Former Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner Dies After Battle With Cancer

AURORA, IL --- Tom Weisner, who served as mayor of Aurora for nearly a decade, died Friday after a long battle with cancer. Weisner, whom current Mayor Richard Irvin described as "forever synonymous with Aurora," was surrounded by his wife of 46 years and his family when he passed. He was 69.

Weisner, who was born in Batavia, was elected mayor of Aurora in 2005 and went on to serve three terms before retiring in 2016. His earlier years were spent serving in the Peace Corps before working at Aurora City Hall.

Weisner's death brought out an outpouring of love and praise from people in and around Aurora. In his press release, Mayor Irvin commended Mayor Weisner's character, saying, "Not only did he make Aurora better, but he also made everyone he came into contact with better." He went on to call Weisner, "a true public servant."

Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL, 11) also released a statement following the news of Weisner's passing, saying he was "deeply saddened" by Weisner's death. "Tom never forgot the real reason we enter into public service - to improve the lives of the people we represent," Foster said, adding that "Aurora is a better place because of Tom's work."

Others took to social media to share their love of Mayor Weisner.

Image via City of Aurora