Darien Citizen of the Year Announced

Darien resident Ron Kiefer has been recognized as Darien’s Citizen of the Year for 2015.

A cake and coffee reception will be held in Kiefer’s honor at the Feb. 17 City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m.

The Citizen of the Year banquet will take place March 7 at Alpine Banquets. Tickets are $30 each, and they can be purchased at Darien City Hall.

Below, you can read Kiefer’s nomination by the Darien Citizen of the Year Committee.

The word “nice” is a prominent part of the city’s slogan – Darien is a Nice Place to Live. By definition, nice means amiable, pleasant, kind, pleasing, agreeable – such as: a nice gesture of help. And so, it is befitting that our nominee among the multiple nominations submitted and with all of the accolades mentioned for him…. all state one common thing: He is such a nice guy. A quote by Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama states: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” It appears that our nominee was born to live for this quote because as his nominators state, he is always kind. Therefore, it is with great pride that the Citizen of the Year Committee submits to the Darien City Council the name of: Ron Kiefer as our choice for the 2015 Citizen of the Year

Because Ron gives so freely of his time and wasn’t home much, the Committee had to make several “surprise” visits to ask him to accept our nomination. We are sure his neighbors wondered why four women were trekking up the Kiefer’s sidewalk all weekend long in sub-zero temperatures with several inches of snow on the ground! First time, he was at a Lion’s Committee Chairman’s meeting, 2nd time, he was at a family birthday party and when we finally made contact, we interrupted him watching the Patriots/Ravens Football game. Like many of our prior nominees, his first comment was … “Me? I have not done that much…there are more deserving people.” With amazement and tears in his eyes and a gentle hug from his wife, he accepted and then asked if we would like a cup of coffee!

Ron’s milestones are not measured in days or months of support but in a multitude of years. Ron began his greatest gift to children as an educator, counselor and principal in the Cicero School District. After 34 years of guiding, enriching and enhancing thousands of young lives, he retired in 2000. In the 60’s and 70’s, Ron was a member of the Jaycees. He held every office by 1978, before being selected as one of Illinois “Ten Outstanding Young Men” by the Illinois Jaycees. In 1983, Ron was elected to the Morton College Board of Trustees where he served 7 years (two of which were board chairman). During that time, he also served 2 years as chairman of the Educational Excellence Committee of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association and one year as Chairman of the West Suburban Region of Community College Trustees. He continues in that legacy of support by working with the Cicero Eagles, a program centered on young children. Since 1990, including 10 years as president, he has volunteered at and supported the Children’s Center of Cicero-Berwyn. In 2007, they award him the “Hold My Hand Award” in recognition of his devotion and commitment to the children of the community. Ron continues to serve on the Morton Scholarship Foundation, a working body that financially supports at risk high school students who without monetary aide potentially could drop out of school because of the student’s need to work to help support their family rather than attend school. He still continues in this role after 20 plus years. He has also served on the Youth Opportunities sub-committee of the Cicero Youth Task Force. He is an avid supporter of the SEASPAR program which centers its core principles on children with special needs. Ron also supports SEGUIN, the adult side of this special needs program.

Within the boundaries of Darien, Ron has extended his support to all areas of the city. For over 14 years, Ron has been a member of Darien’s Planning and Zoning Board – shaping our city’s future. Sometimes making hard decisions but always thinking of what is best for Darien not only for today but for the future of the city and its residents. Through, the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Darien, he supports the School on Wheels, a reading program for young minds. Since 2001, Ron has been an important part of the forever giving Darien’s Lion’s Club. He has continuously served on numerous committees, both as chairman and volunteer. In the words of another nominator… “If Ron has a fault, it is that he does not know how to say NO.”

Ron is known as a neighbor and friend who checks frequently on the well-being of his elderly neighbors, clears their snow in the winter and cuts their grass in the summer. He is always there with a kind word, a good joke or a bag of vegetables from his garden. In the harsh winter temperatures, he is known to have a hot cup of coffee waiting for the mail carriers when they finish their route. Another nominator stated…”Ron recognizes what a privilege it is to be called a friend and always answers with his favorite phase “What Can I Do to Help?”

Ron has been a resident of Darien for 27 years. His wife, Esther, is one of his biggest fans and supporters. She exemplifies his character with her personal phrase: “He is my gentle giant whose heart is bigger than he is.” He is the proud father of 2 children, son Brian and daughter Lynn and 4 wonderful grandchildren that he adores, Christina, Colin, Camden and Sloane who proclaim, “Papa Ron is the best grandfather in the world.”

We shared with Ron a nomination letter which is not normal protocol but given the timing and friendship, we thought it be befitting. And we wish to share a portion of the letter with you. Judy Baar Topinka wrote in part.. ”Demonstrating exemplary efforts and vision in bringing the community together, I believe that Ron represents all that Darien as well as the State of Illinois can be proud of. Ron is a willing volunteer who gives his heart and time to making Darien a better place to live and work…He is the kind of person that makes Darien as great as it is, and it’s for this reason that I feel he should be recognized for his hard work and dedication.”

By city ordinance, our guidelines for selecting the Citizen of the Year are diversity of activities, length of service, degree of involvement in the community and impact to the City. Ron certainly satisfies all these categories and then some.

Walt Disney stated: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

Ron has been a doer and has never stopped.

City Council, we present to you,
Ron Kiefer
as our choice for the Darien 2015 Citizen of the Year.

Respectfully Submitted,
the Darien Citizen of the Year Committee