Harper College trustee dies

Harper College trustee and Wheeling Township Democrat Committeeman Patrick Botterman died of a massive heart attack Monday.

Botterman, 44, a lifelong Arlington Heights resident, leaves behind a long resume of Cook County politicking. He ran campaigns for Melissa Bean, Chicago 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack, Dan Kotowski's state Senate run in Park Ridge, and Republican Wheeling Township Supervisor Michael B. Schroeder when he ran for but lost the Arlington Heights village president seat to Arlene Mulder in 1993.

"I think Patrick Botterman is the single most influential political mind in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago," friend and Democratic strategist Kevin Lampe, 46, of Chicago said.

Botterman was a Harper College trustee from 1998 to 2003 and was recently re-elected to the seat.

Lampe met Botterman in 1988 when they worked on Michael Dukakis' presidential run and during Botterman's brother Kevin's run for state representative, Lampe said.

"He stood up to political power. He won races for Democrats in the suburbs and he was the most loyal person I've ever met in my entire life," Lampe said.

"If you were Patrick's friend, you were his friend forever, and if you needed anything … you called Patrick and he would be there quicker than the phone call would last," he said.

Lampe said Botterman never mentioned anything about any health problems and that he was in great shape.

"He was riding his bike and he was eating healthy," he said.

Botterman was always very passionate about politics, Lampe said.

"He just wanted people to be treated better, and it made him mad when people weren't treated right," Lampe said.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.