Thornton Township Trustee Christopher Gonzalez, who raised concerns about spending of Tiffany Henyard, the former supervisor and Dolton mayor, died Tuesday at age 53.
Township Supervisor Napoleon Harris provided condolences to Gonzalez’s friends and family in a township news release Wednesday. A spokesperson for Harris said the cause of death was not yet known Wednesday afternoon.
“I had the privilege of serving alongside Christopher and witnessing firsthand his unwavering commitment to the people of Thornton Township,” Harris said. “He approached his role with integrity, compassion and a genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Christopher wasn’t just a colleague — he was a dedicated public servant who led with purpose and heart.”
Gonzalez was first elected township trustee in 2021, serving during former Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli’s administration until Zuccarelli died in January 2022. Gonzalez ultimately nominated Henyard to fill the supervisor position in 2022, after five failed votes by trustees to find a replacement as a midnight deadline neared to avoid a town hall meeting.
“I really didn’t know her all that well. Obviously I knew she was the mayor of Dolton and stuff like that,” Gonzalez told the Daily Southtown in 2024, after his relationship with Henyard broke down.
At the March 3, 2022, meeting, Gonzalez twice nominated township Assessor Cassandra Elston, who he said Zuccarelli wanted to succeed him. However, a split in the board meant neither Elston nor other candidates received enough votes for appointment.
He said he felt if Elston couldn’t be supervisor, the township would benefit from a young, female leader.
“I honestly thought that she wanted to carry on Frank’s legacy, and obviously that’s not the case,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez, after becoming Henyard’s most vocal critic on the Township Board, said he regretted the nomination. He said what he believes are her true colors were shown soon after she entered office, as she began improperly firing employees and telling “mistruths that I knew were mistruths.”
Gonzalez said he questioned these behaviors from the start, leading Administrator Keith Freeman, who was later fired and recently pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud and filing a false tax return, to approach Gonzalez and ask what he could do to improve the relationship between the trustee and Henyard’s administration.
“I said, ‘One of two things is going to happen here: you guys are going to be more transparent, or I’m going to be seen as the enemy. It doesn’t matter to me which one it is,’” Gonzalez said. “A lot of things come back around.”
The trustee would go on to back Harris to replace Henyard in the April 2025 township election and was reelected himself as trustee.
Dolton Mayor Jason House said in a statement on behalf of the Village Board that Gonzalez “showed up for his community, and that kind of commitment speaks volumes about the man he was.”
“In times like these, words never feel like enough, but what I do know is his life made a difference. And that kind of impact does not go away,” House said.
More Top Picks Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome Vs Meares Irlen Syndrome
According to his township biography, Gonzalez was a longtime township employee before becoming assessor and eventually a trustee, working across its senior services, special services and transportation departments. He also previously worked as a police officer for South Suburban College and Calumet City as well as a licensed insurance producer, according to the township.
“His passion for the community, his steady leadership and his willingness to always put people first earned him the respect of everyone who had the honor of working with him,” Harris said. “His absence will be deeply felt throughout the township and beyond.”
Funeral services are scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday at 11200 South Ewing Ave., Chicago, according to an obituary for Gonzalez. A trust fund will be established for the education of Gonzalez’s four children.