History: About the Founder

Ellin Smith Mrachek
October 23, 1913 - May 24, 2001A child alone on the street playing with a stick brought Ellin Mrachek's car to a stop in the

late 1960's.

Ellin was an educator and served as vice-president and president on the Aurora Public

Schools Board of Education for 12 years.  But on that particular day, her concern was for

a young girl who should have been in school.

"She told me her mother had to go to the doctor 'out there' and she pointed," Ellin said.

"I investigated and found out that her mother needed mental health services."

The child wasn't in school because her mother was dependent on others for transportation

to the services available at that time - all of them located far from their home. For Ellin, that chance encounter with this young girl sparked a drive to open a community mental health

center in Aurora.

Ellin's determination to gain quality education and mental health services in Aurora lead to the creation of many centers, schools, and programs, including Aurora Mental Health Center.

In Ellin Mrachek's legacy she has left in our community, she continues to live on with the:

• The Mrachek Middle School in Aurora, along with her husband Harry;
• The Aurora Mental Health Center's Mrachek House, a residential facility for persons with dual disabilites; and
• The Ellin Mrachek Scholarship Fund to the Community College of Aurora.