Deerfield School Board member identified as victim of Highland Park hit-and-run

The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the victim of Friday, June 2’s hit-and-run in Highland Park as Maureen Wener, 49, a member of the Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Board of Education.

Wener died at Condell Medical Center from injuries sustained when the bicycle she was riding was struck by a car Friday afternoon at the intersection of Piccadilly and Deerfield roads, according to previous reporting from The Record. The car then fled the scene prior to first-responders’ arrival, Mayor Nancy Rotering said in a statement posted to social media.

The cause of Wener’s death was blunt-force injuries, the coroner reported in a news release on Sunday, June 4.

The Highland Park Police Department and the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team are investigating the incident and asking anyone with information to call (847) 432-7730 or email police@cityhpil.com.

Slated by the D109 Caucus, Wener was elected to the School Board in 2021 and is its secretary. She is a former trustee with the Deerfield Library Board.

“Maureen was a passionate advocate for children and made an indelible impact on our community and our board in the years she served,” said Sari Montgomery, D109 School Board president, in a statement. “She will be deeply missed by all of us.”

A district release said Wener was recently named a district representative for legislative advocacy.

In remarks to the D109 caucus in 2021, Wener said, “The choices we make and paths we choose will greatly affect the quality of education we provide for our children for years to come. I love Deerfield. Volunteering my talents and skills on the School Board will be another way to give back to the community that has given all of us so much.”

Services for Maureen Wener will take place at noon on Tuesday, June 6, at Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim, 1201 Lake Cook Road in Deerfield. The service will be livestreamed from this link. The family will receive calls of condolence until 8 p.m. June 6 at the Briarwood Country Club, 355 Deerfield Road.

In lieu of flowers, Wener’s family requests donations to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation or West Deerfield Town Food Pantry.

Known to many as “Moe,” according to her obituary, Wener is loving wife of Paul Rundell; cherished mother of Keegan; adored sister of Tammy (Brian Svrusis); beloved daughter of Marsha Cowles, Cliff Wener (Sharon Green); much loved daughter in-law of Jane Rundell (Mark Immer) and Steve (Sherry) Rundell; dear sister in-law of Kari (Sergio) Trejo, Mike (Veronica) Rundell, Shondra (Danny) McLarty, Michael (Lauren) Zalay, Danny (Allie) Zalay, and Erica (Matt) Barnes; amazing aunt of Tyler, Lindsey, Mel, Rey, Matthew, Jake, MJ, JJ, Dane, Carson, Capri, Daxton, Savannah, Zoey, Corey, Blake and Brielle; dear niece of Mark Wener (Corinne Fligner) and Lynne (Bruce) Glickson; loving family member of Ale Chavez; amazing cousin and dedicated friend to many.

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