One of many Oak Brook residents raising the next generation here

By Maureen Callahan

There’s a comfort to raising your family where you grew up. Your hometown is your children’s hometown. You can be sure of their education. If you’re lucky, at least a few of the people you grew up with are still around. You’re able to share your own memories with your children while making new ones with them at the same time.

It’s even nicer when other families around you are having the same experience. “You really don’t think about the town you grew up in until you’re looking back,” said head swim coach and math teacher at Hinsdale Central, Bobby Barber.

Barber grew up in Oak Brook, on the same street – and in the same house – where he and his family now live. “Growing up, my family moved around a lot until I was about 9,” said Barber. “My dad’s job was relocated, and that’s when we moved to Oak Brook.”

According to Barber, he’s not the only one who lives in his childhood home. It seems like it’s getting to be a trend in this town to keep the family home in the family. “It’s not a bad idea. You know what you’re getting, who sold it to you, and who to contact if you have a problem,” he said as he laughed.

There are so many memories of his hometown. Fourth of July fireworks at the Oak Brook Park District were a highlight of the summer. “The fireworks show put on by McDonald’s Corporation was so much fun,” he remembered. “Running around the field and taking it all in with my neighbors and friends is now a shared memory with my kids and their friends.”

IN 2022, Barber received the Coach of the Year Award for both Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving from the Illinois Swim & Dive Coaches Association. Photo courtesy of Hinsdale Central

Many hours of fishing at the lakes in Brook Forest and the Peabody Estate also stand out to him. “I fished a lot as a kid,” said Barber, a passion he still holds. “I knew all the hiding spots. I hid fishing poles overnight, so I didn’t have to haul them on my bike every day.”

Barber loves running into people and reconnecting with neighbors he knew while growing up. As a Geometry and Precalculus teacher, he loves to see how many familiar names appear on his class and coaching rosters at the beginning of each school year. “It makes for nice parent/teacher conferences,” said Barber, with a smile. “There’s always a lot of catching up at those meetings.”

As a 25-year veteran swim coach at HC – as well as an accomplished swimmer in his own right – many of the people from his early days in the pool are still very present. Since childhood, swimming has always been a defining sport for Barber’s family. He and his four older brothers swam to keep in shape during their off-soccer seasons.

Summers were spent at Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club (OBBT), his family’s warm-weather go-to. Much of their social life revolved around the club. Eventually, Barber managed the pool. “OBBT is one of those well-kept secrets that we don’t want to be too secretive because we want it to stay there,” he said as he laughed. “A lot of great times were spent there. And my kids grew up swimming there and had their first jobs there, so they feel the same.”

Barber and his wife, Lara, have three daughters. Not surprisingly, they are all excellent swimmers! All have followed some variation of Barber’s aquatic path. Their oldest, Tessa, recently finished her freshman year at the University of Illinois. She is following her father’s path of secondary education with a focus on mathematics. Vija is a rising senior whose teammates recently chose to be captain of HC’s Girl’s Swim Team this coming year. Lilia was a state swim finalist and All-American swimmer who also made a trip to Nationals with her club soccer team. In addition to swimming on the team at HC, all three girls also swam on OBBT’s team. All gained valuable experience through time spent on various combinations of other area swim clubs.

The HC team was where Barber formed many lifelong relationships. Several teammates attended Barber’s alma mater – Miami University of Ohio. A few are now swim coaches at various area schools.

“Honestly, this network built in Oak Brook means so much for all of us in our professional careers,” said Barber. The group periodically invites one another to come and observe each other’s programs and ways of tackling issues. “Normally, you don’t want your competitors doing the same thing you’re doing,” Barber knows. “But we all feel like ‘let’s do all we can to make the sport of swimming better.’ And we all just want what’s best for our teams.”

Now, a quarter of a century into coaching, the evidence is there. “I’m very proud of all we have accom-plished,” Barber relayed. “The HC Swim Team is a very dedicated group.”

Barber knows this type of camaraderie and willingness to work together that exists among his colleagues is not particularly common among high school coaches. But he chalks it up to the Oak Brook experience. “I think people would like to gravitate back toward where they came from,” he feels. “But often, the experience would not be the same for their kids as it was for them. A lot of us who grew up in Oak Brook came back because we really enjoyed what we had. It’s a great place to raise kids and for them to get a great education.”

Barber had a fantastic experience at Butler Elementary, before attending HC. Two of the most influential people in Barber’s career path are from his Butler days. “John Barr was my science teacher who went on to be the principal and was eventually named a trustee of Oak Brook,” said Barber. “Tom Clancy had a big impact on me, too. He was the physical education teacher.” Both were instrumental in Barber becoming an educator and coach.

“Oak Brook is a special place,” said Barber. “Once you get a taste of it, you never want to leave.” ■

Bobby Barber has fond memories of Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club Photo by Victor Hilitski