Former Arbitrator Leo Hennessy Dies at 84

Wednesday, June 14, 2017 | 0

Leo Hennessy, a former arbitrator for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, died at the age of 84 on Saturday. 

Hennessy worked at the commission for 20 years. After his retirement in December 2010 at the age of 78, the law firm of Rusin Maciorowski Friedman remembered him as a "good hearing officer who was fair and even-handed in his decisions." 

Before joining the commission, Hennessy had a 30-year career in K-12 education. He was a teacher, basketball coach and administrator at Mendel High School, Fenger High School and Eisenhower High School, and he served as deputy superintendent of the Cook County Schools, according to his obituary. 

He worked from the age of 12 to 78, serving as the head usher at Beverly Theater as a teenager and working summer jobs at U.S. Steel, Chicago Midway International Airport and the Chicago Stockyards.

Outside of work, he was a basketball referee and served on the board of directors for Little Company of Mary Hospital. He enjoyed all sports, especially golf, his obituary says.

Hennessy's death came just three months after the passing of his wife of 60 years, Helen "Holly" Hennessy, 84. They leave behind seven children and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and siblings. 

The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission posted notice of Hennessy's death on its website this week, extending its condolences to the family.