Ten years ago, the men of the Elmhurst Armpit Orchestra (EAO) decided to recognize service to the organization by the wives of its members. The EAO Queen was born. Previous EAO Queens are:
2012 Queen Mary O’Connor
Queen Mary first proposed the EAO name a Queen each year. Recognizing her support of the organization and the Parade, she was named its first queen. Her service was also recognized when the EAO’s enormous bass drum was named in her honor.
2013 Queen Beverley Krohn
Queen Beverage, as she is affectionately known, was recognized for her service to the EAO and the Parade, where she supported her husband’s effort to supply parade marshals to ensure a safe and efficient parade each year.
2014 Queen Colleen Sutherland
Queen Colleen was honored for her hard work entertaining EAO families before each year’s parade at her home. Her spirit made parade day an event all looked forward to. Sadly, we lost Queen Colleen in 2015. The EAO’s highest honor, its Distinguished Service Award, has been named in her honor.
2015 Queen Charity Ahlgrim
Queen Charity was recognized for her service to the families of the EAO during each St. Pat’s Parade. She hosted these families at her home on the parade route each year. Her wedding celebration was also the birthplace of the EAO.
2016 Queen Gail Robertson
Queen Gail was coronated in recognition of her support of the EAO’s chief carpenter, her late husband, Bob Robertson, Jr. She wore her crown proudly and will accept the Colleen Cecile Sutherland Distinguished Service Award on behalf of Bob before this year’s parade.
2017 Queen Jen Damer
Queen Jen was honored for her service to the EAO’s post-parade parties, where she kept the campfire burning and entertained all with her interpretation of the fire’s colors. She dutifully supports the EAO’s master painter, her husband Norm.
2018 Queen Diane McGinnis
Queen Diane was recognized for her service to the EAO and our community, where she spent many years in community and government relations with Elmhurst Hospital. She was unceremoniously pushed aside on live local TV in 2019, as her replacement was announced.
2019 Queen Amy Roesch
Queen Amy was honored for her support of the EAO on social media and via the use of her family’s electric tow vehicle which safely pulls Mary, the World’s Largest Drum, through each year’s parade route. She was crowned on live local TV at the expense of Queen Diane.
2020 Queen Victoria Ferguson
Queen Victoria was recognized for her service to the EAO and, in particular, the Parade. Each year she helps the parade committee recruit and train scores of volunteer parade marshals from Elmhurst University. Queen Victoria is the only EAO queen to reign for two years.
2022 Queen Jennifer Reichert
Queen Jennifer is recognized for her service to the EAO as our long serving First Lady of the EAO. She would support EAO Leader Rich “Rick” Reichert leading up to each year’s parade and would be a much-needed voice of wisdom for our fearless leader.
The EAO queens and their courts will accompany the EAO in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade aboard a special Queen trolley, suitable for royalty. Look for them and try to imitate their queens’ waves on March 5.
