DuPage board members pay tribute to McBride

Jerry "JR" McBride cared little about the politics that came with being a DuPage County Board member, friends say.

On Tuesday, those who had served with him on the county board remembered McBride as someone who became an elected official to do good things and help others.

"He was about doing what is right," former board member Jeff Redick said. "That's what made him so important to this board. He always put the needs of other people before himself."

McBride, 47, died Friday at his Glen Ellyn home after a long battle with cancer. He had represented county board District 4 since 2006.

During the first county board meeting since his death, members past and present paid tribute to him.

"Like all of you, this is a day that I hoped I would never see - honoring JR without the luxury of hearing him laugh," said former county board member Deb Olson, adding that McBride served the county with honesty and integrity.

County board Chairman Dan Cronin called McBride a true public servant.

"He always put common sense and the citizens' needs first," Cronin said. "I will miss his baritone voice. His laugh. Using laughter, he found commonality and made us all take ourselves less seriously."

Long before becoming a county board member, McBride worked to raise money for nonprofit organizations such as Misericordia Heart of Mercy in Chicago. He also was a founding member of the Jubilee Board, the fundraising arm for Outreach Community Ministries in Wheaton.

Board member Paul Fichtner talked about the events, including trips to Cubs games, McBride organized to help raise money for nonprofits.

"It was one of many of JR's talents that he could help others by having fun at the same time," Fichtner said.

McBride defied the advice of Republican insiders in 2006 when he challenged board member Grant Eckhoff in the GOP primary. He won that race.

Later that year, Eckhoff was placed on the November ballot to fill a vacancy created by the death of former county board member John Noel. McBride helped Eckhoff win that election.

Eckhoff said it showed how McBride was a bridge builder who brought people together.

"The bridges are still here," Eckhoff said to fellow board members. "They are still with all of you. Just make sure that the bridges are never lost."

Despite fighting a brain tumor for longer than he served on the board, colleagues say McBride never let his health issues get in the way of helping others.

"Every time you saw JR - no matter what his health was - he was always asking how are you doing," board member Don Puchalski said. "He was always looking out for everybody else."

And McBride always saw the bright side.

"He was there to pick you up," said John Zediker, a former county board member who now serves on the Metra board. "He had a way of making you feel like you were his best friend in the world."

After sharing some humorous stories about McBride, state Sen. Michael Connelly said he will never forget McBride.

"He was such an inspiration - an example for all of us," Connelly said. "I'm lucky to have known him and to call him a friend."

Board member John Curran called the McBride the "team captain" of the board. "He was our leader," Curran said. "He set the tone."

Curran fought back tears while talking about McBride's commitment to his wife, Becky, and their five children.

"I just want to thank Becky, Lauren, Molly, Abigail, Sara and Marty for sharing him with us," Curran said. "I'm going to miss you, pal."