Friends and colleagues are remembering the legacy of John Fischbach, Lake Forest’s former city manager, who oversaw the restoration of the city’s beach and the development of the west side in the 1980s before leaving amid questions about his compensation. Fischbach died of natural causes on July 23, according to his daughter, Kristina. He was 80.

“John was incredibly smart and passionate — well-organized, but he demanded a lot from his employees, which I liked,” recalled Bob Kiely, who worked for Fischbach and later succeeded him as Lake Forest’s permanent city manager. “He set high expectations and held you to those expectations because he had high standards for himself.”

Born in Evanston, Fischbach spent most of his childhood in Albany, Oregon, his daughter said. He earned a master’s d

See Full Page