Our Stories
A deeper look into the extraordinary lives, historic legacies, and deep community connections that define Independence Village.
82 Years Late, But Right on Time: Ray’s First Prom at 100
Community Spotlight • Naperville Resident
When Ray Svejnoha was 18 years old, his senior year looked very different from that of a typical high schooler today. It was 1944, and instead of choosing a tuxedo, picking out corsages, or planning for senior prom, Ray was answering the call of duty. He took qualifying exams for the military, received his deployment orders, and traded milestone high school dances for a life of brave sacrifice, heading out to serve as an applied aircraft engineer in World War II.
Eighty-two years passed. Ray lived a beautiful life, eventually making his home here with us at Independence Village. He became a fixture of our community — full of quick humor, a sharp mind, and a deep love for music.
It was during a routine technology assistance session with Tech Connect — a club from Metea Valley High School that visits our residents regularly — that Ray casually mentioned he had never gotten to attend a high school prom.
The students and their faculty adviser, Carey Peterson, quietly decided that an 82-year delay was long enough. They returned to Independence Village with red, white, and blue balloons, American flags, and a large handmade poster with a surprise "promposal" reading: “82 years late, but right on time.”
"You hear a lot of bad things about teenagers... well, this is a very good thing about them."
The entire Naperville community rallied to give Ray a proper prom experience. Local businesses pitched in for a fresh haircut, a manicure, flowers, a tailored tuxedo fitting, and a beautiful vintage trolley to transport Ray and his six high school prom dates to the dance floor.
When Ray arrived, the student body erupted in cheers. Taking the microphone, Ray danced, shared his love for the music, and told the room: "I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this, and I love you all." For Ray, it wasn’t just about an old milestone reclaimed; it was about the profound beauty of a new generation reaching back across the decades to make a senior feel truly honored, safe, and seen.
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