50 Comments - anon - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:28 pm: So sad. - Dan Long - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:29 pm: Dan was a great guy who I had the opportunity to work with for several years. My prayers and sympathy go out to his family. - Give Me A Break - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:29 pm: May Dan rest in peace. It was always fun to watch him take on members in committee when they would try to “out expert him” on an issue (they would lose). Prayers to his family. - Eddy - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:30 pm: I’m in shock and so terribly sad. I got to know Blue pretty well hanging in that office that we used to hang out in, and working in his campaign every day last year. I will pray for his family. We’ll so miss you Blue. Rest in Peace my friend. - Barton Lorimor - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:40 pm: :( - Abe the Babe - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:43 pm: Didnt know him well but i dealt with him on a few issues. He was always a honest and up-front. - In the know - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:46 pm: Dan was a great guy, always cheery even when the place was dreary. - Jim Soreng - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:47 pm: Dan was a friend and someone who will certainly be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. My prayers and sympathy go out to his family. - Knome Sane - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:47 pm: I am very sad by this news. Dan was a great in many ways, but mostly as a friend and “family guy”. He loved talking about his wife and kids. I will miss his smile, his laugh and the first words out of his mouth after hello: “Hey, how’s your family doin? Everyone all right?” Not today Danny, we are all sad today. - Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 3:49 pm: Every time I have heard his name, it has always been with a positive connotation. Thoughts and prayers with Mr. Bluthardt’s family. - Hon. John Fritchey - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 4:19 pm: Dan was a good man through and through. We lost one of the good ones today. - Newbie - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 4:20 pm: I have been working closely with him. My office is in complete shock right now. He was a wonderful and caring guy. - Andy Raucci - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 4:33 pm: We will all miss Blu. Words cannot express the sadness that I, and many others, feel. He will be missed. So sad. - b - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 4:35 pm: RIP, Dan. Thoughts and prayers are with your family in this very sad time. - LINDA Williamson - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 4:43 pm: I have know Danny for many years. He was always right there to help in what ever I needed. His whole family Sparky, Diane, Brent and Carrie are some of the best people you will ever meet. Dan will be missed by all of us. - Chris Parks - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 4:48 pm: Dan lives at the end of my block. We are shocked and saddened. His positive attitude about life was contagious. My wife and I are praying for the Lord’s strength to help Rocko, Amanda and Carrie through this most difficult of times….. - Dan Donahue - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 4:52 pm: Always enjoyed working with Big Blu. Smart guy and always positive. Another old schooler gone. Prayers to his family. - Frownie - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 4:59 pm: Bye Bye Blu Bird - Richie - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 5:02 pm: One of my favorite people; thoughts and prayers for his family. - Campbell Family, Schiller Park, Il. - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 5:18 pm: Condolences To the Bluthardt Family ! - Brent Bluthardt - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 5:29 pm: On behalf of the Bluthardt family I would like to thank you for your very nice and heartfelt comments. It helps bring a smile to the face even though our hearts are all broken. - Been There - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 7:05 pm: Always a nice, gracious guy. How sad. I knew his last name but can’t ever remembering saying anything but “hey Blu” instead of Dan. Terribly early. Thoughts and prayers to his family. - Etown - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 7:07 pm: Very Sad. Just a couple weeks ago I watched the Blackhawks beat the Wings in Game 7 at Boones with Blu.. We had not caught up in a while and we enjoyed a couple beers and a hawks win. Blu and his family will be in my prayers - Sen. Kirk Dillard - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 7:40 pm: Big Blu was one of the easiest going, helpful and most competent people around state government. My deepest condolences to his great family. He made it more tolerable these days to be in Springfield. A sad, sad loss! - Floyd - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 8:46 pm: I had an opportunity to work side by side with Dan while he was still a liaison at the then Department of Professional Regulation. He was then, as always, a class act, as humble as he was talented, and a tremendous person. Rest in Peace my friend and know that you will be missed. To his children and family, please know of the high esteem in which he was held by his peers. God be with you through this time. - Ken Arnswald - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 9:16 pm: Knew Dan since grade school. Never knew anyone with a bad thing to say about him and will fondly remember his big smile. The world will be better if more people were like Dan and will be worse off with him not with us. I share the family’s sadness and hope they take solace in the fact he is in God’s palm. - Mayor Barbara Piltaver & John Piltaver - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 10:14 pm: Our deepest sympathy to the Bluthardt Family. We are saddened by your loss. You are in our prayers. God Bless. - Sen Bill Brady - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 10:27 pm: One of the best! He will be missed by many of us. God Bless him. - Former Schiller Park Library Trustee/School Board Trustee/Police Officer / Precient Captain/ United Way Chairman - Tuesday, Jun 11, 13 @ 11:02 pm: I am so taken back that my friend Danny Bluthardt is no longer with us…. seems like just the other day, we be playing football, roaming Eden Grave Yards and playing baseball in the open lots with Brent and the John and Fred Dalbis. As kids we would find ways to keep amused and to sometimes find a way to get in trouble and can remember Sparky coming home and wonder what we got into on that day. I can remember many times sitting at the kitchen table havin a sandwich that Diane would prepare….. I am in total shock as not only have I lost a friend, we … have lost an era that we can never get back…………… To Sparky, Diane and Brent …. GOD BLESS…. and I remember Dan and say, where the does time go ? He will be missed …..wishin we were still in those open lots in Schiller Park or riding our bikes up and down Scott Street - Madalyn Radak - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 12:56 am: Words cannot express how sorry I am for your loss. I pray that God will bring comfort to your family. - Todd - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 7:32 am: he was a great guy and a lot of fun to be around. I will miss him. Prayers for his family - MM- - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 8:48 am: Blu you will be so dearly missed. - Audrey - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 9:11 am: Dan was one of the good guys. Always interested in doing the right thing. He will be missed - Hertz Family - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 10:31 am: On behalf of the entire family our heartfelt condolences go out to the Bluthardt family you neverforget growing up in a small community where everyone knows ever each other we will keep him in our prayers. - Ace - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 10:49 am: Dan was a great guy. He knew his stuff too, and always came prepared to the meeting. He will be missed. - Roger Germann - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 10:57 am: RIP Blu…a great guy. Will miss you. Thoughts and prayers to the family. - Bill McAndrew - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 12:17 pm: Good friend,great guy. Cracking an Old Style in memory of Blue. - Debbie - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 1:03 pm: Dan Bluthardt, you will be missed. Sue and I will miss you, we are proud to have worked with you, beyond that, proud you that you were our friend. Rest in peace Blu, you were a great man. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 1:10 pm: Going to miss seeing his grand marquis with “BLU” plates. Whenever you rolled up somewhere looking for a good time and saw his car out front you knew you ere on the right track. RIP buddy. - Terry McLennand - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 2:14 pm: About 24 hours ago I received a call from an old friend at DPR telling me Dan had passed away. We had worked together for 20 years, attended Bears games, Cubs games and we were the dynamic duo of liasions at DPR. Golf at 7am, victory cigars after a committee vote, too much of his AC/DC to my Frank Sinatra … he was a great guy and a true friend and as my Father would have said, “A really good Joe”. Prayers to Carrie and the kids, and Dan we will miss you. - anon - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 2:47 pm: As someone who has dealt with the best and the worst of the legislative/lobbyist/state government world, both as a state employee and as a former restaurant server, I can attest to all previous comments. Danny was one of the few exceptions to that crowd. Always polite, always smiling, always respectful to anyone and everyone. Thank you, Danny. You are already missed. - RepublicanDiehard - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 5:52 pm: In the short time that Dan and Carrie lived in McHenry County Dan definitely made an impact on the political scene. He was smart, savvy, and hard working. He will never be forgotten, and his memory will always bring a smile from past jokes and laughs. - Reeney - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 9:24 pm: My heart is breaking for the Bluthardt family. What a tragic loss. - John Nicolay - Wednesday, Jun 12, 13 @ 9:42 pm: I’ve known Blu for many, many years, and you could always count on him for a smile, a good story, and any help he was able to give. Here’s to one of the good guys, he will be missed. - Patrick Barry - Thursday, Jun 13, 13 @ 9:39 am: I have known Blu for many years. No one knows professional regulation like Blu did. Not only was he a great resource, he was always in a great mood. I will miss his chuckle. Prayers go out to his family - RIP big Blu… - Brent Bluthardt - Thursday, Jun 13, 13 @ 1:26 pm: It is with much sorrow in my heart that I announce the funeral arrangements for my brother Daniel Edward Bluthardt. Visitation will be on Friday, June 14th between the hours of 3PM and 9PM at Cuneo-Columbian Funeral Home, 10300 Grand Ave Franklin Park, IL 60131, (847) 455-1200. There will also be a prayer service on Saturday, June 15th at 11:00am at Cuneo-Columbian. Please let all those who knew and loved Dan to join us in remembrance of his life and to please pray for Carrie Bluthardt Rocco Bluthardt and Amanda Bluthardt as well as my parents Edward Sparky and Diane Bluthardt as we try and deal with Dan’s passing. - George - Thursday, Jun 13, 13 @ 4:57 pm: Knew Blu back in the old days/ ole school guy all the way.His word was his bond class act and all around great person. Condolences to his family. - Marty Green - Thursday, Jun 13, 13 @ 8:54 pm: I was fortunate to have worked with Dan both at IDFPR and on legislative issues. He was a hellava guy. He cared about people and doing the right thing and not just the expedient thing. It really hurts that he is gone. We will all miss his presence and smile. - Daniel Kelber - Friday, Jun 14, 13 @ 2:06 pm: I worked with Blu at DFPR (and DPR) for about eight years and have been in regular touch with him since he left. He was one of the most gracious and kindhearted people I’ve ever known. He was an inspiration to me as an example of what good government is all about. And, of course, always a fun person to be with. I will miss him dearly. My sincerest condolences to his family. - Margaret Vaughn - Friday, Jun 14, 13 @ 9:35 pm: Dan was one of my favorite people at the Capitol and always had a positive attitude. From his days on House GOP Staff through his tenure at DPR and his most recent years as a lobbyist he was always a man of his word and always so much fun to be around. His favorite job though seemed to be that of a dad and he was a great one. My deepest sympathies to his family. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.