La Grange
Park lost an integral member of our community this fall. Bill Yena, who served on the Community Park
District Park Board of Commissioners from 1997-2003, passed away on September
15, 2016.
Bill grew up
in South Bend Indiana, and graduated from Western Michigan University with a BS
in Education, and later, a Master’s Degree in Administration. While in college, he was active in sports,
wrote for the student newspaper, umpired, and worked for the Kalamazoo Park
District.
Bill began
his career in Michigan, but moved to La Grange Park in 1956 when he was hired
to work as a Physical Education and Industrial Arts teacher for grades 6-8 at
Forest Road School. He went on to serve
as assistant principal, coach, and athletic director at both Forest Road and
Park Junior High. He received many awards in recognition of his efforts working
with students including: Illinois
Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Quarter Century
Award, 1982-83 Outstanding Coach of the Year from the Illinois Basketball
Coaches Association, and the “POPS” Award from the Nazareth Baseball Program.
He was beloved by many, many students.
That’s only
the beginning of Bill’s contribution to our Village. In addition to his career in education he:
*was the first manager of the
Village Field Club
*umpired
for La Grange Park Little League (Bill estimated that he had umpired at least
2,000 baseball games in his lifetime!)
*helped form the Citizens Committee for Recreation in
La Grange Park (precursor to the Park District) in 1960
*was the first paid employee when he was named Director
when the Recreation Department was created in 1971
*was an early proponent of girls sports and started
the Girls’ Softball League in the early 1960’s
Bill retired from both the Park District
and School District 102 in 1990, but continued to remain active in the
community. In 1997 he was elected to the
Park Board of Commissioners, serving as President from 2003 to 2007. He received a Resolution from the Illinois
Association of Park Districts in 2008, to celebrate a lifetime of promoting
recreational activities. In 1990,
Northeast Park was re-named William G. Yena Park, in honor of Bill’s dedication
to the Park District.
I used to see Bill at the ball parks
during Little League Games, where we would talk about baseball and the Park
District. He encouraged me and fellow
Commissioner Lucy Stastny to run for Park Board Commissioner. We were invited to attend Board meetings
prior to the election so that we could observe the workings of the Board. Bill was always gracious and accommodating in
sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience.
He was always prepared and supportive of his fellow Board members, as
well as the mission of the CPD.
After he retired from the Board, Bill
became unofficial photographer of various Park District events. His work is presently in the hallways of the
Recreation Center. A talented wood
worker, Bill gifted many staff and Board members with wooden trains he handcrafted
to memorialize their work with the Park District.
Bill is survived by his wife, Jean, and
his four children, Barb, Nancy, John and Larry.
He was a loving Grandfather to five grandchildren and three great
grandchildren.
Bill applied his energy and gifts toward
making La Grange Park a better place to live. The many amenities and programs
we enjoy within our Park District today are a result of Bill’s vision,
determination, and commitment to promoting quality recreational activities for
all. Like so many, I was lucky to know
him. Thank you, Bill.