West Cook News

Fenwick High School President Richard Peddicord was himself maskless and in Naples, Florida as he informed his 1,200 students he would continue to require them to cover their own faces in class, and to wear masks while playing indoor sports like basketball at the school.

In the school's February Fenwick Alumni News, distributed to students and parents on Monday, Peddicord celebrated this past weekend's fundraising trip.

The News featured photos of the 63 year-old holding court-- and maskless-- at the famous Naples Yacht Club in "sunny Florida." Club member and alumnus Jack Farrell and his wife, Cathy, hosted a gathering of 70 Fenwick graduates there on Friday, Feb. 4.  

Fr. Richard Peddicord | Fenwick H.S.

That was the day Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow declared Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's blanket state emergency school rules on masks and tests through the Illinois Department of Public Health "null and void," calling them a "type of evil" that sought to end run democracy. Her ruling has subsequently led hundreds of Illinois school districts and Catholic high schools around the state, including Benet Academy and Montini Catholic, to end their forced face-covering policies. 

However, after his Naples event, Peddicord emailed his students back in Chicago to inform them that, unlike leaders at other schools, he had decided not to recognize the court order.

"Until further notice, there will be no change to our current policy: masks are mandatory in Fenwick High School," he wrote. "I know this will upset some members of our community. We continue to acknowledge and respect the members of our community who do not agree with this policy. "

The Naples Yacht Club is the "first and oldest private club in Naples," ranked the top yacht club in Florida and number six in the United States, according to The Club Leaders Forum Advisory Board. It was founded in 1947. Membership is by invitation only.