Don Layne, fixture in Addison schools and business, dies at 83
Donald J. Layne, a former football coach and principal at Addison Trail High School and a local school board member, has died.
A memorial service for Layne, 83, a fixture in the community for decades, is set for 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Addison village hall, 1 Friendship Circle. The funeral is private.
Layne was active in the Addison Chamber of Commerce and Industry, serving as director in 1995. He also served as chamber president in 1997 and 1998. He returned as director in 2001, and in 2009 was elected to the position of treasurer, a job he held until his death Sunday. A cause of death was not immediately available.
“During his years of devoted service to our organization, Don could always be depended upon to carry out whatever assignment or need that had to be addressed,” a chamber news release stated. “He spent countless hours over the years as our ‘ambassador’ at Community Days, attended every possible event, was a very important part of the success of our annual golf outing, and so much more.
“As president, his exceptional leadership and organizational skills were of great value in enhancing the vision and goals of the ACCI,” the release stated.
“His contributions were many, and have been very important to us as an organization and personally. We will miss his guidance and most of all his friendship.”
Layne began his teaching career in 1957, before moving to Addison Trail, where he taught physical education, driver’s education. and served as football coach. In 1976, he became the school’s assistant principal and in 1983 was named principal. He retired from that job in 1993.
In 1995 Layne was elected to the DuPage High School District 88 board, which oversees Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools. He served until 2007. He was also a charter member of the Village Substance Responsibility Commission, Addison Trail’s Operation Snowball weekend, and an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Addison, according to the chamber news release.
He is survived by his wife, Sylvia, and children, Mark and Leslie. He was preceded in death by a son, Robby Layne.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the Donald J. Layne Foundation for Education, P.O. Box 45, Addison, 60101.