Passes are available from committee members, and will be sold at home football games prior to the Day
of Charity, which is Oct. 7.
Anyone who would like a shopping pass; to serve on the committee’s board – there are two open seats; or
would like information on nominating a Brookfield High graduate for Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame
consideration can call Riefstahl at 724-346-9615.
