Joanne Fehn graduated with honors from Regis College, but, before she left the Denver-based school in 1987, she endured one of her, uh, craziest moments ever.
She swam over two miles in timed races in one meet—all over a four-hour span.
Fehn was a member of the Regis swim team; she competed in the 50-meter freestyle, and the 100- and 200-meter medley relays ( freestyle legs, which are sprint swims ) , as well as the 500-meter ( 1/2 mile ) and the 1,000-meter ( 1 mile ) .
"A teammate was unable to swim her 400-meter butterfly event," Fehn said. "If she failed to finish her race, then the team's strongest swimmer, who [ likely ] would [ have won ] that heat would be disqualified."
But, since Fehn was a strong swimmer, her coach asked her to fill in.
That meant, Fehn had to swim the butterfly for eight lengths.
"I had completed two of my sprint races which left one additional sprint race as well as my distance races. Naturally, I was concerned that swimming this [ additional ] event would have a negative impact on my distance races," Fehn said. "I knew the coach needed a swimmer to finish the butterfly event and I was it. I knew I had to put my feelings and issues aside and step up for the good of the entire team.
"So, I swam the 400-meter butterfly, a stroke I knew but did not train in at all.
"The trouble is the 400-meter is a middle-distance race, not a sprint and not distance. But you have to swim it like a sprint. So, my first 200-meters started out well, but then at the start of my second 200-meters, I thought I was going to drown.
"Luckily my perseverance kicked in.
"Needless to say, it was not pretty, but I finished. Swimming that race impacted all the rest of my races."
Though she finished all of them.
"As I think about it after all these years, I can say it is about the craziest thing I have ever done," Fehn said.
Fehn, now 45 and living in Chicago's Villa District area, is a Cook County Circuit Court judge candidate for the vacancy of the Honorable Daniel J. Kelley. She has lived with her partner since 1998.
Fehn is following her father into the public eye. Frank Fehn started out as a county coroner in Teller County ( Colo. ) and then later became Teller County Sheriff in his 70s. "I admire how he served his public," she said. "With the support of the FBI and neighboring law enforcement, he took part in apprehending the notorious Texas Seven. He also worked tirelessly to aide his citizens in one of the worst and largest recorded Colorado wild fires. He is my hero."
Fehn also sings the praises of Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I admire him immensely," she said. "Technically, he was not a politician, but he was an advocate for civil change and a leader for human rights. I admire him for the impact he had on politics and politicians. I use one of his quotes on my Facebook page. The activism and movement he created awakened public consciousness of the wrongs that needed to be righted through the civil rights movement and non-violent civil disobedience. He was a skilled orator and his speeches remain riveting to this day."
Fehn won a bronze medal at the 1986 Gay Games with Team Colorado's 'Denver Women's basketball team.' She also is an adjunct professor of law at DePaul University.
Plus, Fehn can ski backwards and ace an underhand volleyball serve in beach volleyball, she said. "I am skilled at balancing goals and objectives with a knack at resolving troublesome issues. Due to the amounts of files, clients [ and ] appointments I handle on a daily basis, I have become quite proficient in my organizational skills."
Fehn said she never truly aspired to enter into politics, though she finds it fascinating. She did, however, aspire to be a judge.
"This was in my mind when I took my attorney oath in 1993," Fehn said. "To be a judge in Cook County, you are either elected or appointed. After vetting the idea with my partner, family, friends, colleagues and political contacts, it was determined that the time to become a judge was this election cycle. And so, now as a candidate I have officially entered the political world. It feels a bit odd since judges are supposed to be apolitical. I now have many friends and colleagues asking me about other or higher offices, and my response has been, 'Let's win this one first.'"
What about a favorite TV judge?
Fehn singled out Judge Judy ( Sheindlin ) and Judge ( Marilyn ) Milian.
And Fehn said she'd have no problem with a high-profile, media-grabbing case.
"I believe I could hear each side of the case without bias and with compassion and rule according to the law," she said. "The real Joanne is focused and passionately determined; smart, kind, loving, encouraging, giving, fun, forgiving, flexible, diverse, compassionate, and a good eater. Yes I love food. Joanne is not her past mistakes, her faults or her weaknesses."
Fehn is the only female and lesbian candidate in her race. She has practiced law in Cook County for 15 years, the last nine practicing in a corporate general counsel.
More about Joanne F. Fehn:
—Childhood: Born in Plainview, N.Y.; grew up in Old Bethpage, N.Y.
—High school: Graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Plainview, N.Y., in 1982
—College: Attended Adelphi University before transferring to Regis College, and then Thomas M. Cooley Law School
—Hobbies: "Not really a hobby, but it is important and a big part of my life, that I take time to spend with my family and friends. I enjoy just about every athletic activity possible, the last several years I started playing golf on a regular basis and enjoy spending time with friends on the course enjoying nature. When I can carve out some time in my hectic schedule, I like boating, building models and painting. I actually consider my Civic involvement a hobby, since it is such an integral part of my life, which I enjoy very much.
"I have been the president and vice president of my community organization and currently sit on numerous committees of the Villa Improvement League. have also served as president for several years with an association supporting men and women recovering from addictions, in addition to, serving on the board of directors of a not-for-profit corporation that runs and manages a half-way house for women. Another area I am active in is, real estate tax reform, and I have been involved in that as a past member of the Tax Reform Action Coalition ( TRAC ) ."
—Quote: "I do not tolerate any form of discrimination."
—Cubs or White Sox?: "This is a trick question, and I am not falling for it. Go Cubs! Go Sox!"
—Favorite sport to play: Basketball
—Favorite sport to watch: Tennis and rugby, "since I love to watch my nephews play in Ireland and France"
—Favorite pro athlete: "My nephews Timothy Ryan, who plays rugby for Toulon, France, and David Ryan, who plays for Munster and the Irish team in Ireland. They get paid to play, which makes them pros."
—Dream vacation spot: "I love to travel and experience new places and cultures; this is a tough one. I love the sun, so I will have to go with Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I'm also equally fascinated with history and have truly enjoyed my trips to Europe."
—Favorite movie: It's a Wonderful Life
—Favorite TV show: "There isn't time for TV right now, but when I can take a moment to unwind, thank goodness for the DVR. Some shows I watch are "The Good Wife", "The Mentalist" and in the previous seasons my partner and I gathered with friends to watch the show "Lost."
—I'm better than most ...: "Actually I am not comfortable answering this question as I really do not feel I am better than anyone. Like anyone, I have strengths and weaknesses. The only thing I can [ do ] 'better', is myself and I look at myself and work at bettering myself. When I competed in sports in high school I won many awards.
"In college, playing on two university basketball teams ( Regis and Adelphi ) as well as swimming at Regis, and then my post college career, there were times when I had a better performance than some of my teammates. However, there was always an occasion when my performance was less than stellar, I would have an off game or meet. That is how it is in sports, as it is in life, much of the time. So I do not set my barometer against, or in comparison with, others; the gage is always pointed at me."
—In a perfect world ...: "There would be no discrimination, no disparity, no war, no hunger and no poverty. The LGBT community would be free to marry their mate."
—Nobody asked me, but ...: "In our everyday dealings we really need to be more loving, kind, compassionate, forgiving, caring and tolerant of one another."
—Favorite actor: Clark Gable
—Favorite actress: Barbra Streisand
—If you're [ running to be ] a judge, you must always get your way at home: "If you ask my partner, I bet she would say I have to get my way always and anywhere. And in certain areas, that actually may be a bit true. When you argue for a living as an attorney, there is some expectation that you would like many things to go your way. It is akin to playing sports, you want your game, and all the ref calls to go your way. Reality, as well as experience says, I get my way sometimes and sometimes I do not. It is how you deal with not getting your way that sets you apart. I would have to say absolutely and unequivocally the only time I must have my way is when I am ordering food."
