Village of Wilmette memorializes 27-year public volunteer

Wilmette officials past and present paid tribute to a man who for nearly three decades “dedicated himself to the village” through his devoted volunteerism.

The Village Board during its Tuesday, Nov. 25 meeting approved a resolution commemorating the service and contributions of the late William “Bill” Bradford, who prior to his September death sat on Wilmette’s Zoning, Plan and Appearance Review commissions across his 27 years of service.

Before reading the proclamation, which highlighted Bradford’s history across the trio of advisory boards, Village President Senta Plunkett lauded his “mind-blowing” contributions to Wilmette.

“Bill generously shared his expertise as a well-respected architect and we are so grateful for all that he has contributed to make Wilmette a better place,” Plunkett said.

A longtime resident of Wilmette, Bradford started his public roles in the village in 1992, first serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 10 years. He most recently held a position on Wilmette’s Plan Commission from 2018 until his death.

During his 10 years on the Zoning Board, Bradford heard more than 700 cases, “many of which have had a lasting impact on our community and have helped to shape Wilmette into the outstanding place it is today,” the village proclamation reads.

Notably, while on the board, Bradford reviewed Wilmette’s largest grocery store: the Jewel on Green Bay Road.

Additionally, Bradford and his fellow commissioners reviewed several expansions and improvements to key facilities throughout Wilmette, including the reopening of St. Joseph School, the reopening and expansion of Highcrest Middle School, the expansion of Centennial’s pool and two Wilmette library expansions.

Bradford was then in 2008 appointed to Wilmette’s Appearance Review Commission where he served for 10 years, including a two-year stint as chair. During his tenure on the ARC, Bradford heard more than 450 cases, per the proclamation.

The reconstruction of the Woman’s Club of Wilmette after it was destroyed by a fire was one of the many key cases during that stretch. The commission also reviewed improvements to Loyola Academy, Mather Place, Michigan Shores Club and St. Francis-Xavier School.

As chair of Wilmette’s Plan Commission, Bradford “led the board and community through several projects that will have a lasting impact on Wilmette,” the proclamation says. The Optima Verdana and Optima Lumina projects were two large-scale endeavors the board reviewed with Bradford as chair.

The commission also went through the “rigorous process” of developing a new comprehensive plan for the village, which trustees approved in 2024.

After reading the proclamation, several former Wilmette leaders who served alongside Bradford took time to share remarks about his legacy.

“His service to Wilmette was truly unmatched,” said John Adler, the former long-tenured director of community development in Wilmette.

Adler went on to express his deep gratitude for the “decades (Bill) devoted to the village and the support and friendship that he extended to me over the last 33 years.”

“Wilmette is a better place because of him,” Adler later added.

Chris Canning, the former village president who also served on the zoning board with Bradford in the 1990s, said that “for 27 years, Bill had dedicated himself to the village.”

“Bill has left a legacy for all of us and for all the future residents of Wilmette because of the decisions he made on the Zoning Board and Appearance Review Commission and Plan Commission,” Canning said.

Following the board’s official approval of the proclamation, Plunkett presented a framed, printed-out copy of it to Bradford’s family, who was in attendance at the meeting.

According to his online obituary published the Chicago Tribune, Bradford is survived by his wife Grace, children Andrew and Elizabeth (Joseph McBride), grandsons Joseph and Ryan, and sister Patricia.

Bradford was born in April of 1954 in Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Naperville Central High School and the University of Illinois.

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