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* UPDATED x1 * Larry Walsh

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Will County Executive Larry Walsh died Wednesday. He was 72.

Walsh, first sworn in as Will County executive in December 2004, was battling prostate cancer and was in home hospice, said his friend Jim Murphy.

Murphy said he and Walsh first connected through the ad agency Murphy started with his wife, Vicki Murphy, 25 years ago.

“Even when you know death is imminent, it’s still a shock,” Murphy said. “There will never be another one like him.”

Murphy said he and his wife recently visited Walsh at his Elwood home. They only planned to drop in for a short time but ended up staying an hour and a half. […]

While funeral arrangements have yet to be announced, Murphy said they won’t do Walsh the justice he deserves.

“Unfortunately, there won’t be a funeral to hold all the people who are ready and able to tell their Larry Walsh stories due to the COVID-19 virus,” he said.

* The Patch…

“Will County has suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of County Executive Larry Walsh. Larry truly loved the people of Will County and worked tirelessly for their benefit,” Will County State’s Attorney Jim Glasgow said Thursday. “His four terms as County Executive were the final chapter in a lifetime of dedicated service to Will County and the State of Illinois. He touched countless people’s lives and will be greatly missed. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Irene, Larry’s wife of many decades, and to his entire family. Rest in Peace, Larry Walsh.”

“Larry’s passing is a tremendous loss to his family, certainly, but also to the community,” said Denise Winfrey, speaker of the Will County Board. “He dedicated his life to service. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve with him and learn from him. He touched numerous lives, forged alliances and reached out to work with people from all walks of life. The work he has done speaks for him. Rest in peace Larry, job well done.” […]

“Larry leaves behind an incredible legacy of working to improve people’s lives,” stated Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. “He was a passionate and dedicated public servant whose numerous contributions made our communities and state a better place. My heart goes out to the Walsh family.”

Bertino-Tarrant won the Democratic primary in March and she is running to become the next Will County Executive in the November general election, facing Republican challenger, Nick Ficarello.

“Larry Walsh believed in retail politics,” remarked Will County Republican Party Chairman George Pearson. “He greeted me each time we met with a firm handshake, a smile, and pat to the shoulder. You would not have known we were on opposite sides of the political aisle, and that is what made him popular with Will County residents.”

* Times Weekly…

Respected for his bipartisan approach at every level of government he served, Walsh prided himself in working collaboratively to find solutions to the challenges that were faced. His longest tenure has been as County Executive where Will County built a strong financial foundation which improved the County’s bond rating. That success led to the largest capital improvements campaign in the county’s history and sustained investments in roads and bridge infrastructure. This campaign included a new Public Safety Complex and consolidated 911 dispatch center, a new County Health department facility, and a new Courthouse.

* Tribune…

A longtime farmer, Walsh began his political career in 1970 when, at age 21, he was elected a member of the Elwood school board. In 1973, he was elected as Jackson Township supervisor, a position he held until December 2004. Walsh served on the Will County Board in 1974 and again in 1992 and served as Illinois state senator representing the 43rd District from April 1997 until January 2005, when he took office as Will County executive.

“I’ve been a very blessed man and a very lucky man,” Walsh said when he announced his retirement plans to the Will County Board in August 2019. […]

Walsh often shared stories of being Barack Obama’s seatmate in the Illinois Senate and about poker games with Obama. Later, he would share stories of visiting Obama in Washington.

During his tenure in the Senate, Walsh led efforts on a variety of issues including funding local agencies to improve the quality of life for residents with special needs.

Larry was one of the best retail politicians I have ever met.

He was a sweet human being and a regular guy who had a special light inside of him which put people at east. Larry took people as they came, which helped him work with just about everybody. You couldn’t help but love the guy. It seemed like he had a perimeter of joy around him everywhere he went.

…Adding… Senate President Don Harmon…

Whenever I think of Will County, I will forever think of Larry Walsh. Larry was a tireless advocate for his constituents and communities. Those who knew and worked with him are better for it. He never failed to make me smile or laugh or feel better about the world. We will miss him dearly. My thoughts and condolences are with his family.

*** UPDATE *** Been a while since I’ve received anything from this guy…

Today, President Barack Obama issued the following statement on the death of his former Illinois State Senate colleague, current Will County Executive Larry Walsh:

“Larry and I entered the state senate together and became fast friends. I’ll always be grateful for his camaraderie and support, but even more grateful that he was such a good public servant for the people of Illinois.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:48 am

Comments

RIP Larry. Always a great guy to work with kind to everyone and made sure those he called, “the folks back home” voice’s were heard via his work in Springfield.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 11:51 am
I will be having at least one Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer tonight in Larry’s honor.

Great guy

Comment by A Toast Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:05 pm
Larry was truly one of the good guys, as fine and decent a man as you’ll ever meet. And kind, funny, loyal, grounded. Condolences to his family and his many friends. We lost a good one today.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:12 pm
Someone else stated that Larry treated the guy who cleaned the floors the same as he treated the President of the United States. This is very true about Larry and a great testament to the man he was. A huge loss for Will County.

Comment by Stones Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:13 pm
Larry was terrific; one of a kind. We have lost some great public servants lately, including Sheila Schulz and Aaron Shepley. That’s by no means an exhaustive/exclusive list, just two others I happened to know personally.

Comment by Father Ted Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:22 pm
Larry could work an issue better than anyone. He garnered respect from both sides of the aisle because you know his word was good. Both in Springfield and Will County. I distinctly remember our last face-to-face visit over the winter where the body hurt but the voice was strong. There was never a sweeter guy and he’ll always be on tops of my list of good decent men.

Comment by Wylie Coyote Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:43 pm
Larry Walsh was a great leader, personal friend and true gentleman. When he was first elected to the Senate, I chaired the Local Government & Elections Committee and he was the Minority Spokesman…..highly partisan issues now and REALLY rough and tumble under former Sen. President James Pate Philip. Sen. Walsh was always courteous, while effectively stressing the Democrat Party positions. He and I communicated early and often.
We shared the distinction of being in Pres. Obama’s initial Democrat Primary television ad for Iowa and I was fortunate to continue to work with this wonderful man while he was the Will County Executive in my capacity as Chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). I will miss drinking those PBR’s with him and working/learning from Larry. My heartfelt thoughts and condolences to Rep. Walsh on the loss of his dad and the entire Walsh clan and his legion of friends.

Comment by Kirk Dillard Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:47 pm
Larry Walsh was a great guy. I saw him connect with Cub scouts by treating them as people and I saw him handle contentious Will County board meetings. He will be missed.

Comment by Joliet Orange Sox Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 12:58 pm
A great loss for the people of Will County and Illinois. Would that more in office could be like Larry Walsh. He demonstrated every day that it’s possible to be decent and effective. He lived the Golden Rule.

Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 1:19 pm
Larry will be missed by so many. Just a Wonderful person. My most Heartfelt condolences and prayers to the Walsh family.

Comment by theCardinal Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 1:32 pm
===the Democrat Party===

With great respect Mr. Dillard, and I realize you probably aren’t intentionally doing this (Fox News and others always call it the Democrat Party), but many of us find that terminology insulting. Just FYI, as I said, I know you meant no disrespect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet)#:~:text=Democrat%20Party%20is%20an%20epithet,fashion%20by%20the%20party’s%20opponents.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 1:51 pm
A gregarious man who seemed to be admired by nearly everyone, both inside and outside of Will County.
God bless his spirit and his family.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 1:51 pm
“Perimeter of joy” — that’s a great phrase. He was extremely kind and gregarious. RIP to him and condolences to his many loved ones.

Comment by Dan Johnson Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 3:11 pm
===47th Ward===
You are correct. My typo. Thanks for saving me!

Comment by Kirk Dillard Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 3:54 pm
While many Senators relaxed after session at the big hotel bars in Springfield, my favorite time was with Larry at Norb Andy’s . We settled all the state’s problems there.

Comment by Ed Maloney Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 3:54 pm
I never knew Larry, but he sounds like he’d definitely be the kind of person I’d have a PBR with. So, out of respect for him and his legacy: my next PBR is for him.

May he rest in peace.

Comment by Tynie Thursday, Jun 4, 20 @ 6:25 pm