Denise Lindberg to be Honored for Her 'Tireless Efforts' as Volunteer

The Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation is honoring Denise Lindberg with the Arthur B. Kohasky Leadership Award at its annual luncheon on Thursday. 

Lindberg is being recognized for her role as the executive director of the Friends of Hoyt Park & Pool.

Lindberg was instrumental in acquiring community support as well as helping raise the private funding necessary to make the pool project a reality. She was also a key figure in forming Wauwatosa neighborhood associations.

Among her posts within the community were president of the Neighborhood Association Council and heading the Parks, Recreation and Culture Subcommittee for the Wauwatosa Strategic Planning Committee.

Lindberg is also known for her work in the growth and development of the Milwaukee Rowing Club and has coached countless youngsters in Odyssey of the Mind and Destination ImagiNation.

“We are very proud of the work Denise Lindberg has done for the community,” said Mary Murphy, director of the Wauwatosa Public Library. “Her tireless efforts should be recognized for all the good she has done for the community.”

For her part, Lindberg downplayed her role and instead focused on all the good work being done by other volunteers involved in the Friend of Hoyt Park & Pool.

"Right from the beginning, it has been volunteers who have so successfully rallied around this project to restore Hoyt Park’s 100-year tradition as a community 'swimming hole,' " she said. " Initially, a core of people with professional backgrounds in non-profits, law, communications, organizational development, and government formed and organized the Friends of Hoyt Park & Pool, filing the necessary papers, doing research, and interfacing with officials.

"FOHPP’s volunteers currently span all generations, from teens working at the fall 2010 'weed-outs' to energetic and inspiring citizen role models in their 70s who still work tirelessly to make the world around them a better place," Lindberg added.

"I am just one of many involved in the restoration of Hoyt Park and am honored to represent them in accepting the recognition of the Wauwatosa Library Foundation," she said.

The award is named for Arthur B. Kohasky, who was a longtime, prominent banker with Wauwatosa State Bank, which during later became part of M&I Bank.

Kohasky lived to be 101 and spent 74 years in banking here. Kohasky’s leadership with the bank was the inspiration for the award. He died in March 2000.

Also being recognized at the luncheon will be several area high school students for their leadership abilities. 

• Nicolette Bardele of Divine Savior Holy Angels High School

• Benjamin Hushek of Marquette University High School

• Maria Alioto of Pius XI High School

• Leslie Dess of Wauwatosa East High School

• Ellyn Kirtley of Wauwatosa West High School

• Keelee Roggenbuck of Wisconsin Lutheran High School

The keynote speaker at the luncheon will be bestselling author and business journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin.

The luncheon will be held at the in Wauwatosa and begins at  noon. For ticket information, call 414-471-8487.