Sunday, November 06, 2005
Chicago Tribune
by Charles Sheehan

NORTHWEST SIDE -- Roman Pucinski was part of Chicago's urban landscape for nearly a half century, and Cook County officials have made sure his name remains in the public consciousness.

An area of forest preserve in the 41st Ward, where Pucinski reigned as alderman for 18 years, was renamed in his honor last month.

Pucinski, who died Sept. 25, 2002, began his career of public service during World War II as an Army Air Forces pilot.

He led his bomber group in the first B-29 bombing raid over Tokyo and flew 48 other combat missions in the Pacific before he entered politics.

Pucinski was elected to Congress in 1959 to represent the Northwest Side of Chicago, and was re-elected six times.

He lobbied aggressively for mandatory use of crash-proof cockpit voice recorders, and in 1964 federal regulators instituted the measure.

In 1973, he left Congress to become alderman of the city's 41st Ward.

Cook County Board President John Stroger said in a statement that Pucinski was a great example of how a citizen "commits himself to making the American dream a possibility for his fellow countrymen."

The Roman Pucinski Preserve is bounded by Devon, Central and Elston Avenues in the alderman's former ward.