Lake Katherine Honors Memory Of Nature Loving Employee

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL -- When it came to advocating for Mother Nature, Lake Katherine employee Dick Thomas was tireless in his efforts, so it is fitting that a memorial to celebrate his life will be held on Earth Day, which falls on April 22.

Dick, 82, a long-time employee of Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens in Palos Heights, passed away on Dec. 28, 2018, after suffering a fall. He will be honored at 10 a.m. on April 22 as Lake Katherine celebrates his life and achievement with a variety of tributes on Earth Day. During a heartfelt memorial, a trail will be named after Dick and an oak tree, native shrubs, and a bench dedicated to him.

“Dick was not just a worker at Lake Katherine, he lived and breathed conservation,” Gareth Blakesley, Lake Katherine’s director and chief naturalist, said in a news release. “He was well-known amongst our visitors, as he was interested in talking to people, as long as it wouldn’t interfere with his work too much. He always had more buckthorn to cut and took pride in working hard for a place he loved. Dick was a tireless advocate for nature and was well liked and respected for his knowledge. His loss is deeply felt.”

After retiring from his career as a biology teacher over two decades ago, Dick, who was born in Rockford, continued to embrace his love of conservation and restoration, working for the National Park Service and volunteering at Friends of Orland Grassland, the Forest Preserve District of Will County and Thorn Creek Audubon Society. Dick was also an avid traveler, journeying to remote parts of the USA to wonder at nature. In particular, Dick loved the scenery at Glacier National Park in Montana where he worked for a stint.

Dick was employed at Lake Katherine for over a decade and was often seen on the grounds in all weather checking on the trails, bushwhacking, and educating the public.

“We will honor him on Earth Day, not just because he was a good man, but because he was a mentor and a teacher who cared deeply about the natural world and wanted to protect it,” Blakesley said. “Dick discovered what he could do to make a difference to the world and acted on it. As we honor him on Earth Day, we strive to continue to learn from him and follow his example to make a difference."

"Dick Thomas shared a commitment to healing our public lands with hard work, a generous smile and friendship with those with whom he worked,” recalls Pat Hayes who worked with Dick at Friends of Orland Grassland. “He cared deeply about teaching others.”

Hayes and Blakesley will join Dick’s friends and colleagues Mary Bernat, Liam Flynn, Renee Gauchat and Phyllis Schulte in paying tribute to the environmentalist in a dedication in Lake Katherine’s Children’s Forest, just past the Schoolhouse Arch at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 22.