Record #: R2022-1226   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 12/14/2022 Current Controlling Legislative Body:
Final action: 12/14/2022
Title: Tribute to late Honorable William J. Kunkle, Jr.
Sponsors: Burke, Edward M.
Attachments: 1. R2022-1226.pdf

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, Honorable William J. Kunkle Jr. has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 81; and

 

WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and

 

WHEREAS, William's wife, Sarah Florence Nesti Kunkle died in 2014, and is survived by his two daughters, Susan and Kathleen and his grandson, C.J. Gilbert; and

 

WHEREAS, He was the oldest of three brothers, and was born in 1941 in Lakewood, Ohio where he grew up in Fairview Park, a western suburb of Cleveland; and

 

WHEREAS, William attended Northwestern University for his undergraduate degree, then worked for Union Carbide in South Carolina for a couple of years before returning to Northwestern University in 1969 for his law degree; and

 

WHEREAS, William started his legal career as an assistant public defender, but later became an assistant state's attorney in 1973 and quickly distinguished himself as a tough attorney in a string of violent, gritty cases the decade became known for; and

 

WHEREAS, He left the state's attorney's office in 1985 for private practice; and

 

WHEREAS, He became Chairman ofthe Illinois Gaming Board from 1990 to 1993, then in 1994 served as a Cook County Judge in the 4th Subcircuit until his retirement in 2014; and

 

WHEREAS, William imparted a strong sense of ethics in carrying out the law to his daughter Kathleen before she became a lawyer, "You need to be there for the victim's family and the State of Illinois," he once told her; and

 

WHEREAS, William was a devoted grandfather to his one grandson, attending his grandson's lacrosse and football games, including being involved in all of his activities with the Boy Scouts; and

 

WHEREAS, To his beloved family, William imparts a legacy of generosity, compassion, devotion to family and unwavering faith in God; now, therefore

 

BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members ofthe Chicago City Council, assembled this fourteenth day of December, 2022, do hereby commemorate William for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy ofthis resolution be presented to the family of Honorable William J. Kunkle Jr.

 

 

1 \Mr,^A .A

Edwajfd M. Burke Alderman, 14th Ward