A northwest suburban school official has died, leaving a school board vacancy to be filled right before the April election.
Richard Bokor, who was serving a second term on the Palatine-based Community Consolidated School District 15 as vice president, died Sunday of colon cancer. He was 66.
“This was really very unexpected. He was in very good health last week when I met with him,” said Superintendent Scott Thompson. “It was a big loss. He had a big heart. He cared about kids.”
Bokor was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in September but had continued with his work on the school board while receiving treatment.
First elected in 2009, Bokor was a longtime Palatine resident and educator.
“We just want to remember all the contributions he made. We are definitely in a better position because of him,” Thompson said.
Bokor started his career teaching middle school social studies in District 15. He later moved to nearby Fremd High School, teaching history and coaching track from 1978 until 2003.
In addition to being honored in the Fremd Hall of Fame last year, he was also inducted into the sports hall of fame at his alma mater, DePaul University, in 2001 for his track and cross country career while a student from 1965 to 1969.
Bokor is survived by his wife, Ann, a retired District 15 teacher and administrator, his children B.J. (Julie) Jenkins, Shannon (Doug Roscoe) Jenkins, and Courtney (David) Thomas; six grandchildren; and his sister, Geri Sandford.
Services are set for this weekend. A visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Highway in Palatine. On Saturday, a brief visitation from 11 to 11:45 a.m. will be held for family and friends at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2515 W. Palatine Road in Inverness before the funeral mass at noon.
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By law, the school district now must fill the school board vacancy within 45 days. The remaining six board members are expected to approve an appointment ahead of the April 7 consolidated election.
The terms of board members Manjula Sriram, Gerard Iannuzzelli and Scott Herr are up. Herr is not seeking re-election, while Sriram and Iannuzzelli will run against five others, including Frank Annerino, Zubair Khan, Jessica Morrison, David Gurion and Joshua Perry, according to Cook County records.