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Jane Byrne, Chicago's Only Female Mayor, Dead at 81

By  Mark Konkol and Ted Cox | November 14, 2014 11:21am | Updated on November 14, 2014 1:57pm

 Chicago's only female mayor Jane Byrne died Friday, sources said.
Jane Byrne
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CHICAGO —Chicago's only female mayor, Jane Byrne, died Friday.

The 81-year-old Byrne was the first and only woman to serve as the city's mayor. She served from 1979 to 1983.

Byrne was a renegade city bureaucrat when she was elected mayor in 1979 in an upset over Mayor Michael Bilandic. She served only one term before being defeated by Harold Washington in 1983 in a three-way Democratic Primary with Richard M. Daley. Byrne briefly mulled an independent bid in the general election and made other later runs for office, but never regained the post — or voters' trust.

"She was a fighter," said Ald. Edward Burke (14th), whom she attacked as a candidate as part of the "cabal of evil men" running the city, but who eventually became one of her closest City Council allies. "You have to admire her willingness to take on challenges and give it her best." He pointed out she was the first mayoral candidate to defeat the Democratic Party machine since 1927.

 Jane Byrne at her last public appearance, a ceremony to rename the Circle Interchange in her honor in August.
Jane Byrne at her last public appearance, a ceremony to rename the Circle Interchange in her honor in August.
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DNAinfo/Ted Cox

"She wasn't afraid," he added. "She did take on insurmountable odds and won, and that's quite an accomplishment."

She is widely credited with creating Taste of Chicago and presiding over the redevelopment of the Downtown museum campus and the extension of the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line to O'Hare International Airport, leading the way to the CTA running to Midway Airport as well. Burke credited her with raising the city's international profile with the expansion of O'Hare's international terminal, as well as with boosting the city's film industry beginning with "The Blues Brothers." She was the first mayor to formally declare a "Gay Pride Parade Day."

Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) praised Mayor Byrne's commitment to the gay community and said she was the first mayor to march in the Pride Parade.

"The gay community would not be where it's at without Jane Byrne," Tunney said. "She was one crazy lady. We loved her for it."

The Gold Coast resident made headlines as mayor by moving into the Cabrini-Green housing project to help stem a particularly fiery outbreak of violence in the area.

Burke called that a political "masterstroke," saying, "I think Jane Byrne had a sixth sense for doing things that would advance her agenda.

"I don't think she was restricted by some of the traditional boundaries that Chicago politicians in the past labored under," he added. "She had a broader sense of what a modern American world-class city should incorporate."

Yet there were also missteps. She served a rancorous, turbulent four-year term including firefighter, teacher and transit strikes, and in many ways she handed the reins of the city to the same "cabal of evil men" she had campaigned against, including Burke and Ald. Eddie Vrdolyak (10th).

"It was never the same after the firefighters' strike," Burke said. "The truth is, when all is said and done, she made her own decisions and, for better or worse, ran this city with a strong and a feisty style."

Led by Burke, the City Council recently voted to honor Byrne by renaming the park at the Water Tower in her honor.

In late August, Byrne made a rare public appearance when the Circle Interchange was renamed for her as well.

"My time as mayor is gone," Byrne said after the renaming event. "I think the coming together of the City of Chicago is what will make it great, and it will be fine."

Elected officials praised Byrne Friday. One after another, they touted her legacy, calling her a "trailblazer" and a "pioneer."

"Mayor Jane Byrne was a woman of strength, courage and commitment," said former Mayor Richard M. Daley. "She was a pioneer in public service whose impact on this city will remain for years to come. On behalf of the entire Daley family, I extend my deepest condolences to the Byrne family."

“With the passing of Mayor Jane Byrne, the City of Chicago has lost a great trailblazer," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. “Mayor Byrne was a Chicago icon who lived a remarkable life of service to our city. From signing the first ordinance to get handguns off of our streets, to bringing more transparency to the city’s budget, to creating the Taste of Chicago, Mayor Byrne leaves a large and lasting legacy. And as the first woman to serve as mayor, she will always have a special place in our history."

"Jane Byrne leaves a legacy of tireless service to Chicago that will never be forgotten," said Gov. Pat Quinn, who presided over that ceremony. "Her work on behalf of the city's children and underserved communities has meant thousands of Chicago citizens are better off today because of Jane's heartfelt dedication."

He called her "a fearless trailblazer who has made our state a better place," adding, "She will be missed. Our thoughts are with her daughter, Kathy, grandson, William, and their entire family."

"I'm saddened to learn of the death of Mayor Byrne," said Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner. "She was a pioneer and will be missed by all. The City of Chicago owes her a huge debt of gratitude."

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Byrne was "truly a pioneer and an inspiration to all women in public service."

"I'm a history teacher by profession, and I know that Jane will have a significant place in this history of our great city," Preckwinkle said. "My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this difficult time."

"She was a smart and accomplished lady," Burke said.

Byrne's daughter, Kathy, called her mother "one of the original trailblazers," adding, "Any type of honor or recognition that the city deems appropriate would be a wonderful inspiration to women and especially young women ... that they can be a mayor or a president. It is not a matter of breaking the glass ceiling, it is to say there is no ceiling — and I believe she is an example of that."

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