The first annual “Walk On!” event in memory of Chuck Papanos, the Naperville Park District’s former Parks North/Riverwalk Manager, and benefitting the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) is set for July 30 at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion.  Registration check-in begins at 6:00 p.m. with the walk stepping off at 7:00 p.m.  To donate or participate, go to lymphoma.org/NapervilleWalk and for more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  “Walk On!” is spearheaded by Ann Marie Papanos and a coalition of Naperville community members, friends and leaders.

Naperville Park District is remembering Chuck with a dedication ceremony at 12 noon on Friday, July 30, at the garden planted in his honor located just west of the Grand Pavilion. The dedication had been planned for 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. The community is welcome to attend the ceremony.

Prior to his passing last summer from T-cell lymphoma, Chuck Papanos managed Naperville’s Riverwalk and the many community parks on the city’s north side, including Centennial Beach and Nike Sports Complex. For nearly 20 years, colleagues say, he was the “quiet hero” behind the Riverwalk’s care as well as events like the Riverwalk Art Fair, the Sprint Triathlon, and the Healing Field of Honor at Rotary Hill.

“You name it, he was there at 5 a.m. making it happen,” said Jan Erickson, former Riverwalk Administrator. “That included managing the logistics for all the special events that happened on the Riverwalk, including the Last Fling.  He also was there to help with the day-to-day responsibilities of clearing snow, sandbagging for hours during floods at Centennial Beach and walking the 1.5-mile pathway to ensure it met his high standards.”

Before his death, Chuck and Ann Marie chose to support the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF), which has funded innovative research for 25 years. “They were a great resource for us as far as education,” Ann Marie said. “The LRF has also backed studies led by Chuck’s oncologist and hematologist, Dr. Gita Thanarajasingam, leading oncologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.”

In a video message to walk organizers, Dr. Thanarajasingam said, “I see many patients, and Chuck made a lasting impact on me. He worked himself into the hearts of my entire lymphoma care team here at Mayo…Honoring Chuck’s memory by funding research is a perfect tribute, because Chuck recognized the importance of research to find better treatments and cures for difficult lymphomas like his.”

Chuck had a saying: “Do nothing? Not an option!”  With this walk the community will have the chance to do something for Chuck and for anyone else touched by lymphoma.