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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HONORABLE BERNARD J. HANSEN
WHEREAS, Bernard J. Hansen (Bernie to everyone he met), 76, a former Chicago alderman from the 44th Ward who specialized in constituent services, died Sunday of complications from diabetes in Chandler, Arizona, where he had retired. He served as alderman from 1983 until 2003, through the administrations of four mayors: Jane M. Byrne, Harold Washington, Eugene Sawyer and Richard M. Daley; and
WHEREAS, a Lakeview native, Mr. Hansen went to Hawthorne grade school and Lane Tech High School. His mother Fern was a nurse, and his father Bernard was a factory worker, according to his family. He met Annette, his wife of 56 years, at Waveland Bowl when they were teens. "I bowled for St. Ben's and he bowled for Lane," Annette shared. Young Bernie was a dynamic high school baseball and football player who once got a lesson from pro football Hall of Famer George Blanda. After a head injury on the field, doctors feared he would be permanently impaired, his wife said, but he recovered and subsequently attended the University of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, before he was alderman, he was a longtime ward superintendent who prided himself on knowing the details of every street and alley in his ward. "They used to call him the 'alley' alderman," said Alderman Tom Tunney, Bernie's handpicked replacement as alderman. "He cared about the blocks, the alleys, the economic development and safety. He was an old-school politician who later in life became much more progressive as the community changed."
WHEREAS, up long before sunrise every day, he would drive through the ward to personally check on things that were of concern to residents. "All that before he headed into the office at 6:00 a.m.," said State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz. "He knew every pothole and every alley and every street in Lakeview. He did so much for so many people. Even if you were outside of the ward, he would take care of you. H...
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