Bernard Stone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernard Stone
|
|
|---|---|
Alderman Stone in 2010
|
|
| 5th Vice Mayor of Chicago | |
| In office 1998–2011 |
|
| Mayor | Richard M. Daley |
| Preceded by | Terry Gabinski |
| Succeeded by | Ray Suarez |
| Chicago Alderman | |
| In office 1973–2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Jack I. Sperling |
| Succeeded by | Debra Silverstein |
| Constituency | 50th Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 24, 1927 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | December 22, 2014 (aged 87) Skokie, Illinois, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Complications from a fall |
| Political party | Democratic (1956-1987; 1990-2014) Republican (1987-1990) |
| Spouses |
Lois Stone
(m. 1949–1995)(her death) |
| Alma mater | Wilbur Wright College (B.A.) John Marshall Law School (J.D.) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Bernard "Berny" L. Stone (November 24, 1927 – December 22, 2014) was alderman of the 50th Ward of the City of Chicago, Illinois from 1973 to 2011. The 50th Ward encompasses part of Chicago's far North Side and includes the West Ridge, West Rogers Park and Peterson Park neighborhoods.
Contents
Early life and education
Stone was born on November 24, 1927 in Chicago to Jewish immigrant parents. He was educated in the Chicago Public Schools system at Von Humboldt Elementary and Tuley High School, which is now Roberto Clemente Community Academy. Stone enlisted in the United States Army in 1945. Stone attended Wright Junior College, now known as Wilbur Wright College, and John Marshall Law School.
Political career
First elected to the Council in 1973, Stone was the second longest-serving alderman (after Edward M. Burke). His tenure spanned the terms of seven Mayors, from Richard J. Daley to Richard M. Daley. Stone was also Vice Mayor of the City of Chicago from 1998 to 2011.
Stone was a part of the "Vrdolyak 29", which opposed Mayor Harold Washington's agenda. Though he was a Democrat for most of his life, Stone briefly followed Alderman Edward Vrdolyak to the Republican Party, and unsuccessfully ran against Carol Moseley Braun for Cook County Recorder of Deeds in 1988. Stone was a protagonist in a protracted legal conflict with the neighboring suburb of Evanston in 1993–1994. Employees of Stone's 2007 re-election campaign were convicted of vote fraud in 2010. Stone was "outspoken" and "relished the rough and tumble of politics".
Committees
Stone was the Chairman of the City Council Committee on Buildings, and also served on the following City Council committees: Budget and Government Operations, Finance, Historical Landmark Preservation, Housing and Landmark Preservation, Traffic Control and Safety, and the Committee on Committees.
Political philosophy
Stone stated his political philosophy as "You take care of the people who take care of you – you know, the people who voted for you. That's not Chicago politics, that's Politics 101".
Legacy
In 2017 a 1.8 acre greenspace along the North Shore Channel just south of Devon Avenue in the 50th ward was dedicated Berny Stone Park.
Personal life
Stone married his wife, Lois (d. 1995), in 1949. They had three daughters and a son.
Stone worshipped at Congregation Ezras Israel and served on their Board of Directors. Stone also served on the Board of Directors for the Bernard Horwich Jewish Community Center, the Associated Talmud Torahs, and the Jewish National Fund.
In 2003, Stone's son, Jay, unsuccessfully challenged incumbent 32nd Ward Alderman Theodore Matlak. Stone supported Matlak, calling his son "an embarrassment" who "doesn't know what he's doing". Father and son remained on good terms.
Stone died on December 22, 2014 at age 87 from complications from a fall. Stone was remembered by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times as "outspoken"; by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel as "fiercely loyal to his constituents"; and in a City Council resolution as "a vigorous advocate for the people of the 50th Ward".
