Michael Nussbaum, who served on the Homewood-Flossmoor Park Board for 12 years, died Feb. 13. He was 68.
Mr. Nussbaum served two six-year terms on the park board from May 1993 to April 2005. He was the board’s vice president for three years, and its president for three years.
During his tenure, the park district saw tremendous growth. The H-F Racquet & Fitness Club and the H-F Ice Arena were renovated, administrative offices moved to the new Goldberg Center, the community approved a $12 million referendum that allowed the board to acquire three properties – the former Cherry Hills Golf Course that was redeveloped into the Coyote Run Golf Course, the Hines Lumber site that is now Millennium Park, and the former Army Reserve site that is Patriots Park.
Debbie Kopas, former executive director of the park district who worked closely with Mr. Nussbaum, said, “Mike Nussbaum was a dedicated park district commissioner who consistently put the community’s best interests first, even when faced with difficult decisions. He guided the district through periods of planned growth and challenging circumstances with integrity, steady leadership and an unwavering commitment to the residents he served.”
In 2019, as the park district was celebrating 50 years, Mr. Nussbaum told the Chronicle that when he was president he delighted in residents’ support for the $12 million referendum for park improvements.
The support “is what I love about this community. The best part of my 12 years (on the board) is seeing all the accomplishment: driving around now and seeing our parks and how they’re used and transformed. To think I had something to do with that is pretty cool.”
Mr. Nussbaum is survived by his wife, Kathy, sons Brian and Jeff, and grandchildren Alice and Cole.
He graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 1975 and Roosevelt University.
Mr. Nussbaum retired from AT&T after 36 years of service and then went to work at Kirchner Vision Group in Homewood.
Shiva will be observed Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 18 and 19, from 3:30 to 8 p.m. For details contact Tews-Ryan Funeral Home at 708-798-5300.
