Lake County Board Vice Chair Dr. Mary Ross-Cunningham Dies at 80

Lake County Board Vice Chair Dr. Mary Ross-Cunningham, a respected public servant whose leadership and advocacy shaped Lake County for more than two decades, has died at the age of 80.

Cunningham passed away Tuesday from natural causes at Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton. She had been hospitalized earlier this month due to a serious illness.

At the time of her passing, Cunningham was serving as Vice Chair of the Lake County Board for the 2024–2028 term and represented District 9, which includes much of Waukegan and portions of North Chicago.

First elected to the Lake County Board in 2002, Cunningham became one of the board’s longest-serving members. Throughout her tenure, she earned widespread recognition for her dedication to public health, affordable housing, social equity, and community development.

A trailblazer in county government, Cunningham was the first African American woman to serve in a leadership role on the Lake County Board and only the second African American woman elected to the board.

Her extensive public service included leadership positions on numerous committees and councils, including the Lake County Community Health Center Governing Council, the Law & Judicial Committee, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, the Health & Community Services Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Workforce Development Board. She also served as Lake County’s representative to the National Association of Counties (NACo), where she contributed to both the Veterans and Military Service Committee and the Community, Economic & Workforce Steering Committee.

Among her many accomplishments, Cunningham successfully championed the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a fixed holiday for county employees and dedicated countless volunteer hours to civic and charitable organizations, including PADS Lake County. She also collaborated with former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White on a driver’s license reinstatement initiative aimed at helping residents regain driving privileges.

Before entering elected office, Cunningham spent 29 years caring for veterans at the Veterans Administration Hospital in North Chicago.

County officials praised her lifelong commitment to service, stating, “She was a tireless advocate for people experiencing homelessness, affordable housing, criminal justice and economic opportunity for all.”

Her son, Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham, announced her passing Tuesday afternoon.

“With profound sadness and heavy hearts,” he shared the news of his mother’s death.

“To the community, she was a towering figure in public service, a visionary leader, and a fearless trailblazer. Throughout her lifetime of leadership in Waukegan and Lake County, she championed the underserved, advocated tirelessly for equity and justice, and broke barriers with unmatched determination,” Sam added.

“Vice Chair Cunningham was the bedrock of our family, a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and guiding light,” Sam said.

Mayor Cunningham expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and prayers his family has received from the community.

“While we mourn this immense loss, we also celebrate a life beautifully and purposefully lived,” Sam said.

U.S. Representative Brad Schneider also reflected on Cunningham’s impact, saying he was “tremendously saddened” by the loss of a close friend and colleague.

Schneider described Cunningham as a “tireless public servant and a devoted champion of Waukegan, Lake County, and the entire region.”

“Vice Chair Cunningham was bigger than life. I was privileged to count her as a friend, a colleague, and a mentor. She had a remarkably big heart that she opened to me and everyone she worked with. She epitomized public service, and there was no fiercer advocate for her constituents,” Schneider said.

“She fought every day to ensure that residents had access to affordable housing and quality healthcare, and she was an unwavering voice for those experiencing homelessness. Her commitment to equity and justice was matched only by her genuine love for the community she served.”

“Mary was incredibly proud of her family, in particular her children, Emerson, Sam, Jackie and the late Alvin. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy – one that will continue to shape and strengthen this community for generations to come. I send my deepest condolences to the entire Cunningham family. May her memory be a blessing.”

Mayor Cunningham said his mother’s influence will continue to be felt throughout the region.

“Her decades of devotion to the community left a permanent mark on the region and transformed countless lives,” Sam said.

County officials echoed those sentiments, noting that Cunningham “will be remembered for her strength, fearless persistence and unwavering optimism, qualities that made her an exceptional leader and a lasting inspiration to those who had the privilege to know her and serve alongside her.”

“She will be deeply missed,” county officials said.