User:Ron Molinaro

Ron Molinaro was born on June 27th, 1967, with deep roots in Zion and neighboring Communities. A product of the Zion School District, where he graduated in 1986 from Zion Benton Township High School.

Ron credits civic-minded parents and his Zion Benton history and government teachers, for sparking his interest in public policy and Political involvement. Running for precinct committeemen at the age of 19, it was here that Ron first developed both a strong work ethic and commitment to public service that would become his life’s work.

But it was dramatic personal circumstances that most affected Ron's direction in life, when in 1989 with the birth of his first child, being born three months prematurely with serious complications. The realities of the struggles that young families face when dealing with a life altering medical emergency became his reality. The high cost of insuring his son’s medical care resulted in his employer laying Ron off, leaving him drowning in medical debt and forced into bankruptcy. But what started as anger and frustration turned into empathy and a desire to make sure, others who faced the same situation had better solutions.

Hearing Bill Clinton speaking about the need for national healthcare in 1992, lit a fire under Ron. This led to him volunteering on the Clinton campaign and would be the beginning of what has been a nearly 30-year career in public service.

Over the next decade Ron rose through the ranks of the Lake County Democratic Party. Involved not only in local campaigns but advocating for broader issues such as saving Social Security, National Healthcare, and equal pay for equal work, as well as a variety of environmental issues.

In 1999, Ron was offered a position on the staff in Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White’s office. Where he advanced through several levels of administration, Currently Ron is on the Directors Staff in the Vehicle Services Division. Charged with helping manage a staff of nearly 200 and in charge of cash management, he is responsible for the accounting of tens of millions of dollars at the point of collection.

In 2005 Ron was elected to the Winthrop Harbor Village Board. Where over the next four years he would lead the way in securing a multi-million dollar Economic Development grant as part of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. He started a tree planting program and the creation of an outdoor ice-skating rink in the Village Park to attract winter visitors.

Ron left his term early when another catastrophic illness struck in his family. As his newborn daughter, Alyssa, struggled to survive, and after months in the hospital died after an unsuccessful heart transplant.

Ron tuned the tragedy of the passing of his daughter into yet another call to action, by forming                                  the charity Alyssa’s Angels. Over the years they maintained a strip of 9th street in Zion as part of the Adopt a Highway program. They helped in the construction of the Zion Boys and Girl club that was placed in Grace Missionary Church. Under Ron’s leadership Alyssa’s Angels fed the homeless and ran an annual Coat Drive that resulted in over 2,000 winter coats given to the most vulnerable in our community.

Public service has been Ron’s career, community service his life’s work.