BPI Mourns Passing of Former Board President Bill Farley

BPI mourns the passing of long-time director and former Board president Bill Farley, who died in April after a protracted battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Bill was a remarkable man: Yale graduate, leader of the Black Student Alliance there, Rhodes Scholar, first assistant Corporation Counsel under Mayor Harold Washington, CTA General Counsel, partner at Jenner & Block—and, of course, distinguished leader of BPI.  As accomplished and intelligent as he was, Bill was a gentle and kind person.  While his friends and colleagues never heard Bill raise his voice, whenever it came to a matter of principle, his voice was strong and unequivocal.

As devoted to social justice as he was, Bill was equally devoted to his wife Gale and their two sons, Bill and Royal, to whom BPI staff extend their deep condolences.  You can read more about Mr. Farley in this article published in the July 3 Chicago Sun-Times.

Photo: Former BPI Board President with Former U.S. Senator Paul Simon at BPI’s 2003 annual dinner.