Members of the Dubiel Family, (from left) Logan Dubiel, Leslie Dubiel, and Caleb, toss ceremonial dirt on a cherry blossom tree planted and dedicated to the late Village Trustee Morgan Dubiel at an Arbor Day observation outside Niles Village Hall on Friday. (tom Robb/Journal photo)
Village officials and family members of the late Morgan Dubiel gathered Friday morning to plant a cherry blossom tree in honor of the former village trustee.
The tree, located across the plaza from Niles Village Hall, serves as a memorial to Dubiel, who died Aug. 24, 2025, of a cancer-related illness at age 57.
Dubiel was a longtime Niles resident with a lengthy record of public service. He served 12 years as a Niles-Maine District Library trustee — including a term as board president — and more than 13 years on the Niles Plan Commission before his election to the village board in April 2023.
While Mayor George Alpogianis was unable to attend the ceremony, Trustee Susan DeBartolo read a proclamation on his behalf.
Niles Village Trustee Susan DeBartolo read a village proclamation from Mayor George Alpogianis on Friday before dirt was tossed on a cherry blossom tree planted for Arbor Day and dedicated to the late Village Trustee Morgan Dubiel. (Tom Robb/Journal Photo)
“The planting of a tree in his honor serves as a living tribute symbolizing strength, legacy, and the growth of the community he served,” the proclamation stated.
Following the reading, Dubiel’s mother, Leslie, and his brothers, Caleb and Logan, joined DeBartolo, Village Manager Frank Lindbloom and Public Works Director Stephen Quinn to ceremonially shovel dirt around the new planting.
The event coincided with Arbor Day, a fitting tribute for a municipality recognized as a “Tree City USA” in 2023. According to the mayor’s proclamation, the village planted more than 310 trees in public rights-of-way that year.
The sign below a cherry blossom tree planted on Arbor Day Friday, and “dedicated to the life of Morgan Dubiel.” It said, “Morgan Dubiel was with us for a short time, however he made quite an impact on many. He will be missed.” Dubiel, a Niles village trustee, died in August 2025, while in office. (Tom Robb/Journal photo)
According to his official biography, Dubiel ran for office with a mission to “moderate the extremes, keep taxes low, and maintain the great services the village provides.”
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