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Women’s History Month 2024: Remembers Elaine Spencer, former RHS President and Board member, highlighting her community ties and contributions

As President of RHS, Elaine was part of the American Girl Doll exhibit, where real American girls of the Ridge were paired with the fictional dolls. Elaine partnered with Molly, the World War II doll. Elaine lived through World War II and shared her experiences of the time. Photo by C. Flynn.
Elaine Polacek loved to perform. At Morgan Park High School, she was a majorette, marching in parades and other events. Elaine shared this photo from the 1940s with C. Flynn
The Spencer family owns The American Perforator Co., which Elaine was president of for many years. She could work the machines as well as do the accounting. A few years ago, she demonstrated her expertise on one of the machines. Photo by C. Flynn.

The Ridge Historical Society (RHS) is saddened to report the death of Elaine Spencer, RHS Board member and past RHS President.

Elaine had deep ties to the Ridge communities, having lived here for her 92 years of life, attending Barnard elementary school and Morgan Park High School, marrying (the late) Carl Spencer, and raising four sons here.

She was active in the Beverly Hills Junior Woman’s Club for many years, and loved performing on stage in their drama endeavors to raise money for nursing scholarships.

As RHS President, she supported restoring the RHS Facebook page to its original intent to increase communication and share more local history with the public. She led the society through the COVID pandemic. Elaine could always be counted on to volunteer her time to help at RHS events.

At 92, she was still taking trips around the world (most recently to the Panama Canal and Iceland) and spending time on the family’s island where she kayaked and painted docks and used an outhouse and outdoor shower. She was an avid book reader and a whiz at Scrabble.

Elaine had a favorite saying, “If you’ve made it this long, you’ve already won all the marbles.” She was a vibrant and alive person, and her presence will be missed.

Elaine Spencer’s story is the history of this community.