Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is back home and on the mend after what his brother says was the 83-year-old’s third stroke earlier this month. Bill Daley said his brother spent only a short time in the hospital before returning home, where he is now in rehabilitation with his 84th birthday coming up on Friday. Relatives are calling the latest episode relatively minor and say Daley is up, walking, and welcoming visitors as he works to regain strength.
Family update
Speaking with the Chicago Sun-Times, Bill Daley put it bluntly: "He had a stroke. He’s fine now. He’s home. He’s doing some rehab stuff, and that’s about it. That’s life." He said doctors told the family this stroke was less severe than the one his brother suffered in 2014 and that the former mayor was considered "out of trouble" after several days in the hospital.
Health history
The former mayor has dealt with significant health issues in recent years, including a major stroke in 2014 and a 2022 hospitalization for what was described as a "neurological event," which drew wide local coverage at the time. ABC7 Chicago has previously detailed those hospital stays and his follow-up rehab stints.
A long public career
Daley led Chicago from 1989 to 2011, a 22-year run that made him the city’s longest-serving mayor and a central figure in its recent political history. His time in office, as chronicled by Wikipedia and other biographical profiles, was marked by major projects as well as high-profile controversies that continue to shape debates about his legacy.
Bill Daley said doctors offered straightforward guidance for his brother’s recovery: watch his diet and keep stress in check, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The family is asking for privacy while the former mayor focuses on rehab and spends time with relatives in the coming days.
