Illinois government pension funds provide lucrative benefits for widows, whose
death benefits in some cases exceed the salaries of their late spouses. Two of
the most generous are the Illinois Teachers' Retirement System, which allows
members to set up two separate death-benefit plans for their spouses, and the
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago, which provides widows with
as much as 85 percent of their late spouses' pensions.
Below are the highest death benefits paid under 16 of the state's top government
pension plans. (The CTA pension plan refused to provide records on pensions paid
to widows.)
1. Beverly Lopatka $260,903
Husband Robert Lopatka was superintendent of DuPage High School District 88.
2. Sandra J. Stevens $160,273
Husband Robert Stevens was superintendent of Glenbard Township High School
District 87.
3. Ann M. McMillan $159,234
Husband Hugh McMillan was general superintendent of the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District of Chicago.
4. Debra Brinkworth $143,649
Husband John Brinkworth was gymnastics coach at Evanston Township High School.
5. Marjorie A. Dalton $142,173
Husband Frank Dalton was general superintendent for the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District.
6. Patricia C. Neubauer $127,210
Husband Ronald Neubauer was chief engineer for the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District.
7. Emma Wegner $124,901
Husband Robert Wegner was a math teacher at Highland Park High School.
8. Heather Bilandic Black $119,467
Husband Michael Bilandic was Chicago's mayor and later an Illinois Supreme Court
chief judge.
9. Sandra Woolard $115,834
Husband Lee Schmoekel was a dean for Thornton Fractional High School District
215.
10. Jacquelyn R. Lies $114,493
Husband John Lies was a physical education instructor at Naperville's Steeple
Run Elementary School.