Judy Baar Topinka remembered for humor, service at memorial in Countryside

COUNTRYSIDE – There wasn’t a person in attendance at Wednesday’s memorial for the late Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka who didn’t remark on her feisty personality, humor and commitment to the people of Illinois when asked their impression of the longtime public servant.

Topinka, a longtime Riverside resident, requested that no wake or funeral be held, but allowed her family, friends and colleagues to remember her with a memorial service. She died Dec. 10 after a stroke.

Cook County Commissioner Jeff Tobolski said he thought of Topinka as a mentor and respected her ability to work across the aisle – or with anyone for that matter – to get the job done.

“[Topinka] always saw things through to the end,” Tobolski recalled. “What a great loss for the state of Illinois.”

As Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner recalled during his remarks, Tobolski said that just days fter her death, he received a tin of holiday cookies from Topinka. Tobolski said gifts like that were not uncommon, and he fondly recalled receiving her signature newspaper clippings with notes when she felt a good job was done by the recipient.

The memorial began with a rendition of “Amazing Grace” sung by the Salem Baptist Church Choir and was followed with a procession of the Illinois State Police Color Guard.

Joseph Birkett, judge for the second district of Illinois Appellate Court and Topinka’s running mate during her 2006 bid for governor, led as master of ceremonies. He recalled picking Topinka up at 6 a.m. the first morning of the 2006 campaign. With her trademark large coffee in hand, she got into the car with Birkett only to have the bottom of it fall out onto her lap.

“It’s a good thing I wore dark pants; let’s go,” he recalled her saying.

Gov. Pat Quinn remembered Topinka as a politician who went the extra mile – and then some.

“She volunteered for very difficult and challenging assignments throughout her life,” Quinn said. “She was always known for telling the truth – a truth teller … she spoke from her heart and told the truth.”

Considered a political outsider, especially early in her career, Topinka served as a politician to the beat of her own drum and knew how to get people to work together – even when it might put her opposite her party and open her to criticism. She was a Republican who was pro-gay marriage, pro-union and pro-choice.

Rauner said Topinka led the “ultimate life” during his remarks and praised her loyalty and commitment to public service.

Lots of laughter

Topinka, who began her career as a journalist, might have enjoyed the comments by Rich Miller, publisher of Illinois politics blog Capital Fax, and radio personality Roe Conn most – both for their levity and their directness.

Conn especially brought many to tears during his remarks, not through sadness, but laughter. Riffing on Quinn’s comment, Conn called Topinka a “truth screamer” and said she was a politician who could be counted on to tell it straight.

Keeping the memorial filled with laughter and happy memories was longtime friend and chief of staff Nancy Kimme, who spoke of her admiration – and frustration – with Topinka’s straight talk. She added that Topinka’s personality always filled the room.

“Judy always liked to play to a full house,” Kimme said of the number of people in attendance. “So she would have been delighted today.”

Others joked she would have wanted them to hold a fundraiser at the event.

Call to action

A serious and recurring theme throughout the ceremony was best said by former Gov. Jim Thompson, who spoke of Topinka’s ability to work with people of all walks of life, her commitment to making the state better for its residents and the necessity for all sides to work together to accomplish that goal.

Thompson called on those in attendance to find ways to compromise and work together to solve the lengthy list of issues before the state.

“So if we really respected our departed friend and really want to do something in her memory at this memorial, we could take a vow to work together … to move the people forward,” Thompson said. “Or, as Judy might say, ‘We got them here, lock the doors, order the pizzas, we’re gonna start now.’ ”