The Village of Park Forest presented Building and Community Development Director Larrie Kerestes with a retirement resolution at Monday night's board meeting at Village Hall.
Kerestes served the Village for over four decades and will retire on Friday. With many of his family and friends in attendance, Kerestes grew emotional at the podium as he reflected on his career, which spanned nearly 43 years.
"Park Forest provided us [with] a well-rounded upbringing," Kerestes said. "We grew [up] in an open, diverse, social-economic, cultural, and racial community. I've been very lucky to serve in the town where I grew up."
Kerestes is a Park Forest native and graduated from Rich East High School in 1974. He then continued his education at Prairie State College and graduated from Lewis University in 1979.
Kerestes began working as a housing inspector with the Village of Park Forest in July 1981. A year later, in September, he became the deputy building commissioner. His hard work continued to pay off as he was appointed building commissioner two years later, in April 1984.
Park Forest started to see an economic turn for the worse in the mid-90s. The Village's leadership team thought Kerestes would be the perfect person to oversee a consolidated department. He was then appointed the Director of Building, Housing, Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development.
As director, Kerestes served on the management staff and worked with other leadership team members. Village Manager Tom Mick said Kerestes was a confidant to several village managers during his tenure and served as a guide to newer management staff members - where he taught them about budgets, protocols, and procedures.
Kerestes will retire on March 1 and continue to travel and be with his wife, and his two daughters and grandchildren.
"Let me thank my wife and my two daughters," Kerestes said. "Two daughters that have never known their dad not working and serving the residents of Park Forest. And to the grandkids, it's late now. It's time to go to bed. You got school tomorrow. Thank you."
