Former Illinois Lawyer General Jim Ryan, who battled through experienced setbacks and personalized tragedies to become one particular of the state’s most highly regarded political leaders, has died at 76.
The suburban-raised Ryan, who served two phrases as the state’s leading attorney and was defeated in his 2002 bid for governor by Rod Blagojevich, died peacefully at residence Sunday immediately after many lengthy health problems, according to a assertion from his spouse and children.
“From the time I met him right up until his death, Jimmy often was striving to do the ideal issue and to assist people,” stated his wife of 54 decades, Marie. “That was who he was and he was pretty prosperous at it.”
Born in Chicago and elevated in the Villa Park home designed by his father and hero, Edward, Ryan displayed pugilistic proficiency in substantial school, successful a Golden Gloves newbie boxing title at age 17. In 2013, Ryan was in the corner of his grandson Joey when he gained the Chicago Golden Gloves.
A devout Catholic, Ryan graduated from St. Procopius Academy, now Benet Academy in Lisle, before attending the neighboring Illinois Benedictine University, exactly where he gained a bachelor’s diploma in political science. He afterwards acquired his legislation diploma from the Chicago-Kent University of Legislation.
Soon immediately after graduation, he married his significant faculty sweetheart, Marie Pahls. They had 6 kids.
Ryan joined the DuPage County state’s attorney’s business office in 1971 and 5 several years afterwards ran for state’s lawyer. He shed to fellow Republican J. Michael Fitzsimmons in the GOP primary but ran once again in 1984, this time defeating Fitzsimmons in the main and successful election the next November. He would get paid reelection in 1988 and 1992.

























Ryan’s tenure in DuPage integrated the prosecutions of Rolando Cruz and Alejandro Hernandez for the 1983 abduction and killing of 10-12 months-outdated Jeanine Nicarico. The two men to begin with had been convicted and sentenced to loss of life, but soon after several appeals and two retrials each and every, the two have been exonerated and yet another person finally was convicted of the girl’s slaying.
As state’s attorney, Ryan proven himself as an advocate for small children, generating the state’s first centre for victims of youngster abuse and cracking down on deadbeat moms and dads.
He 1st ran for attorney general in 1990, narrowly losing to Roland Burris. When Burris created an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1994, Ryan ran yet again and gained. He was simply elected to a next expression in 1998.
As attorney basic, Ryan advocated for anti-crime laws, such as “real truth-in-sentencing” actions that restrict how much time inmates can have shaved off their prison phrases, and requires individuals convicted of murder to provide 100% of their sentences. He also joined a nationwide lawsuit in opposition to tobacco businesses that resulted in the condition receiving $9.1 billion.
Ryan was not worried to upset the GOP institution all through his a long time as lawyer common, so a lot so that some influential Republican electricity brokers quietly backed and raised campaign revenue for Blagojevich ahead of the 2002 governor’s race.
“Although it was his life’s get the job done, Jim never ever genuinely felt relaxed in the subject of politics,” Stephen Culliton, a former chief decide in DuPage County and a 50-12 months pal of Ryan’s, mentioned in the family members assertion. “He constantly strived to do the proper thing and to assist make lifestyle a minimal greater for others. And when the inescapable conflicts arose involving the politically advantageous matter and the ‘right’ issue, he generally did the right matter. His honesty was a beacon for all of us who worked with him. He will be enormously skipped.”
John Pearman, a longtime major aide for Ryan in the lawyer general’s business, known as him “as great a public servant as Illinois has at any time identified.”
“He by no means stopped hoping to help people today — women, children, criminal offense victims,” Pearman added. “He was tireless and incorruptible.”
Soon after his time period as lawyer typical finished in 2003, Ryan resumed his legislation practice and started The Heart for Civic Leadership at his alma mater, which in 1996 became Benedictine University.
“I adore government. I like general public support,” Ryan told the Everyday Herald’s Burt Constable in 2009.
Ryan’s lifetime also was beset by particular tragedy.
His wife just about died in 1997, the exact yr their 12-12 months-outdated daughter, Annie, died from an undiagnosed mind tumor. A decade, his 24-year-aged son, Patrick, died from a self-inflicted gunshot.
Ryan himself experienced numerous bouts with most cancers, such as a struggle with lymphoma that occurred whilst he was operating for governor.
“Ryan endured the death of two of his six small children, nearly lost his beloved spouse of 54 several years to a coronary heart assault, beat again cancer three moments, and properly recovered from heart medical procedures,” the family’s assertion reads. “Because he was a public determine, most of this pain was shouldered in the public eye, and his grace below duress was an inspiration to thousands of Illinoisans, quite a few of whom he stayed in touch with in excess of the many years.”
Ryan’s youngsters, John, Jim, Matt, and Amy, described him Sunday as “a great father and grandfather, who, by means of example, taught us how to tackle life’s greatest joys, and most complicated losses, with dignity and grace.”
“For all that he attained in the course of his profession, he will be most remembered for the way he lived his daily life. Relatives, faith, and company to many others defines the outstanding daily life of our father,” they said.
Existing Attorney Normal Kwame Raoul issued a assertion Sunday night saying Ryan will forever be recognised for his toughness and devotion to company.
“Might his bravery and selflessness in the confront of adversity provide as inspiration to all,” he stated.
Funeral information was not quickly readily available Sunday evening.
