Virginia “Ginger” Meares Rugai retired in May as alderman of Chicago’s 19th Ward after five terms in the City Council. A farewell editorial in the Beverly Review recalled that Ginger was appointed to fill a vacancy in 1990 and won her first full four-year term in February 1991. While 19th Ward alderman, she served on several committees, and was chairman of the Committee on Energy, Environmental Protection and Public Utilities. She also worked with Beverly area civic groups.