Kathy Osterman (July 22, 1943 – December 8, 1992), was a Chicago politician who was born Kathleen Mary Lonergan in

the Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...

. Entering politics as a block club president who had been social director of Lawrence House, a facility for disabled persons, Osterman in 1981 became a community relations director for then-State's Attorney

Richard M. Daley Richard Michael Daley (born April 24, 1942) is an American politician who served as the 54th mayor of Chicago, Illinois, from 1989 to 2011. Daley was elected mayor in 1989 and was reelected five times until declining to run for a seventh term ...

, who became her political patron. In 1987 Osterman emerged victorious from an eleven-person race in which Mayor

Harold Washington Harold Lee Washington (April 15, 1922 – November 25, 1987) was an American lawyer and politician who was the 51st Mayor of Chicago. Washington became the first African American to be elected as the city's mayor in April 1983. He served as may ...

declined to endorse any candidate, and was elected alderman of the lakefront 48th Ward, which at that time consisted primarily of the Edgewater community as well as parts of Uptown. The 48th ward is now represented by Osterman's son,

Harry Osterman Harry Osterman (born April 14, 1967) is an American politician serving as a member of the Chicago City Council from the 48th ward. He previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives for the 14th District from 2000 to 2011. Early life ...

. Initially a part of the Washington bloc in

Council Wars The Council Wars were a racially polarized political conflict in the city of Chicago from 1983 to 1986, centered on the Chicago City Council. The term came from a satirical comedy sketch of the same name written and performed by comedian and jo ...

, she switched to the largely white bloc immediately following Washington's death and during the tenure of

Eugene Sawyer Eugene Sawyer Jr. (September 3, 1934January 19, 2008) was an American businessman, educator, and politician. Sawyer was selected as the 53rd Mayor of Chicago, Illinois after the sudden death of then–mayor Harold Washington, serving from Decemb ...

. She served on numerous City Council committees, including the Human Rights Committee, where she forged strong links with the ward's significant gay community. Only two years into her term, Osterman retired in 1989, facilitating Daley's appointment of

Mary Ann Smith Mary Ann Smith is a former alderman of the 48th ward of the City of Chicago; she was appointed in 1989 by Mayor Richard M. Daley to replace Kathy Osterman. She won re-election in 1991, and was re-elected four more times before retiring in 2011.< ...

as alderman. Osterman subsequently was appointed Director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events. During her brief tenure, Osterman worked on the rehabilitation of the Broadway Armory and the restoration of two vintage mansions in Berger Park along Sheridan Road, as public facilities. She lobbied vigorously for passage of Chicago's Human Rights Ordinance in 1988. As a result, Osterman was inducted into the

Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame (formerly Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame) is an institution founded in 1991 to honor persons and entities who have made significant contributions to the quality of life or well-being of the LGBT community in Chic ...

as a Friend of the Community in 1993. On May 1, 1992, Osterman married radio political commentator Bruce DuMont. Later that year she died of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

. On July 22, 1993 Ardmore Beach in the Edgewater neighborhood was renamed Kathy Osterman Beach. In addition to the renamed signage on the beach pavilion, a memorial plaque was erected.

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