Jim & Maggie Frogge
Jim and Maggie (Hansen) Frogge are 1968 graduates of Bishop McNamara. Their three children also graduated from Bishop McNamara. Jessica ’00 lives in Chicago, Sarah ’02 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and Nathan ‘05 and his wife Joanne reside in Kirkland, Missouri. Jim and Maggie have 2 grandchildren, Vivian and Evelyn.
Jim, loved and respected by his students, proudly taught at Bishop McNamara for 42 years, from 1972 – 2014. He served as the Science Department Chairman for 35 years and taught Physical Science, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus and Computer Science with many being at the accelerated, advanced placement, and honors levels. He served as the technology coordinator for 32 years and assisted in the implementation of the first high school 1-1 computer program in the Kankakee area. Jim was an assistant football coach for 33 years, head girls’ basketball coach for 10 years, head swim coach, and assistant track coach for 4 years. Within the community, Jim helped develop, and his classes participated in, the Illinois Rivers Project, Illinois RiverWatch and the Kankakee Volunteer Stewardship Network sponsored by The Nature Conservancy. He participated in the development of the original Bourbonnais Township Park District site plan for the Perry Farm and was first steward of the Perry Farm’s Nature Conservancy, with his classes participating in the original prairie introduction and management. His classes also participated in yearly canoe trips, monitoring and sampling the Kankakee River.
Maggie served as co-chairperson of Bishop McNamara’s 2001 Capital Campaign raising funds for the Riverside Healthcare and Franco Family Center for Excellence in the Sciences, the Francis and Jean Smith Media Center, renovation of the fine arts rooms, technology program advancements and tuition assistance. Maggie had a 35-year career at Riverside Medical Center where she started several programs to improve healthcare for the community including the Cancer Center, the Heart Center, and the Neuroscience Center. She served in a number of roles during her tenure at Riverside, including Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Nursing Officer. Maggie was also committed to education and served as Assistant Professor of Nursing at Rush University for 40 years. She co-authored several editions of the international textbook, “Cancer Nursing Principles and Practice.” She served as President of the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation that has provided over $26 million in research and education grants. Maggie travels internationally lecturing and consulting in oncology nursing.
Over the years, Jim was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions: 1982 was named Dreyfus Master Teacher by Woodrow Wilson Foundation; 1984 received Governor’s Master Teacher Award; 1995 the Bourbonnais Township Park District Conservation Award and the Soil & Water Conservation District Conservation Teacher of the Year; 2001 the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Region 9 Coach of the Year for Girls Basketball; and, 2007 the Illinois Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
Maggie currently serves on the Riverside Senior Living Board. She is a current board member and ViceChairman of the Kankakee Community College Foundation and is Chairman of the Woman’s Giving Circle initiative to help students complete degrees. Maggie is a founding board member and past President of Hospice of Kankakee Valley, served as President of the American Cancer Society, has served as President of Kankakee Area Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Junior League of Kankakee County, and was the recipient of the Women in Leadership Athena Award.
Jim and Maggie are members of Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais.