The kick-off and fundraiser for village commissioner Maria Maxham’s election campaign was postponed Wednesday evening after her father, Andrew Weiss, collapsed and was taken to the hospital. He died later that evening.
The campaign kick-off was to take place on Oct. 12 at Shanahan’s bar, 7353 Madison St., at 6:30 p.m. By the time the Review arrived to cover the event shortly before start time, Weiss had already taken away in an ambulance. Firefighters returned to the scene to say that he was in stable condition.
Maxham’s campaign supporters announced the event’s cancellation on social media, and several stayed behind to let any latecomers know what happened.
Incumbent mayor Rory Hoskins attended the event, as did Proviso Township High School District 209 Board of Education member Claudia Medina. Commissioner Joe Byrnes arrived after the medical emergency.
This would be Maxham’s first election campaign. She was serving as the Review’s editor when Hoskins appointed her to the village council on July 14, 2021, to fill a vacancy created when commissioner Dan Novak moved out of the village. Maxham was the only commissioner to show up to Hoskins’ May 25 campaign kickoff.
Medina initially told the Review that the event will be rescheduled for Oct. 22. In a subsequent interview, she said that, while Maxham is interested in rescheduling the event, nothing firm has been decided at this time.
Maxham told the Review that her family were “devastated” by Weiss’ death.
“He was an exceptional human being, humble, kind, and intelligent,” she said. “He was the best father I can imagine. This is a tremendous and sudden loss for all of us: my mother, husband and children, siblings, nieces and nephews, and me. The outpouring of immediate support and sheer love from the community leaves me humbled and grateful beyond measure.”
