Darien's 'Arbor Day Lady' Honored

DARIEN, IL — Darien Mayor Joseph Marchese said that when he took the helm last year, he developed the Heart of Darien award to recognize residents "who enrich our community through their unselfish commitment to the public good." He said he had a person in mind when he came up with the award — Kathy Minardi.

On Monday, dozens showed up to the City Council meeting to watch as Marchese honored Minardi, who is suffering from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

"While her contributions have been many, she is truly known as the Arbor Day Lady, who has raised our awareness of the beauty of nature and our need to return a gift to Mother Earth by adding beautiful trees to our landscape."

Minardi has worked with the local Gift of Carl Foundation to help with the planting of trees in Darien Community Park, Westwood Park and other Darien parks, the mayor said. Those trees have been planted in memory of "our departed loved ones," he said.

"She has made it a point to attend each of these Arbor Day events, even as she herself has suffered with health setbacks," Marchese said.

The mayor recalled a time early in his tenure as a Darien alderman when vandals were targeting Carriage Greens Country Club, driving golf carts into ponds, damaging greens and removing flags. The owners, he said, were considering erecting a fence between houses and the country club — something residents did not want to happen.

Minardi helped gather more than 300 residents to meet with the country club owners. Residents, as a result, pledged to patrol the golf course, Marchese said. They did and found the culprits. The fence was not built.

Minardi's husband, Mike Minardi, read a speech written by his wife. She was in attendance, but can no longer speak or move her arms and legs. But through technology, she can still write.

In her speech, she said she was "humbled and filled with heartfelt gratitude" and "truly overwhelmed with this recognition."