Former Alderman Bernard Stone Dies At Age 87
By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 22, 2014 5:30PM
Bernard Stone
Born November 24, 1927, Mr. Stone was a graduate of Tuley High School, which later became Roberto Clemente Community Academy, and attended Wright Junior College before earning a law degree from John Marshall Law School. His early attempts for political office were rife with failure before he eventually was elected 50th Ward alderman in July 1973, succeeding Republican Jack I. Sperling; Mr. Stone was the first Democrat to represent the 50th Ward since 1955.
Mr. Stone was a member of the “Vrdolyak 29” during the “Council Wars” era that marked Harold Washington’s first term as mayor. By 1987, however, Mr. Stone joined the Republican Party, announced he was running for Cook County Recorder of Deeds and, upon Washington’s death that year, also announced a mayoral run that few took seriously. (Mr. Stone returned to the Democratic Party by 1990.)
In 1992, Mr. Stone made headlines when he had a three-block long, 2-1/2 foot high barrier built down the middle of Howard Street, effectively separating Chicago and Evanston. At a cost of $150,000, “Bernie’s Wall,” as it became known, was a response to Evanston’s plan to build a shopping mall that would have had residents of Stone’s ward heading out of the city to spend money. Two years later, a judge ruled the city to remove the barrier and pay Evanston’s legal bills and accompanying costs. In his later years as alderman, Mr. Stone was known more for his cantankerous personality, falling asleep in City Council chambers, and seeing two of his campaign workers convicted of voter fraud. He eventually lost his seat in City Council as he won it, in a 2011 runoff election to current 50th Ward Ald. Debra Silverstein. Mr. Stone at the time lamented his run had come to an end but lashed out at Mayor Rahm Emanuel, whom he saw as forming his own rubber stamp in City Council.