— A tribute to Robert J. O’Connor on his retirement read by Aurora’s poet laureate Karen Fullett-Christensen —
Alderman-at-large and the 58th mayor of Aurora, Bob O’Connor receives a farewell salute for his 36 years as member of the Aurora City Council, Friday, May 7 outside of the Aldermen’s Office, 60 E. Downer Place.
Speakers include chairman of the Kane County Council Council of Mayors, Jeffery Schielke, representatives from Aurora Firefighters Local 99, Aurora city government chief information officer Michael Pegues, representative for Illinois’s 11th Congressional district, Bill Foster, State representative for the 84th district Stephanie Kifowit, State senator representing the 42nd District, Linda Holmes, chief of staff of the Aurora city government Aldermen’s Office, Rich Jacobs, and an Abraham Lincoln impersonator.
Alderman O’Connor retires Tuesday, May 11 after being elected in 1985 as alderman-at-large and then serving as the 58th mayor of Aurora after being selected by the Aurora City Council to serve from November 2016 to May 2017 after 57th mayor Thomas Weisner was forced to retire due to health problems.
A graduate of East Aurora High School, University of Illinois, and University of Notre Dame Law School, O’Connor looks forward to spending more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, and finding more ways to serve his hometown.
Aurora’s 59th Mayor Richard C. Irvin surprised him by unveiling the new sign renaming the Aldermen’s Office as the Robert J. O’Connor Aldermen’s Office.
See the video here: