DuPage forest preserve staff wants building named after retiring leader

DuPage County Forest Preserve District's administrative employees want to ensure the district's longest-serving president - D. "Dewey" Pierotti - isn't forgotten when he retires next month.

They're asking to have Pierotti's name placed on the building where they work.

Now it's up to elected forest preserve commissioners to decide whether the district headquarters in Wheaton will be renamed the D. "Dewey" Pierotti District Headquarters.

"President Pierotti is the longest-serving president in the history of the forest preserve district," said Sue Olafson, forest preserve spokeswoman. "Given all of his accomplishments, including being a staunch conservation advocate, people felt pretty strongly that he should be recognized in some way."

Forest preserve commissioners are expected to have a discussion about the proposal during a Tuesday morning planning session.

On Friday, Pierotti said he didn't know about the idea until the agenda for the meeting was being prepared.

"If they do it, it's not something I asked for," he said. "It's not something I anticipated. But it is a great honor. I feel very humbled by it."

Olafson said the recommendation to rename the headquarters building along Naperville Road came from administrative staff members.

"This is not board directed," she said. "This is coming from staff."

Donations are being sought to help pay the estimated $3,700 cost to replace two signs on the building.

Pierotti, who's retiring after the November election, was elected to the forest preserve and the DuPage County Board in 1992. He became the forest preserve president in 1994.

During his tenure, the Addison resident presided over the separation of the county board and forest preserve into separate government bodies in 2002.

In addition, the district has acquired more than 3,000 acres and twice convinced voters to spend millions of dollars for open space during his time in office.

The district has grown to have 60 preserves covering roughly 25,000 acres with 145 miles of trails and five education centers.

"I take a lot of pride in what we have accomplished over the last 20 years," Pierotti said. "We've really done a lot of great things."