Gregory B. Bott
Gregory B. “Greg” Bott, 61, a longtime resident of Plainfield, formerly of Brighton, Ill., passed away unexpectedly January 7at Edward Hospital in Naperville. He was born March 13, 1956 in Alton.
Beloved fiancé of Misty Bartlett of Plainfield, loving father of Bryan and Austin Bott, loving step-father of Nina and Nathan Bartlett, devoted son of Luriel (nee Stublefield) and the late Eugene Bott, dear brother of Bob (Bev) Bott of Brighton, Kathy (the late Rocco Goins) Bott of Brighton, Mary Jane Bott of Brighton and the late John (Sheila) Bott, fond nephew, cousin, uncle, great-uncle and friend of many including Mindy Gerrietts.
Greg grew up in Brighton, was a 1974 graduate of Piasa High School and in 1978 earned dual degrees in park & recreation and education from North Central College in Naperville. Greg began his career with the Naperville Park District in a maintenance position and in 1981 joined the Plainfield Park District in the same capacity. He worked his way up to become Executive Director in 1985, and served until his retirement in May 2013. Greg always believed in the role that parks and recreation played in the overall well-being of a community. In his three decades as director, he played a huge part in making sure parks were integrated into Plainfield’s development from a small farming community to a suburban village of 30,000-plus people. Throughout Greg’s time as executive director, the district was able to cut taxes on several occasions, and Greg made sure the district was financially solvent with adequate staffing to maintain great programs.
In 2013, the Plainfield Park District renamed River Edge Park in honor of Greg Bott, rechristened as “Gregory B. Bott Park.” In 2016, Renwick Community Park, 24550 W. Renwick Road in Plainfield, was renamed as Gregory B. Bott Community Park, in honor of Greg’s 32 years of service at the Plainfield Park District and his integral role in the acquisition and development of the park.
Greg was a member of the Plainfield Lions Club and attended Plainfield United Methodist Church and Three Rivers Church, both in Plainfield. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. Greg also enjoyed trap shooting, gardening, playing poker and spending time at his cabin in Hayward, Wis., which he called his “life’s dream.”
Visitation was January 12 at Overman-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 15219 S. Joliet Rd., Plainfield.
Funeral services were Jan. 15 at Targhetta & Wooldridge Funeral Home, 501 W. Center St., Brighton, IL 62012, (618) 372-3712, www.targhettaandwooldridge.com.
Interment: Miles Station Cemetery, Brighton.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Greg’s memory can be made to: Friends of the Plainfield Park District Foundation, Recreation/Administration Center, 23729 W. Ottawa St., Plainfield, IL 60544, (815) 436-8812, or Plainfield Lions Charities, P.O. Box 141, Plainfield, IL 60544
For more information, please visit www.overman-jones.com or call (815) 436-9221.