Robert Connor

Robert John Connor: born October 6th, 1952; died November 15th, 2024; the sole child of Robert Emmett Connor and Lorraine Rita Hinske Connor, both deceased. He was a lifelong resident of Chicago; and for many he was a well-respected and beloved colleague, mentor, and friend.

Rob was legal counsel at the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) for nearly 43 years: most recently as a Deputy General Counsel, serving as the lead attorney advising the Division of Mental Health and the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery. Rob graduated from DePaul University’s College of Law with a JD in 1979. He earned his BS in Psychology from the same school: graduating in 1975 summa cum laude and as a member of Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor Society.

Rob served as the Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Mental Health Law Committee for 1996-1997, 2001-2002, and 2009-2010 bar years. He was also an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association for many years and was instrumental contributor to the Legislative Committee which created, approved, and debated laws which addressed services for people with a mental health or intellectual/developmental disability diagnosis. Given his leadership roles in the Office of the General Counsel in the Department of Human Services and, at various times, in its Divisions of Mental Health and of Developmental Disabilities, Rob had a unique view of how legislation and rulemaking impacted service delivery in State institutions and the mental health community. Rob’s voice was an important part of lawmaking in Illinois for the past 40 years.

Rob was a man of deep faith, earning MA degrees in Catholic Studies and also in Pastoral Studies/Spiritual Direction, both from Loyola University Chicago. He remained actively engaged with Loyola, serving as a Board member and frequent volunteer in various capacities at Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies; and was pursuing further studies there at the time of his death. He professed to the Secular Franciscan Order (Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis) several years ago, and was the Minister of the San Damiano Fraternity located at St. Peter’s in the Loop; and was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Nu National Jesuit Honor Society in 2007. He was also a member of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago and was on its Board of Governors for the last three years.

Since 2008, Rob was a Director and for several years also President of the Board for his Condominium Association on Chicago’s North Side, where he was a resident for 39 years.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, December 19th at Holy Name Cathedral. Visitation is at 9:30, Mass at 10:30. Interment at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Rob Connor’s memory can be made to Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies (https://www.luc.edu/ips/about/), the Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program (https://illinoislap.org), the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago (http://www.clgchicago.org), St. Peter’s Church (https://www.stpetersloop.org), or a charity of your choice.