Civic Federation President Laurence Msall dies at 61

Out of respect to the family, we held on to this until they were ready to confirm it.

Laurence Msall, the longtime President of the Civic Federation, the 125-year-old government finance think tank, died Saturday after complications from a surgical procedure.

Msall was Senior Advisor for Economic Development for Illinois Governor George H. Ryan, worked in the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (now DCEO), and served in the Thompson administration.

He was widely respected on both sides of the aisle.

“Laurence was an intern in Governor Thompson's office when I first met him,” said former Sen. Kirk Dillard, a friend of Msall. He was so smart and inquisitive. He was a tremendous Illinois civic leader, gentleman, and a fiscal genius. Taxpayers have lost a trusted friend and government officials a superb counselor. It's a gigantic loss.”

Personally, Laurence was an early supporter of our newsletter and offered a lot of advice and helped introduce us to some new people.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7 at Salerno’s Galewood Chapel, 1857 North Harlem Ave., Chicago. Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8 at St. Giles Church, 1045 Columbian Ave., Oak Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Laurence’s memory to L’Arche Chicago, an organization that provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

He will be missed. Our prayers are with his family.