Cast vote to close Lincoln-Way North
Frankfort District 157C school board member Christopher McFadden was found dead in his home last week. He was 41.
An autopsy was conducted Thursday, and the cause of death is pending toxicology reports, said Kevin Stevenson, Will County chief deputy coroner. There were no visible signs of trauma to the body and foul play is not suspected, he said.
McFadden, an attorney, was elected to the Frankfort 157C board in 2011 and served as its president from 2013-15. He won a seat on the Lincoln-Way High School District 210 board in April 2015, and cast a controversial vote to close Lincoln-Way North High School later that year.
He abruptly resigned from the Lincoln-Way board in January 2016 without giving a reason, and was elected again to the Frankfort 157C board in April 2017.
“We are shocked and saddened by Chris McFadden’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time. We are very thankful for Chris’ service to our district over the years,” Frankfort 157C Superintendent Maura Zinni said.
“The members of the board of education at 157C are deeply saddened by the loss of Chris. He was a great advocate for students and teachers in this district. He contributed many hours in support of our community. He will be missed,” board President Gina Briese.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the McFadden family,” Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Superintendent Scott Tingley said.
McFadden was an attorney with the Mahoney, Silverman and Cross law firm in Joliet, and prior to that was an assistant U.S. attorney from 2005-16. Born in Shorewood, he graduated with honors from Harvard University and Northwestern University School of Law, according to his LinkedIn page. He was a member of the Will County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association.
In casting his vote to close Lincoln-Way North, McFadden said then, “This is crazy. It breaks my heart, but we have to close North. I hate that I have to do this. I hate that (superintendent) Scott Tingley inherited this mess.”
Shortly after voting to close the school, McFadden also applied for positions on the Joliet Junior College board of trustees and a Will County judgeship.
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