Virginia Packman

Virginia “Gini” Packman
a resident of Barrington since 1974

Virginia “Gini” Packman, was born May 7, 1945, in Chicago to the late Raymond and Mary Hollis. She died at age 69, June 6, 2014.

Gini’s family moved to Park Ridge in 1950. Her father served as an Alderman and then as Mayor in the late 1950s. She attended Carpenter Grade, Lincoln Junior High, and Maine East High Schools. She briefly attended Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in art.

In early 1964, she married Paul Wenz, her high school sweetheart. They had a son in late 1964, named Peter. Too young to have wed, the marriage ended in 1966. Eventually, she worked first in the district, and then in Washington, DC for 10th District Congressman, Harold Collier.

She met and married her second husband, Richard Packman, in Virginia. Originally from Coney Island, NY, but recently out of a four-year stint in the Marines, he attended East Carolina University and then the University of Maryland. They had a daughter, Tamara, in 1969, and moved to Arlington Heights in 1971. Richard and Gini started Tempo Office Products, first out of their home, and then offices and warehouse in Elk Grove Village. They divorced after 17 years.

Gini then started her own business doing freelance graphics, copywriting, design, and public relations work. She named her business “IM GINI!” and referred to herself as “a Gini of all trades.”

Self-reliant, artistically talented and outgoing, she took care of herself and her children and attracted and enjoyed many wonderful friends and acquaintances. But, as Gini often related, the best thing that ever happened to her was when she met and fell in love with George Lamping in 1985. They remained forever in love, enjoying each other, their love of golf, and their pleasure in socializing.

Gini is survived by her dear George; son Peter (Molly), daughter, Tamara; and Tamara’s son, Steven. She is also survived by George’s sons, Alex (Lucie) and Gregory (Allison); and their children, Katelyn, Alanna, Kaelee, and Zoey.

The service will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Gini’s name may be made to The Jeffrey Pride Foundation for Pediatric Cancer Research, PO Box 1191, Barrington, IL 60011-1191, or www.jeffreypridefoundation.org.

The family would like to thank the Barrington Paramedics for their help, Good Shepherd Hospital, and especially the staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for their tireless, caring support during Gini’s last days