Sue Hakes' love for the YMCA goes back to her childhood in Austin, Minnesota. Her family joined the Y when Sue was in third grade, a year after it opened in town. She fondly remembers swim lessons and Friday family swim nights, when the pool lights would be turned off, leaving only a magical blue glow while they swam. The vending machines were filled with Dinty Moore Beef Stew due to the Y’s proximity to Hormel Foods. Later on, Sue earned her way to Camp Olson YMCA by pulling a wagon through her neighborhood selling Y thin mints. For Sue, the Y was more than just a place to swim; it was a part of her family’s daily life. It is where she, her brothers, and friends played marbles, shot hoops, and spent their childhood.
After years working in the Twin Cities, a trip to the Boundary Waters sparked Sue’s desire to move back to a small town, and she settled in Grand Marais. Over time, she became an integral part of the community, owning and operating a real estate business, serving a term as mayor, later county commissioner, and as a Bush Fellow, building a network of support systems for women in rural areas.
Sue’s journey with the Y came full circle when Cook County began planning a community center in Grand Marais in 2004. A huge driver for her was the idea that kids needed a place to go, and elders needed a social space to avoid isolation. Working with the City of Grand Marais, Cook County, ISD 166, the Duluth Area Family YMCA, and many members of the community, Sue helped spearhead the creation of the Cook County Community YMCA, which opened in 2014. She was instrumental in selling the project to the community, bringing together voices and opinions to make the dream of a community center in Grand Marais a reality.
"It was nothing short of a miracle," she says, reflecting on the community effort required to bring a Y to Grand Marais.
Emily Marshall, District Vice President of the Duluth Area Family YMCA, said that Sue has been the heart and soul of the Cook County YMCA since its inception.
“From the early days of building partnerships to her ongoing support as an advisory council member and board member, Sue's commitment has been unwavering. She not only gives generously of her time and resources but also embodies the spirit of community. Her dedication inspires us all, and we simply wouldn’t be where we are today without her love for our Y and our community," said Emily.
Now retired, Sue remains deeply connected to the Y. She goes almost every day, working out with friends, attending yoga and strength classes, and cherishing the friendships she’s built over coffee. She marvels at the joy she feels seeing young children come into the pool with their green towels, just as she once did. Sue credits the Y for helping her manage the emotional ups and downs of life, offering a place of wellness and connection that extends far beyond physical exercise.
“I am a firm, firm believer in this project—the Y. My husband, John Gorski, and I started donating right away and it feels really good to do that,” she said. “We want to keep it going; we want the Y to be successful.”
The Y, for Sue, has always been more than a gym—it’s a place where people come together, where inclusion is fostered, and where she continues to invest her time and resources to ensure it thrives for future generations.
Join Sue in supporting the Cook County Community YMCA today.