Paying the Way: Bill Knapik
Everyone looks up to Bill Knapik. At six feet five inches in height – it’s hard not to look up to him. Beyond his sports-advantaged stature, Bill has grown to significant heights in his life, with tangible benefits to his family, friends and a larger community. His friends will mention to you that they’ve never heard a bad word about him. Others will tell you that he’s a superb gentleman. And Bill’s commercial work of building residential driveways and foundations comes with praise. It’s a perfect fit for someone who, like the concrete he sets, is as solid as they come.
Born to Polish-American parents, Bill grew up on the northwest side of Chicago and lived there until age 11, when his family moved to Morton Grove. He is the oldest of three children, with one brother and a sister. His parents, who are in their eighties, knew the Great Depression. “It was a rough childhood for my dad,” said Bill. “He didn’t finish eighth grade because his family lost their home in Chicago to tough times.” His father worked for survival as a mechanic, with a concrete job on the side. What little time Bill did spend with his father was working side by side pouring concrete and learning a survivalist’s work ethic. He recalls a focused discipline at home, and that he has never seen his father shed a tear.
Bill’s mother, Delores, is the youngest of thirteen children. “She cherishes the moment and loves to just be in the room with us,” Bill said of his mother who visits his family in Barrington. Like his parents, living in hard times and in the hustle of Chicago, Bill grew up fast. “You are on your own more in the city,” he said. “We’d leave in the morning and be gone until night. It was a neat way to grow up,” he said.
In the city, Bill kept busy with sports. It was the mid-1970s and Chicago played 16 inch softball. Bill played nonstop – about 140 softball games per season, and he was much younger that other league players. “In team work, you have to pull for each other with a common goal of winning. You’re always in competition,” he said. Decades later, Bill would apply his sportmanship skills to Barrington, leveling many playing fields to offer larger populations more places to play.
At 11, Bill’s family moved to Morton Grove. He attended Maine East High School in Park Ridge, and worked part-time in a convenience store. A talented athlete, Bill played sports and was the captain of his basketball team. As high school was coming to a close, Bill had a decision to make. “My parents didn’t push education,” Bill said of their Depresion-era thinking. “Instead, they told me to go out and get a job.” Having friends that planned to attend Northern Illinois Univeristy, Bill followed them and chose a major in business administration. He played basketball his first year, rugby his junior and senior years, and football and baseball as well.
Bill’s favorite story is about when he met and dated his wife, Doris Bergbom. A friend’s wife worked at United Air Lines. Bill signed up to help him coach the company’s womens softball team and there he met Doris. After a game, a group got together at a restaurant. “Doris sat next to me and I asked her out,” Bill said. Doris lived in Barrington, and Bill was living with his parents. He laughs when he recalls their first date. The invitation was for Doris to watch Bill play a softball game at the Chicago lakefront. They were running late for the game, and when they neared the field, he hopped out of the car and asked her to go park it by a nearby factory.
Doris and Bill dated for two years, and were married in 1977 at Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Barrington. That year, Bill started his construction company. “I loved construction, and had job offers, but I didn’t want to relocate,” he said. The newlyweds moved to Barrington in 1979.
Barrington had the small town atmosphere that appealed to Bill, and it provided him an opportunity to begin a life of community service. Bill’s brother-in-law became a best friend, and introduced him to the Lions Club. Bill was also a past president of the Barrington High School Horseshoe Club, one that raises money for school sports. Bill served on the Village of Barrington’s Zoning Board of Appeals from 1987 to 1989. He coaching youth sports, including soccer, baseball and basketball as a way to stay close to his three boys. With knowledge of the park district through its programs, Bill felt he could be of service.
“A logical next step was to support the Barrington Park District and its facilities,” said Bill. He ran for a six-year term board position in 1987 and lost by six votes. People who did not vote apologized to him the next day with news of his loss. Bill’s ablity to pull people together took shape in 1989. He ran again for an open seat on the board, and won by a landslide. Bill has served continually for 21 years, helping to guide one of Barrington resident’s largest priorities – open space and recreation – with success. “I’m most proud of Ron Beese Park,” Bill said of his first park district accomplishment. “We were able to transform barren land into multiple playing fields.”
Skilled at fostering compromise, Bill loves to bring people together. “The best part of my work is taking ideas, and getting everything, and everyone, to mesh together,” he said. Bill’s home life is built on a similar culture of being together. Family dinners are a priority, complete with background music to add to the enjoyment. “What’s important is my family and how close we are,” he said.
Bill believes that people should take responsibility for their actions, be honest, and keep their word as their bond. In business, Bill has to work with multiple tradesmen, produce a perfect fit the first time, and keep things level. His contributions to the rest of us are from a man who knows exactly how to build a lasting foundation.
Here are some words that others share about Bill Knapik.
Carol Beese
Our community is so fortunate to have people like Bill Knapik who are willing to serve and work to make dreams come true for the benefit of us all. Bill has been a Barrington Park District commissioner for 21 years, a volunteer position. He is the kind of person who doesn’t give up if he believes a project is for the benefit of our community. He has a great sense of humor and ability to be positive in the most difficult situations. Recently I attended the grand opening celebration for Barrington’s new Fitness and Recreation Center at Langendorf Park...an amazing facility which has been 10 years in the making. As we toured the new facility and Bill talked about all his hopes for the Barrington Park District’s future, I remembered another park district commissioner who served for 19 years and saw that his dreams for the district also had come true – my husband Ron. Thank you Bill for all you do on behalf of Barrington!
Tim Dunn
Bill has been a friend and confidant for more than 25 years. Our children grew up together and I coached his three fine sons at Barrington High School. We consider each other’s family as our own. We have fished in Canada with our kids for a number of years. Bill and I have the capability of knowing what each is going to say before we say it. We enjoy talking sports, politics, and topics that make us laugh. I am impressed with the number of people that Bill knows and that all speak highly of him. He has been a caring park board member for twenty years. He has been a major part of its growth and development. I consider Bill to be a loyal friend, wonderful parent and grandparent along with his lovely wife, Dori.
Christine Garry
I currently serve as the president of the Barrington Park District Board of Commissioners. It was my good fortune to have met Bill Knapik fifteen years ago when he encouraged me to run for commissioner of the park district and allowed me to partner with him on the campaign trail. Bill is always supportive of the people he believes in and loyal to all who are fortunate to call him their friend. I consider Bill to be one of the kindest of “gentle giants”, with a keen sense of humor and a deep commitment to family and community. His presence on the board for the past twenty years has been such an asset, always keeping the taxpayer interests at the forefront of his decisions. He has been an integral member of a team that has worked to improve the quality of life for Barrington’s residents, bringing new and exciting recreational opportunities, without compromising integrity and vision. Through his efforts on the park district board we have been able to build a new pool, construct an award winning park, and recently complete a state-of- the art recreational center. He has brought a considerable amount of practical knowledge to the table, and his advice and calm demeanor have not only been appreciated, but valued as well. He is not one to seek recognition, yet he deserves praise from his community for his numerous contributions. I am grateful for Bill’s friendship and support and look forward to working with him for years to come.
Jim Feit
I first met Bill some 30 years ago when he came to Barrington with his wife, Dori. It became obvious early on that he was the kind of person you just wanted to be around. My son went to school and played sports with Bill and Dori’s three boys, Will, Robbie and Charlie. I grew up with the Bergbom family and it didn’t take Bill long to fit in as if he also had lived here all of his life. Whether coaching a local team or helping out with an after-game cook-out, Bill has always been there. Bill’s dedication to community service has set a standard anyone would be proud of. The years of service to the park district board is just one example of how Bill makes time for the community while also running his business and raising his wonderful family. I feel privileged to call Bill a friend for all of the years we’ve know each other.
Michael Fitzgerald
Bill and I have known each other personally as well as professionally for more than 25 years. We met as members of the Barrington Lions Club. Since first meeting Bill, he has always been one to participate in whatever project either was presented or needed attention. Involved would be a word that helps describe Bill. Whether it be at work, serving the community or most importantly, with his family, not a day goes by where if an opporutnity to help or serve others presented itself, Bill would offer to get his hands dirty. Cheerfulness also comes to mind with Bill. Relating a story, a good-natured jab, or the target of one are all part of the foundation of this persona. There have been countless examples of the above, and hopefully many more to come. The laughter that accompanies an encounter with Bill is what I appreciate and enjoy the most. Congratulations to Bill Knapik, someone I consider my friend.
Linda Hovde
I know Bill as a fellow Barrington Park District Commissioner and have been serving with him for the last five years. I first met him and his family at church in 1986. His son Charlie was in my Sunday school class. When he was elected in 1989, the park district was just getting ready to construct Ron Beese Park. During his 20 year tenure the Aqualusion pool was reconstructed, the fitness center opened, Citizens Park property was purchased and developed and now the new Langendorf facility is up and running. Those are some pretty major projects for a small park district of 10,000 people.
Bill is a steady force on our board and in great way. Bill wants the park to serve the whole community, for all age groups. When we were discussing the Langendorf project and site planning, Bill was thinking of the golf course clientele, oldsters and youngsters, and those who use it on a regular basis. He wanted to be sure the golf perimeter was left unchanged and the rest of us agreed wholeheartedly. His park experience, in tandum with his large number of friends in Barrington, make him a wonderful asset on the board. I hope he can serve another 20 years. I am proud to work with him.
Clisby Jarrard, Jr.
Bill and I are brothers-in-law.We married the much sought-after Berghorn sisters. I married Ruth and Bill married Dori. The union of Bill and Dori is the basis of Bill’s concrete company’s name, Bildor Concrete, and their son’s local band, Sons of Bildor. Bill and I have been best friends for more than 35 years. When Bill started his concrete company, I labored for him, hand-mixing concrete our of the back of his sagging red pickup truck. I formed my own construction company 30 years ago and Bill has been my only concrete man. His pride in his trade and his customer relations are above and beyond.
As a fellow commissioner, I am always amazed at Bill’s financial knowledge and how his decisions are based on what is good for the village and his taxpayers. He is also proud of his family. He would rather spend an evening on his screen porch watching the Cubs with family, friends, and especially his backyard neighbor – the comedian – his brother Steve.
Not many people know that Bill had quite a career as a college rugby player and that he played 16 inch softball in the competitive Chicago leagues. But his claim to fame is his prowess on the North Shore platform tennis courts and his creation of the world renown paddle tennis defensive “I” formation.
Terry Jennings
When Bill reached his 20th year of service on the Barrington Park District Board the first thing I thought of was his sincere devotion to the Barrington Community. His leadership knowledge, wisdom and years of experience have been instrumental in supporting me, as the director, and my staff, to create a top notch park district. Any time I came up with an idea or project he has been supportive and allowed me the freedom, along with the rest of the board, to make it a reality. What I always admired about Bill is that he has the taxpayers best interest at heart. He truly is an advocate for Barrington and I am so fortunate to have a board member like him. His attendance is impeccable and his sense of humor is contagious. The community has greatly benefited from his service. I know he is proud of our accomplishments, including the award-winning Citizens Park, the Pepper Family Treehouse, the Cuba Marsh Bike Trail connection and now the Fitness and Recreation Center in Langendorf Park. Thank you Bill.
Diane Kostick
Dori and Bill Knapik are friends. My husband and I were also their teachers when they attended Barrington schools.
It is an honor to be asked to write some comments in praise of Bill Knapik. While clichés annoy English purists, there are two that characterize Bill – gentle giant, and pillar of the community. My relationship to Bill is primarily knowing him as the Bildor-concrete-guy! This past summer we hired Bill and his remarkable crew to create a series of aggregate concrete steps, patio, sidewalk, and ramp around the perimeter of our Glen Acres home to complete a renovation job. Bill’s dedication to getting the task just right was remarkable. He took measurement after measurement, he looked over the project from one angle then another and another and we could see that he envisioning the finished product. He assisted his crew in making sure that the materials used were solid, safe, and attractive. He demanded the best work of his men and of himself. The completed work matched our needs and wishes for now and will, well into the future. While looking over the area to be serviced, Bill noticed and pointed out to me that the posts for stairs were not sitting properly on piers, that the stairs and landings had shifted, and that they were not plumb. In addition a pad needed to be added to the bottom of the steps. These construction problems had not been addressed by our builder and might have been ignored. With Bill spotting these errors, he saved us future headaches and potential danger.
Bill’s commitment to Barrington is legendary – especially his work with sports teams and on park district issues and projects. Above all else, his integrity is beyond question. He is a stalwart member of our community, and a kind friend to all who know or work with him. Bill is a supreme gentleman.
Dick Miller
I was director of parks and recreation for the Barrington Park district from 1956 until 1993. I met Bill early in my career. He was working on service projects for the park district in conjunction with an organization in the community. Bill ran for and was elected to the Board of Park Commissioners in 1989, and he remains a commissioner to this day. Bill was instrumental in working for and passing the referendum to purchase and develop Ron Beese Park, 80 acres of land located next to Bakers Lake. The park includes everything from hiking trails to garden plots, six soccer fields, two softball fields and so much more. With his knowledge of construction, Bill was instrumental in all facets of the creation and completion of the park. Recently, Bill has been istrumental in the development of Citizens Park and the construction of the new fitness center. Bill has been a great asset to the Barrington community through his interest, dedication and desire to have the finest parks and recreation facilities in the area. Congratulations on twenty years of service!
Carol and David Nelson
We have known Bill for twenty-five years, at least. We met through our children at Hough Street School. Bill helped David coach Hough Street boys basketball for a number of years when his boys were going through the program, and David encouraged Bill to run for the park district. Bill has given so much time and wisdom to the parks, serving as commissioner for twenty years. He has seen it through a period of tremendous change and growth.
What do we love most about Bill? His sense of humor and his loyalty to his friends. Bill is the consummate sports fan – knowledgeable, insightful, critical. He is the guy you want to be sitting next to at a sporting event, as he is a great sports analyst. He was the perfect sports father – ever-present, ever-supportive, ever-proud. The best thing about Bill Knapik was his choice of a bride, and he and Dori have raised three outstanding young men. There is not a more wonderful family in all of Barrington!
Barbara and Glenn Reed
We are so happy that Quintessential Barrington has chosen to celebrate Bill Knapik. Having had the great gift of Bill’s friendship for over a quarter of a century, Bill represents for us what has made Barrington such a rare, wonderful community in which to live and to raise a family.
Writing about Bill is easy duty – he is extraordinarily smart, generous, quick-witted, hardworking, a committed local citizen, the consummate family man with a terrific set of values, and truly a person who does what he says he will do. Our home bears the hallmarks of Bill’s uncompromising workmanship, and when you engage Bildor Concrete you get a double bonus: the very best in quality service and hysterical visits with Bill.
Bill has enriched our community in so many ways, including countless hours spent on Barrington’s playing fields and basketball courts as a coach and mentor to our youth. It is no coincidence that the park district’s most exciting years of growth have occurred on his watch. When it comes to consensus-building and focusing on the critical areas where people can and will agree, Bill is a master.
We cannot think of Bill without mentioning his signature gait--the result of basketball knees and a lifetime of dedication to his work--which signals, from any distance, his imminent arrival and the delightful prospect of a laugh and great conversation. Lastly, it’s impossible to honor Bill without honoring Dori. They have a wonderful marriage and partnership. Bill and Dori have raised three talented, ambitious and engaged sons, and we are fortunate to have them in our midst as well. Congratulations, Bill, to us you are quintessentially Barrington!
Libby and Todd Rieke
We met Bill through mutual friends and our children some 30 years ago.
Bill is amazingly dedicated to many things – his family, his friends, his park, his sports, his community, his politics, and his company, Bildor. Bill is a man of principle and has his priorities in order. When talking to Bill, he will give you 100 percent of his attention...unless his boys are singing. He will come out at any time to lend a friend a hand...unless his grandsons are over. He will meet for dinner on a moments notice...unless there is a park meeting. He will talk sports with you all day....but don’t cross his beloved White Sox, Bears, Bulls, and Black Hawks! He will listen to your views on politics....but he is knowledgable and steadfast in his beliefs. He will give you that twinkle in his eye and blow you a kiss, but Doris is his angel. When we think about Bill Knapik, we think of our hometown, because he epitomizes what Barringon is all about.
Jon Stickney
Bill and I work together as Barrington Park District Commissioners. I have known Bill for more than 20 years. In that time, Bill has proven to be a quiet leader for our town. He’s the type of consistent leader that every town needs. Bill is loyal, committed and a maintains good judgement – yet he has just the right amount of goofiness and humor.
Bill is caring, and serves not for himself, or his own self-interest. Instead, he serves for his community, and his family. I consider Bill a role model for my family and me.
Thank you, Bill, for giving us the most important gift of all – for showing us how to serve.
Jim Wallace
I am the Deputy Village Manager for the Village of Barrington. I first met Bill 14 years ago, when I began my employment with the Village as the building official. I inspected a lot of Bill’s work as a concrete contractor. Over the years, I have also had contact with Bill in his role as a board member of the Park District. One of the things I remember most about the early days is how Bill, already an established figure in the community, made me, a newcomer, feel welcome. I think that’s just his nature. His first instinct is to reach out to people. Bill is the type of person who, within five minutes of meeting you, can make you feel as though you’ve known each other for years. With Bill, you always know you dealing with a straight shooter, and a person who cares about others. Probably the two words that best describe Bill are “ugly knees”. If that doesn’t work, you could just as well say that he is both genial and genuine.
Publisher’s Note: Quintessential People™ is a heartfelt collaboration between our publication and portrait artist Thomas Balsamo. Our goal is to share with you exceptional images and words that ring true about some of the finest, most inspiring people in the community. For more information about Quintessential People™, contact QB at www.QBarrington.com or Thomas Balsamo (Portraits by Thomas) www.portraitsbythomas.com.