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By Bob Goldsborough
Chicago Tribune
Thomas Hardy was a writer and editor for the Tribune, including 10 years as the paper's top political reporter and a Sunday columnist, before leaving journalism to work as a press secretary for then-Gov. Jim Edgar and then spending 18 years overseeing public affairs for the University of Illinois System.
"He was the epitome of what you would hope a political writer would be," said Edgar, who hired Hardy from the Tribune in 1997. "He wasn't cynical but he was not fooled by anyone."
Hardy, 72, died after a brief illness on March 27 at Hinsdale Hospital, said his fiancée, Suzanne Schoij. He was a resident of Hinsdale.
Hardy grew up in the South Side Beverly neighborhood, where his father was a banker who at one time worked for Beverly Bank & Trust. Hardy graduated from Brother Rice High School and received a bachelor's degree in 1974 from Ripon University, where he played soccer.
Among his classmates at Ripon was future Chicago Sun-Times Editor-in-Chief Don Hayner, who early in his career was a reporter and columnist for the Suburban Trib and who credited Hardy with helping him get his start in journalism.
"Tom opened the door for my career, and I'm very thankful for it," Hayner said. "He was always very helpful to me, and he was a smart guy and a very good writer, too. I looked up to him."
After picking up a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Hardy was hired by the Tribune in 1977 as a copy clerk. He worked as a metro reporter from 1982 until 1983 and then moved to behind-the scenes editing work in the mid-1980s.
In 1987, Hardy was tapped to be the Tribune's lead political reporter as well as a columnist. He built a reputation as a fair-minded writer who understood and could clearly explain the nuances of local, state and national politics. He covered three presidential campaigns and made frequent appearances on public affairs shows on WGN-Ch. 9 and WTTW-Ch. 11.
While with the Tribune, Hardy covered three Chicago mayors, two governors and three U.S. presidents. In a 1996 column, he bemoaned campaign behavior by two local politicians — one a Democrat, one a Republican — who made statements contradicting prior positions while using that revisionism to attack their rivals.
"Why do candidates ... behave this way, perpetuating the public's distrust and disdain for politicians?" Hardy wrote. "Because running for office is a highstakes, expensive proposition, and candidates with political vulnerabilities often bet that the electorate has a short memory or will fail to hold them accountable."
Hardy wrote about former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and her complicated relationship with then- Mayor Richard M. Daley. He was unsparing in his criticism of Moseley Braun during her 1992 U.S. Senate campaign, when she went after journalists' who were questioning her activities as Cook County recorder of deeds and as a member of the General Assembly, likening it to being "raped by you guys."
"As the candidate credited with launching the 'Year of the Woman,' a season of heightened political awareness about issues important to women and families, Braun's haughty invocation of the rape analogy showed an insensitivity to victims of what is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable," Hardy wrote in October 1992.
In January 1997, Hardy left the Tribune to join Edgar's administration as press secretary, replacing Mike Lawrence.
"It was just a good time to do something like this," Hardy told the Tribune in an article about his career move. "I still have, I hope, some relative youth and vitality to take on a different kind of opportunity to see government and politics from the other side of the coin than I've been looking at." Edgar said
"I almost didn't want to hire him because I'd miss him as a reporter."
Gary Mack, who also was a press secretary to Edgar, remembered that "for years, I can remember in staff meetings, people talking about Tom's column and we would look forward to his column on Sundays and what he was going to write."
"The truth of the matter is, he treated Jim Edgar pretty well. He liked Edgar and thought he was a good governor and wanted to be part of the administration," Mack said. "He had this wry chuckle about him that was kind of contagious, and he worked hard at his job. He will be remembered as one of the good ones, who had good advice."
After Edgar decided not to seek reelection in 1998, Hardy took a job as a managing director of public affairs for Burson-Marsteller public relations. In 2002, he was named executive director of the office of university relations for the University of Illinois System.
"When he was interviewing for the U. of I. job, I told him if I can help any, let me know," Edgar said. "I told the university's president, 'You're not going to find a better person in the media space than Hardy."
Hardy functioned as the chief spokesperson for the university's president and also provided public affairs and marketing assistance to university-wide offices and coordinated activities and responses with public affairs offices on the U. of I.'s three campuses.
"Tom was one of the very first people I met when I was named president in 2015 and, for the five and a half years that followed, he was one of my most trusted advisors and friends," U. of I. President Tim Killeen told the Tribune in a statement. "He had a deep well of knowledge about the University of Illinois System and the state of Illinois, and a degree of wisdom and judgment that made all of us who worked with him better at our jobs."
Hardy retired from the U. of I. in 2020.
Outside of work, Hardy enjoyed athletic pursuits including soccer, racquetball, golf and snow skiing.
"My fondest memories of the guy are going to be on the golf course, because we golfed in a lot of political golf outings both before he took the job with Jim Edgar and after as well," Mack said.
"We continued our golfing relationships."
A marriage ended in divorce. In addition to his fiancée, Hardy is survived by two sons, Kevin and Brian; two sisters, Christine Ann Hardy and Cathlyn Kroml; two brothers, Steven and Brian; and two granddaughters.
A visitation will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Hallowell & James.
Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Contact Information: Kara Kienzler, associate executive director - communications Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Ph: (217) 528-9688
SPRINGFIELD — November 15 of each year is designated as School Board Members Day. The day of recognition is an occasion to build community awareness about the important role school board members play in a representative democracy by providing a local voice for community education decisions. In 2007, the Illinois House of Representatives declared November 15 as School Board Members Day in the State of Illinois. The resolution states the annual recognition is “a way to honor those citizens who devote so much of their time and energy for the education of our children.” “School board members serve as our local, volunteer education advocates striving for quality learning opportunities for every student. They take on this immense responsibility not for a paycheck, but because they are committed to their communities and the belief that every child deserves a quality education,” said IASB Executive Director Kimberly A. Small, J.D. “Our school board members wear many hats; beyond their educational leadership, they are policy-makers, contract negotiators, and budgeteers. They are also our neighbors, our friends, and our schools’ biggest fans. On November 15 –– School Board Members Day — it is our chance to say, ‘Thank You.’” IASB encourages school districts, communities, businesses, and others to thank local school board members and recognize them for their dedication to providing successful education opportunities for all students. Resources and images to recognize school board members on November 15 are available at www.iasb.com/thankaboardmember.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2025 Media Contact Illinois Principals Association Alison Maley, government and public relations director PH: 217-299-3122 alison@ilprincipals.org
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“The Alternative Principal Endorsement program was a great fit because everything was online, and I could work at my own pace. The flexibility allowed me to balance professional responsibilities while advancing my leadership skills. I would highly recommend this program to aspiring leaders.”
- Dr. Maribel Guerrero, director of language acquisition, Naperville CUSD 203
Dr. Ed Howerton, director of graduate education programs at Aurora University and former district administrator, shared: "Our program leans heavily into a ‘learning by doing’ framework that is extremely self-driven. It provides flexibility for professionals and ownership in the learning process. Many of our completers have moved into administrative roles sooner than if they had gone through a master’s degree program, and filling leadership voids in our schools is key to promoting student success.” Dr. Jason Leahy, executive director of the Illinois Principals Association, also shared: “When compared to a little over a decade ago, the State of Illinois has experienced an almost 60% reduction in the number of individuals who earn their principal endorsement each year. This alternative pathway provides a rigorous, cost effective, and expedited opportunity for quality educators to demonstrate they possess the skills necessary to be effective school leaders.” Eligible candidates must hold a current Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL), possess a master’s degree in education, have completed five years of teaching or school support experience, are employed in a full‑time, permanent educational position before program start, and complete required evaluation training and principal content exams to qualify for endorsement. Currently, 81 students are enrolled at various stages of the program at Aurora University, including 30 students that began this fall semester. Twenty-four students have completed the program since its inception, with 12 individuals working in leadership positions. Aurora University Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Aurora University is committed to preparing leaders for the future of education. For a full overview of the program’s structure and registration information, visit the Alternative Principal Endorsement at https://aurora.edu/academics/graduate/principal-endorsement/index.html. Illinois Principals Association The Illinois Principals Association is a leadership organization which serves more than 6,900 educational leaders throughout the state of Illinois and whose mission is to develop, support, and advocate for innovative educational leaders. For more information about the IPA, please visit www.ilprincipals.org. Program Contacts Aurora University – Ed Howerton, director of Graduate Education Programs, ehowerton@aurora.edu, 630-844-5626 Ed Leaders Network / Illinois Principals Association – Arlin Peebles, Ed Leaders Network director, arlin.peebles@ilprincipals.org, 217-241-0598
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2025 Contact Illinois Bar Foundation Jessie Reeves, director of events & administration Ph: 312-920-4681 jreeves@illinoisbarfoundation.org
CHICAGO, November 5, 2025 - Mark D. Hassakis, a personal injury and workers' compensation attorney at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. of Mount Vernon, Illinois, was recently honored with the Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence on Oct. 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Mark D. Hassakis has the legal advocacy of Illinois victims in his blood. Born and raised in Mount Vernon, Mark followed in the footsteps of his father, Demetri, a lifelong Mount Vernon attorney, to practice law at Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C, now celebrating 75 years. Mark has dedicated his professional life to helping his fellow Illinois citizens and the community at large. In addition to his exceptional career representing individuals’ needs in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation, professional malpractice, and general tort injury cases, Mark is a true leader with unparalleled dedication to giving back to the community. The Illinois Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Award for Excellence, the organization’s highest honor, is awarded annually to individuals whose career and personal life exemplify their ongoing commitment to the law and legal community. “The selection of Mark Hassakis for this year's Distinguished Award of Excellence reflects our belief in the principle that legal excellence and community service go hand in hand. His career demonstrates how individual attorneys can make a lasting impact not just through their practice, but through their commitment to strengthening the legal profession and ensuring access to justice for all Illinois residents.”
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Bar leadership and community impact Mark's commitment to the legal profession extends far beyond his practice. As president of the Illinois State Bar Association (2010-11), he championed juvenile justice reform, established young attorney mentorship programs, and highlighted the vital role lawyers play in strengthening their communities. His passion for juvenile justice led to the establishment of the Illinois Bar Foundation's M. Denny Hassakis Fund, which focuses on improving Illinois' juvenile justice system through public policy changes and programs supporting vulnerable youth. Mark served as president of the Illinois Bar Foundation from 2000 to 2002, during which time he was instrumental in creating the organization's signature fundraising events, including the Gala and Lawyers Rock concert. Mark has held numerous other leadership positions, including chairman of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company; president of the Jefferson County Bar Association; and board member of the Hellenic Bar Association, the Lawyers' Trust Fund of Illinois, and the Juvenile Justice Initiative. Beyond his legal work, Mark has been a driving force in Mount Vernon and Southern Illinois development. He has spearheaded projects focused on downtown development, historical building restoration, and the support of community parks and arts initiatives. Notable achievements include bringing nationally acclaimed jazz artists to teach area grade school students and commissioning an "Abraham Lincoln as a Lawyer" sculpture for the 5th Appellate Court grounds in Mount Vernon. A proud Northwestern University alumnus, Mark continues to serve as an alumni regent and member of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle since 2012, acting as an ambassador for the university. Mark's extensive community involvement includes leadership roles with the Downtown Development Corporation of Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County Historical Society, Lincoln Park Foundation, Vernon West Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), and numerous other local organizations dedicated to enriching Southern Illinois. Bar Admissions