Steven Spearie Springfield State Journal- Register
Springfield IL (November 26, 2024) Jonna J. Cooley, who had been with the Phoenix Center in Springfield for 18 years as its executive director and its development director, has retired effective Nov. 22.
Whether the parting was forced or not hasn't been confirmed.
The board of directors' president for the LGBTQ center, Karen Reynolds, reached Tuesday by The State Journal-Register, would only say that Cooley, 62, submitted her resignation and that she is retired.
A source close to the center but not authorized to go on the record said the board has another emergency meeting about Cooley's situation on Dec. 1 after meeting on Nov. 18.
Cooley, posting on social media Monday, acknowledged that losing her wife, Lisa Tomasino in 2022 after years of battling cancer, an identity theft and losing her nephew over the summer have "taken a toll on my physical and mental health. My doctor said I need to take care of me and spend more time with my granddaughter."
A post from the Phoenix Center said it was "a bittersweet day."
"Jonna has done so much and influenced so many in our community," the post read. "She leaves big shoes to fill."
Cooley helped launch PrideFest in 2011 to mark the center's 10th anniversary and oversaw the opening of its latest facility, OUT on East at 704 S. Dirksen Parkway, in the spring.
Cooley came to the Phoenix Center in 2006 after resigning from the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center under suspicion of alleged misuse of the center's funds. Eventually, Cooley pleaded guilty to a single charge of forgery on Feb. 2, 2009, and was sentenced to 30 months probation and fined $1,500. Cooley also was ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution.
Reynolds said the Phoenix Center's work would continue. It offers various groups public health services, training, social and educational events and transitional housing.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788: sspearie@sj-r.com: X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
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