Donald F. Eslick

Donald F. “Don” Eslick passed in peace on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at the age of 88. Don is survived by his wife Suzie Eslick. Don was born in Chicago, Illinois to Clarence and Grace Eslick. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Purdue University; his MBA from the University of Chicago and completed all but his dissertation for a PHD in Economics at the University of Illinois, Urbana campus. After serving three years as a Navigator/Electronics Countermeasures officer on a B-47 crew in the U.S. Air Force. Don mixed his advanced education with short stints with North American Aviation and Zenith Radio. After completing his education, he taught economics, statistics, finance and marketing at Marquette and Loyola of Chicago Universities. Over the next decade or so he served as Assistant Illinois Superintendent of Schools, Assistant State Comptroller and Director of Legislative Research for the Illinois House of Representatives. The final phase of his professional career was spent advising municipal and state governments about urban economic development finance programs while employed by Investment banker Kane McKenna and Associates and as a representative of his own firm, Public Finance Associates. After retiring to Florida in 1999, Don became actively involved with civic and governmental relations activities in Estero. He served as Vice-Chair of the Estero Community Planning Panel and was the founding Chairman of the Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL), a “grass roots” community organization which addressed quality of life issues. Also during this time, he served on three of Lee County’s most prominent committees: the Smart Growth Committee, the Density Reduction/Groundwater Resource (DR/GR) Advisory Committee and the Charter Review Committee. In 2006, Lee County recognized Don as the Citizen on the Year and, in 2012, they named the Estero Parkway Bridge over I-75 the Don Eslick Bridge. Don served as ECCL Chairman for 10 years before serving as Chairman Emeritus until 2019. He was presented with the ECCL’s Visionary of the Decade Award in 2011. In addition, he organized the South Lee County Hospital Committee which was instrumental in the ultimate development of Lee Health at Coconut Point. The motto for the Village of Estero is “A Village with a Vision,” and it is Don Eslick who provided that vision and came to be known as “Mr. Estero.” He was a lifelong golfer who started as a young caddie in Marshalltown, Iowa and was able to play well into his 80’s. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 28300 Beaumont Road in Bonita Springs at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday the 25th of March. A private reception will be held at a later date. In Lieu of Flowers, please send a donation to the Lee Health Foundation on behalf of Don Eslick Lee Health Foundation, Lee Health Coconut Point Capital Fund (Don Eslick Fund), 9800 South Healthpark Drive, Suite 405, Fort Myers, Florida 33908.

Donald F. Eslick

March 11, 1934 - March 16, 2023