Former Park Ridge alderman Frank Bartolone, who served on the City Council for a decade and lived in Park Ridge for more than 50 years, died on July 3. He was 93.
Bartolone was elected to represent the city’s 7th ward in 1993 and stayed on the City Council until 2003. His son Dean Bartolone described his father as a person who loved serving his community, who lived a full life, and loved golf and traveling.
“Dad was a good family man. He gave a lot to his community, helped a lot of people (and) was willing to help folks,” said Dean Bartolone.
The younger Bartolone said his father joined the City Council in his sixties out of a sense of wanting to give back to the community.
When asked why the elder Bartolone stepped down from the City Council, Dean Bartolone said his father was ready for retirement and wanted to allow someone else to take over at city hall.
“He was committed to the city that he loved, Park Ridge,” said John Benka, a former colleague of Frank Bartolone’s on the city council. “(He) was always actively involved in City Council meetings; he came prepared, always.”
Benka said the early 2000s were transformative for Park Ridge’s Uptown area, which saw major redevelopment along Busse and Northwest Highways. He added that the city’s water reservoir was removed during that time and that the City Council negotiated all the redevelopment that took place.
“(Frank Bartolone) was a well-respected City Council member, and we always anticipated his inputs because they were always thought out,” Benka said.
Mayor Marty Maloney commented, “I was saddened to learn of Frank’s passing last week. While he and I did not serve on the City Council together, I had met him when I was becoming involved in local government on the Park Board in 2003. I had the opportunity to discuss city issues with him on a number of occasions and always found his perspective to be insightful and helpful.
“I know he was very dedicated and passionate in his representation of the 7th Ward during his time on Council and even afterwards. The city is better for his service and I am grateful for the time that he gave to all of us.”
Dean Bartolone said his father’s regular line of work was in certified financial planning for Ameriprise Financial, where he provided financial advice to individuals on how to prepare and save for college, retirement and other major financial goals.
According to the Ryan-Parke Funeral Home website, Frank Bartolone is survived by children Christine (Tim) Stoner, David (Julia) Bartolone, Robert (Mary Lescher) Bartolone, Dean (Patty) Bartolone, Diane Kurtz, and Susan (Mike) Mallahan; grandchildren Katelyn (Johnathan) Clancy, Zach (Hayden), and Luke Stoner, Christopher, Clarissa, Leonardo, Samuel and Theodore Bartolone, Claire and Carolyn Bartolone, Kara, Nick (Alyssa), and Jack Bartolone, Jaclyn, and the late Griffin Mattson, Ryan, Sam, and Connor Mallahan, and great-grandchildren Wren, Annie, Adelaide and Ivy.
A funeral Mass was held July 10 at Mary, Seat of Wisdom Church in Park Ridge.
