Leaders & Legacies: Dr. Douglas B. and Frances F. Mains, conservationists and philanthropists
DuPage Foundation is partnering with the Daily Herald to bring you this series celebrating the powerful role philanthropy plays in our community. Leaders & Legacies: Stories of Local Impact is a reoccurring feature highlighting the inspiring stories of local individuals, families and businesses that have made or are making a lasting impact through their generosity and leadership
The series continues with Dr. Douglas B. Mains (1934-2013) and Frances F. Mains.
As the days get brighter, temperatures warm up and flowers begin poking through the ground, it's no surprise to see people everywhere head outside in the spring.
What walkers, bikers and environmentalists populating the trails and parks across DuPage County may not know is how, decades ago, hundreds of volunteers worked to secure these outdoor oases as permanent community spaces.
Longtime West Chicago residents Doug and Fran Mains are two of those volunteers.
After meeting at Wheaton College, Doug and Fran married in 1956 and started a life together that revolved around faith, family and philanthropy - with the environment at the center of their giving.
Doug and Fran's daughters, Sheila Brown and Sherry Torppey, credit the outdoors for many of the fond memories they have with their parents. Despite his exceedingly busy professional life, Doug always made time to get outside.
"It was his therapy," Brown said. "Dad would come home from a long day, eat and leave again, but Sherry and I never felt alone or unseen by him because we had just spent all weekend together at the Morton Arboretum."
Doug's passion for the outdoors fueled his vast volunteer efforts. In the early 1970s, when Dan and Ada Rice's equestrian estate in Wheaton was slated for development, Doug got involved.
As a horse lover himself who believed once land was gone, it was gone forever, Doug created and led the Friends of Danada, a group of local environmentalists active in saving the estate.
"Things near our home were just starting to get built up, and this really was right in our backyard," Torppey said. "There was historic land that needed to be saved, and it spurred him into motion."
Following a successful campaign, the 797-acre Danada Forest Preserve is now home to a model farm, an equestrian center, formal gardens, a reception hall, trails, fishing and picnicking areas.
With an eighth of DuPage County dedicated to natural space, community members have an impressive amount of open area (nearly 26,000 acres) accessible to them.
Made up of prairies, woodlands and wetlands, open space plays an important role in a community's quality of life. Research has found that clean water, clean air, and opportunities to engage with nature create healthier communities - places where people want to live, work and raise families.
No one believed this more than Doug Mains.
In 1988, Doug was hand-picked by then Forest Foundation President Brooks McCormick to succeed him in leading what is now known as The Conservation Foundation.
As one of the region's largest nonprofit land and water conservation organizations, The Conservation Foundation is responsible for preserving and restoring open space, protecting rivers, and promoting stewardship of the environment.
At a time when environmental issues like pollution and erosion were emerging due to an increase in commercial and residential development, Doug's leadership and broad environmental vision was vital to the organization's future success.
McCormick had established a more approachable, inclusive philosophy to land preservation where everyone was invited to enjoy the outdoors, and Doug had the qualities to move that vision forward.
"We were fortunate to have people like Dr. Mains in leadership positions during my tenure," said D. "Dewey" Pierotti Jr., president of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County from 1992 to 2014. "Doug put quality of life for all residents before any monetary or political issue. His sole concern was to protect the land we had in DuPage County, and we are reaping the benefits of that now."
Despite being a "DuPage County guy," Doug advocated for The Conservation Foundation to expand into Kane, Kendall and Will counties in the 1990s.
While he prioritized the local community, he was always one step ahead and saw additional opportunities for preservation in these counties.
Over the years, Doug's résumé of preservation and environmental advocacy projects grew.
He and his allies assisted in passing open space referendums, advocating for a regional bicycle trail, opposing a proposed motor speedway at DuPage Airport, and saving many natural spaces, such as Lenore McDonald's 60-acre Naperville farm.
The McDonald Farm now serves as The Conservation Foundation's headquarters.
Doug's knack for property protection projects didn't end there.
Perhaps most memorable was his involvement in the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's acquisition of St. James Farm.
The big, beautiful piece of land in Warrenville was owned by Doug's great friend and philanthropist, Brooks McCormick.
Unable to donate the land to the Forest Preserve District on his own for legal reasons, negotiations were underway and Doug had a seat at the table.
In 2000, McCormick sold the 595-acre farm to the Forest Preserve District.
The acquisition of St. James Farm resulted in a remarkably large parcel of open space in this area - something that was important to Doug.
After graduating with honors from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1960, Doug completed his orthopaedic residency in New York and Chicago at the Hines V.A. and Shriners hospitals.
As an orthopaedic surgeon, his bedside manner is what made him special.
"He never got upset," said Brook McDonald, president and CEO of The Conservation Foundation. "When things got stressful, Doug was steady."
Credited with introducing the total hip replacement surgery to DuPage County in 1967, Doug later founded Orthopaedic Associates of DuPage and saw patients at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield until his retirement from medicine in 1999.
Whether he was in the operating room or negotiating property agreements, he was calm. Known for asking questions and taking his time - with patients, family and colleagues alike - his tempo had a presence that rubbed off on those around him.
Fran believed in everything Doug was doing but didn't need to be in the limelight herself. She was highly supportive of Doug's volunteer efforts and held things together behind the scenes for their family.
After 10 years of declining health due to dementia, Doug reluctantly needed to pass the torch and resign from The Conservation Foundation's board.
"My mom wrote the resignation letter for him," Brown said. "She was literally his right-hand person and had been for years."
Described as "selfless" by many, Doug and Fran's actions were consistent with their words.
So it did not come as a surprise when, in 2008, Doug and Fran sold their house and property near West Chicago to the Forest Preserve District under market value to minimize profits.
The 20 acres of land will be graded, seeded, and saved from any future development.
The Mainses donated back most of the proceeds of the sale to the Forest Preserve District, expanding their legacy to the Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn, a native wildlife rehabilitation facility that provides care to injured and orphaned wild animals.
It is a staple among DuPage County children who have memories of visiting the animal center, including Brown and Torppey.
The center is currently filled to capacity, with 11,000 animals taken in just last year.
"Because of the Mainses, we will be better equipped to care for these animals," explained Dan Hebreard, president of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. "The need is significant. We will improve facilities and build new enclosures, all on the same footprint as the existing structures and without increasing taxes." Fran continued the Mainses' philanthropy after Doug's death in 2013.
She was vital in the creation of an internship program at The Conservation Foundation for undergraduate or graduate students majoring in an environmental or a natural resources related field.
As a strong advocate for young people, Fran's desire to engage youth in the environment will impact many.
In 1999, Doug and Fran set up a donor-advised fund through DuPage Foundation to provide everlasting support for the causes they loved.
Today, Brown and Torppey serve as the fund's advisers to carry out their parents' vision of community giving.
It's impossible to measure all that Doug Mains accomplished during his 79 years.
To Doug, he was simply doing the right thing, the right way.
"It is sad to think of how much more he could've done if he had more time," Torppey said. "But he had a wonderful life, a full life. Everything he touched, he left better."
Exceedingly unselfish, Doug believed he had the profound responsibility to leave things better for those who came next.
And that he did. Generations of DuPage County residents and visitors will forever be indebted to his generosity, an example of the vast impact one person can have on a community.
"This family exemplifies community leadership," McDonald said. "Not everyone can write checks, certainly not big checks. But anyone can raise their hand and say they want to help."
Brown and Torppey could not be more proud of their dad.
They know that because of him, and people like him, there are acres upon acres of land that will remain permanently undisturbed and undeveloped.
"Preserving natural spaces around DuPage County that can coexist with necessary development was something he was considerate of," they said. "It's very rewarding to know that our dad, with his incredibly warm heart and his Midas touch, was such a champion for land preservation."
• The Leaders & Legacies series is brought to you by the Legacy Society of DuPage Foundation. Suggestions for future stories can be sent to Mindy Saban, director of communications, at mindy@dupagefoundation.org. Interested in learning more about how you can make an impact or create a legacy for your community and favorite causes? Visit www.dupagefoundation.org or call (630) 665-5556. DuPage Foundation is located at 3000 Woodcreek Drive, Suite 310, in Downers Grove, IL 60515.
Earth Day Benefit 2022
What: Fundraiser celebrating The Conservation Foundation’s 50th anniversary
Featuring: Cocktail-style gathering featuring exquisite culinary cuisine and festive libations; entertainment by local professional dueling pianists Chris Heroldt and Sam Baker; over 250 silent auction items including plants and other garden supplies, art, nature-inspired books, jewelry, home decor, recreation equipment, golf, theater and restaurant certificates; and unique outdoor experiences.
When: 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21
Where: Bobak’s Signature Events, 6440 Double Eagle Drive, Woodridge, IL 60517
Cost: $125 per person. Visit
theconservationfoundation.org/benefit for ticketsSponsorships available: Abby Beck, (630) 428-4500, ext. 135, or abeck@theconservationfoundation.orgTo donate: