Key leader behind booming Southwest Florida village dies at 88

Donald “Don” Eslick, who spent most of his working career as an economics, policy and education wonk in Illinois, shifted to urban planning in his second act, when he retired to Southwest Florida. 

But this was no mere hobby.  Eslick got deeply involved in the organizing and planning of Estero, a village in Lee County that’s become a hotbed of Florida growth in the past 20 years. So deep Eslick earned the unofficial nickname Mr. Estero, and to further honor his commitment, in 2012 the county officially named the Estero Parkway Bridge over Interstate 75 the Don Eslick Bridge. (The county also named Eslisk Citizen of the Year in 2006.)

Eslick died March 16. He was 88.