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DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer dies at 74 of cancer
DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer died today from pancreatic cancer at the age of 74.
“He believed strongly in open and good government,” said Assistant City Manager Rudy Espiritu. “He did what he thought was best for DeKalb.”
Van Buer, DeKalb mayor since 2005, learned of the diagnosis in late April and was receiving chemotherapy treatment, according to a DeKalb press release. Although the chemotherapy made some initial progress, the cancer was too far advanced to counteract.
After spending four years with the U.S. Air Force in Germany and Libya, Van Buer moved to DeKalb in 1957 to attend NIU. In 1960 he earned a B.S. in social science and four years later a master’s in economics.
In 1968 Van Buer earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois. Two years later, he was tenured on the faculty of the Department of Economics at NIU, of which he was a member until 1995.
“I am in good spirits and plan to fight this until the end,” said Van Buer one day before his death.
“I also want to thank everyone that has been sending me good wishes. Your encouragement and support have been touching to my family and me. As mayor, I have been honored to serve DeKalb and to work with the City Council and City staff.”
“Barbara and I were deeply saddened this morning to learn of the death of Mayor Frank Van Buer,” said NIU President John Peters in a statement.
“As mayor, he showed a true talent for bringing people together to make DeKalb a better place to live, work and learn,” he said.
Peters called Van Buer a true friend to NIU and all the residents of DeKalb.
During the next City Council meeting on Monday, the council will select a Mayor Pro-Tempore.
Espiritu said one of the seven current members will be appointed by the Council to run the meeting.
To show proper respect to the mayor, Espiritu said an acting mayor will not be appointed until a later, unknown date.
Espiritu was unsure whether the acting mayor will retain their alderman position in tandem with their mayoral duties, or if they will have to sever ties with their former position.
“We are researching that right now,” he said.
Funerary services are being arranged, but “nothing is official yet,” Espiritu said.
Flags will be flown at half-staff at all city-owned buildings until sundown the day of the funeral.
“He will be greatly missed by many people whose lives he has touched throughout his years of service,” Peters said.
“He was one of the most selfless men that I have ever known,” Espiritu said in the DeKalb press release.
“The city will dearly miss him.”
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Selfless? Van Buer had a huge ego. It was his way or else. As an elected public official he had a responsibility to disclose his condition publicly. His failure to do so is yet another example of selective sharing of information.
I love people who politicize a decent mans death. Even if he were the worst mayor in the history of humanity, an article about his death is hardly the time to criticize him. Show some class and have some respect for the dead and his family.
Though it isn't usually the case so soon after deaths, I'm glad "Rest in Peace" spoke the truth about Van Buer. The city will probably be better off without him.