Elgin in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Sigi Psimenos
A Force For Nature
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 17, 2026
1. Sigi Psimenos Marker
- Aldo Leopold
Sigi Psimenos will be remembered as a talented, effective community organizer who wove artistic and environmental action into engaging community-wide projects and events. Sigi was president of many organizations, including Elgin Climate Change Organization, Elgin Community Garden Network, League of Women Voters-Elgin Area, and Art For All. She was also a board member of Elgin Community Network. Through her help and support of the Elgin Public Museum and the Gail Borden Public Library, history and literacy reached a large audience. Sigi's favorite phrase--Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!)--encourages us to make the community more vibrant, the environment more respected, our neighbors more informed, our local businesses more supported, our cultural life more engaging, our friendship circle more inclusive, and our world more interesting... This Day!
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Environment
this page online
Location. 42° 2.558′ N, 88° 15.774′ W. Marker is in Elgin, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Grand Boulevard west of Franklin Boulevard. The marker is in Lords Park, just west of the Elgin Public Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 Grand Boulevard, Elgin IL 60120, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lord Memorial Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); The Elgin Public Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Channing Memorial Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Memorial Tribute to Elgin Academy's Patriotic Sons Who Served in the Great Civil War, 1861-1865
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 17, 2026
2. Sigi Psimenos Marker at Lords Park
Also see . . . Sieglende Sigi - Linda Scheel Psimenos(Find a Grave). Sigi Psimenos was born in Germany in 1950 and emigrated to Chicago when she was 10, later graduating from the city's Lakeview High School. She died in 2016 at age 65.
Excerpt: "Sigi was especially passionate about feminism, preserving natural resources for the next generation, and elevating the role of art in our culture. Oftentimes, as only Sigi could, she combined all of her passions into unique community events that benefitted everyone. She was a prolific fundraiser, and never took 'no' for an answer. When she set her mind to something, she always found a way to make it happen."(Submitted on May 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Additional commentary.
1. Cook County's westernmost marker
The marker is almost certainly the westernmost historical
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 17, 2026
3. Sigi Psimenos Marker near the Elgin Public Museum
Cook County's westernmost township, Hanover, is two miles farther west than the one north of it (Barrington); Hanover includes the east side of Elgin, and most of Lords Park. Lords Park, which Cook County's western border cuts through, is about 30 miles west of Lake Michigan, and 95 miles east of the Mississippi River.
Based on measurements using Google Maps, this marker is roughly 160 feet from Cook Countys border with Kane County.
— Submitted May 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 17, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
