Donald J. DePorter
Encyclopedia
Donald J. "Don" DePorter (1942-1996) served on several civic and charitable committees in Chicago, USA
. He was recognized several times by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
for his volunteerism and dedication to betterment of the city. DePorter was the founder of Chicago Gateway Green, a non-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and greening of Chicago, with a particular focus on landscaping the "gateways" leading into and out of the city. Since its founding in 1986, thousands of volunteers have dedicated their time to Chicago Gateway Green's efforts.
DePorter worked for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
for almost thirty years, serving as a regional vice-president for approximately twenty of those years.
When DePorter died in 1996, Mayor Daley dedicated one of the "gateways" into the city at the base of the Kennedy Expressway and the Ohio and Ontario Street feeder ramp (formerly known as the "North Orleans Triangle") as the "Donald J. DePorter Gateway" in DePorter's honor.
DePorter's son, Grant DePorter
, has gone on to serve as Chairman of Chicago Gateway Green. A successful restaurateur, Grant DePorter came to worldwide prominence in 2004 when he paid US$113,824.16 for a baseball which a fan had unwittingly deflected out of the hands of a Chicago Cubs
player (thus contributing to the team's defeat in the 2003 National League Championship Series
), and then having the ball blown-up in a nationally televised event intended to help end the "Curse of the Billy Goat
" which had afflicted the Cubs since 1945.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was recognized several times by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
for his volunteerism and dedication to betterment of the city. DePorter was the founder of Chicago Gateway Green, a non-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and greening of Chicago, with a particular focus on landscaping the "gateways" leading into and out of the city. Since its founding in 1986, thousands of volunteers have dedicated their time to Chicago Gateway Green's efforts.
DePorter worked for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation , is an international operator of hotels.Hyatt Center is the headquarters for Hyatt corporation...
for almost thirty years, serving as a regional vice-president for approximately twenty of those years.
When DePorter died in 1996, Mayor Daley dedicated one of the "gateways" into the city at the base of the Kennedy Expressway and the Ohio and Ontario Street feeder ramp (formerly known as the "North Orleans Triangle") as the "Donald J. DePorter Gateway" in DePorter's honor.
DePorter's son, Grant DePorter
Grant DePorter
Grant M. DePorter is a restaurateur from Chicago, U.S., who came to prominence in after he paid US$113,824.16 for a baseball which had played a role in the Chicago Cubs defeat in the 2003 National League Championship Series, and had the ball destroyed in a nationally televised event...
, has gone on to serve as Chairman of Chicago Gateway Green. A successful restaurateur, Grant DePorter came to worldwide prominence in 2004 when he paid US$113,824.16 for a baseball which a fan had unwittingly deflected out of the hands of a Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
player (thus contributing to the team's defeat in the 2003 National League Championship Series
2003 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IllinoisThe Marlins took Game 1 of the series, coming back from an early 4–0 deficit. They scored five runs in the third on three home runs from Juan Encarnacion, rookie Miguel Cabrera, and Ivan "Pudge" Rodríguez. In the sixth inning,...
), and then having the ball blown-up in a nationally televised event intended to help end the "Curse of the Billy Goat
Curse of the Billy Goat
The curse of the Billy Goat was supposedly placed on the Chicago Cubs in 1945 when Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis was asked to leave a World Series game against the Detroit Tigers at the Cubs' home ground of Wrigley Field because his pet goat's odor was bothering other fans...
" which had afflicted the Cubs since 1945.