Streator's own Mr. Rogers

When Paul Ahearn was first asked to portray Mr. Rogers for Won’t You Be My Neighbor Week in Streator, he shied away.

The grassroots committee that organized the event, however, wasn’t about to lose their ideal impersonator.

“Paul was too perfect,” said committee member Charline Arendt.

Committee members said Ahearn’s soft-spoken and gentle personality reminded them of Fred Rogers’ title character from the PBS children’s program “Mister Rogers Neighborhood,” long before they organized activities to coincide with the running of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” at Eagle 6.

Ahearn made appearances as Mr. Rogers at the documentary’s opening night in Streator, a community picnic at City Park and to award Kathryn “Kitty” Solon as Streator’s Most Neighborly Citizen.

After donning the character’s trademark red cardigan, he’s glad he eventually said yes.

“It’s been wonderful,” the 76-year-old said of the experience.

Ahearn, who has also lived in Milwaukee, managed the former JC Penney store at Northpoint Plaza for two decades and now works at Midland States Bank.

Ahearn doesn’t drive, so he walks everywhere he goes, making him recognizable to many people throughout town.

The Times featured Ahearn in 2016, because he corresponded through letters with Mother Teresa, exchanging roughly 30 of them.

And as a bonus, Ahearn sings. He sings regularly at Heritage Health in Streator and was active in the St. Michael parish choir.

When he presented Solon with a gift basket to honor her for winning most neighborly, Ahearn serenaded her with “Ain’t She Sweet,” “Friendship,” “Irish Eyes,” and “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby),” putting his arm around the 95-year-old and launching into song.

He said he loved bringing his singing to the character. He also said he enjoyed putting smiles on people’s faces, even if many young people didn’t know quite who he was playing.

“I loved making people happy,” he said.

He admired the way Fred Rogers was able to communicate through kindness, citing Rogers’ testimony at a Senate hearing to win government funding for public broadcasting.

The Won’t You Be My Neighbor committee awarded Ahearn with his own gift basket for playing the role.

“He’s a really special guy,” Arendt said of Ahearn. “We’re glad he’s here in Streator.”