Former Prospect Heights alderman; fought airport
Afflicted with bile duct cancer, nearing the end of his life, former Prospect Heights Alderman Warren Gerald Sunde sent his last letter to the editor in May.
A prolific writer to the Daily Herald, Mr. Sunde railed against the increased jet aircraft traffic at the Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling, accused officials of ignoring safety concerns that "put our residents at risk" and warned against jet pollution.
Mr. Sunde died Friday, leaving behind a reputation as a thorn in the side of those who pushed for airport expansion. He was 71.
A civil engineer by training, Mr. Sunde worried relentlessly about how the airport would affect the quality of life for residents, said his wife, Bonnie, to whom he was married for 44 years. He founded Citizens for Airport Safety and Environment, a citizen watchdog group.
Mr. Sunde served Prospect Heights as an alderman from 1984 to 1993. In that time, he fought hard for what he thought was the best course for the city, ruffling the sensibilities of other elected officials in the process, she said.
Anyone who knew Mr. Sunde even a little bit understood his main passion was about the airport.
"My husband knew everything about the airport," Bonnie Sunde said.
Former Prospect Heights Mayor Rodney Pace described Mr. Sunde as someone who vigorously watched over the airport, making sure rules were followed, especially where safety was an issue. Pace added Mr. Sunde was never shy about sharing his views.
"He was strong in his opinion," Pace said.
In 1994, Mr. Sunde got bladder cancer, which caused him to step down as alderman.
While he was able to beat it, he didn't want to return to politics, content to fight for his cause from the sidelines, Bonnie Sunde said.
Last spring, he got incurable bile duct cancer, she said.
But he remained active in the cause. The day he died, a Prospect Heights resident called the house, asking if he'd speak at an airport meeting, she said.
"I knew (challenging the airport) was a losing battle, but he was a fighter and was determined not to give up," Bonnie Sunde said.
Mr. Sunde was a civil engineer for the Metropolitan Sanitary District for more than 30 years before retiring in 1993.
He was a longtime active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Mount Prospect.
He participated in the state swimming finals while attending Lane Tech High School in Chicago.
He was a Golden Gloves boxer and played semi-pro football.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today at the Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1624 E. Euclid Ave. in Mount Prospect.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Grace Lutheran Church; the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 500 N. Dearborn, Suite 350, Chicago, IL 60610-4901; or the Walter Payton Liver Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 1740 W. Taylor St., 7th Floor West, Chicago, IL 60612.