The late Phillip Elfstrom with a plaque in his honor at the home field of the Kane County Cougars. (Kane County Cougars photo)

“Legendary.” “Visionary.” “Trailblazing.” “Brilliant.” “Aggressive.” … “The Autocrat at the Breakfast Table.”

Those are just a few of the words and phrases used to describe Phil Elfstrom, the Kane County Board chairman who will be remembered for bringing bike trails and Kane County Cougars baseball to the area. Elfstrom died last week at the Holmstad Retirement Community in Batavia at the age of 88.

Elfstrom served on the Kane County Board from 1969 to 1992 and as its chairman from 1970 to 1982. He was president of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County from 1982 to 1990.

During his time in office, Kane County saw some of its most terrific growth. The County Board in those days made landmark accomplishments that are included but not limited to the establishment of the Kane County Government Center in Geneva and Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles, the Fabyan Parkway bridge and the Settler’s Hill Landfill, which is now the home of the Kane County Cougars’ Northwestern Medical Field, once known as Elfstrom Stadium. A story in the Northern Illinois University Library archives written by Paul M. Krawzak says Elfstrom was born in Evanston, reared in Libertyville and Wheaton, and in 1958 moved to Batavia, where he lived ever since.

He was the longtime owner Bader Publishing Co, which he sold in 1982, and owned real estate in and around the Batavia area, but he will be most remembered for his efforts as Kane County Board chairman.

According to the NIU library article, originally published in the July 1989 edition of Illinois Issues, Elfstrom was best known statewide and nationally as a pioneer of bicycle paths. More than 60 miles of trails now snake through Kane County, including the popular Fox River Trail.

“I like to think that I’ve left things a little bit better than I found them,” he said in that article.

His terms in office were not without controversy. In the 1980s, his efforts to condemn parcels of property for bicycle paths were hotly contested, and concerns about the breadth of his power and influence ultimately led to changing the County Board chairman position to an elected position rather than as an appointment by County Board members.

Kane County community leaders repeatedly praised his accomplishments.

“We will miss Phil Elfstrom,” Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen said. “The legacy that he left Kane County is enormous and impressive. I had the privilege of serving on the Public Building Commission when Phil was its chairman. He was a force of nature in those meetings and made everything we did together fun.”

Elfstrom received many honors over the years. He was named Batavia’s Citizen of the Year in 1982, and in 1998 he was honored by the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan appointed Elfstrom to the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, according to the American Presidency Project’s website.

A funeral service was scheduled to be held on Monday at Moss Family Funeral Home. Interment was set to follow at West Batavia Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Covenant Care Hospice Foundation 3755 East Main St., Suite 165, St. Charles, IL 60174.

–Phillip Elfstrom recalled:  Trailblazing former county board, forest preserve chairman brought bike paths, Cougars to Kane–