Delbert Arsenault was first involved with the YMCA as a boy, and later became an executive with the organization during a career of nearly four decades in social service.
Arsenault began his career at the South Chicago Center of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. He later served as the second executive director of the Southwest Y, a nonfacility Y, and was with the Chicago Y until 1975. He was vice president of the Rochester, N.Y., YMCA from 1975-79, then returned to Chicago to become the second president and CEO of the Chicago Youth Centers, serving for 21 years.
Arsenault, 76, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, on Jan. 31 in his home in The Clare in Chicago, according to his wife, Barbara. He was diagnosed in 2014. He lived in the Chicago area most of his life and also had a home in Sawyer, Mich.
Arsenault grew up on Chicago’s East Side, from where he took a bus to the South Chicago YMCA for swimming and other activities. After graduating from Bowen High School, he went on to George Williams College, then in Hyde Park, which was an established training ground for careers with the Y. He earned an undergraduate degree from the school in 1962 and a master’s in 1966.
In 1962, he began his career with the South Chicago Y. He was later executive director of the Southwest Y and spent four years with the Rochester Y in New York before coming back to Chicago to lead the Chicago Youth Centers.
Hank Wisniewski, who hired Arsenault and remains on the Chicago Youth Centers’ board, said the organization is dedicated to helping poor children in the city achieve their potential. Arsenault’s vision and leadership were perfect fits for that mission.
"In Del the board hired a passionate, authentic leader with utmost integrity and highest ethical standards," Wisniewski said. "We knew we had a winner. He was a visionary. He had a passion for the children and the young people served by CYC."
Arsenault’s contributions to CYC included setting up local boards for each of the organization’s centers. The presidents of those local boards also took seats on the corporate board, a move that spread an understanding of needs and available resources throughout the organization.
Wisniewski said Arsenault also had a talent for recruiting board members who could make a difference. He navigated through shifts in funding, managing to balance the budget as well as to establish an endowment that still provides money for programs. Arsenault retired from CYC in 2000 but remained active as a volunteer.
"I think the youth focus was always so important to him, to do something that would help their lives be better," his wife said.
He also remained an active alumnus of George Williams. When his alma mater became a partner of Aurora University in the early 2000s, he became a trustee and remained on the board until he retired for health reasons.
"He has been a member of our board for 17 years, always giving good thoughtful and empathetic counsel – truly a servant leader," said Ted Parge, Aurora’s executive vice president.
Arsenault was recognized in 1983 with the George Williams Distinguished Alumni Award. Aurora honored him with its Outstanding Leadership in Human Services Award in 1994.
Arsenault was an avid canoeist, sailor, swimmer and bicyclist. He was also a runner who had completed nine marathons.
In addition to his wife, Arsenault is survived by sons Jeffrey and Bradley; a sister, Carolyn Dean; and three granddaughters.
A service was held.
Megan is a freelance reporter.
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