John Lukehart, a leader in fair housing and a long-time employee of the Leadership Council for Metropolitan and Open Communities, passed away last night. He was only 55 years old.

We met and spoke a few times, but I never had the opportunity to get to know John well. When I came to fair housing, his battle with cancer was just beginning and the Leadership Council was in its final days. John's influence, however, is felt everywhere. Countless times I have heard colleagues say, "If John were here he would have..." His work at the Leadership Council, which advanced both fair housing and integration, is an inspiration for MoveSmart.org.

Below is a note from Rob Breymaier, an Advisory Board member and co-founder of MoveSmart.org, who also worked with John at LCMOC:

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John passed peacefully last night surrounded by his family and friends. There will be a visitation and funeral for John on Friday and Saturday.

The visitation will be on Friday from 3pm to 9pm at Dreschler Brown and Williams Funeral Home, 203 S Marion Street, Oak Park, IL -- (708) 383-3191.

The funeral will be on Saturday at 12:30pm beginning at First United Church, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL -- (708) 386-5215 and continuing at Forest Home Cemetery, Harvard & Desplaines in Forest Park.
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Our thoughts are with John's family and friends during this difficult time.

Update 12/13/07: The Tribune has published an obituary. In lieu of flowers, John's family has requested that gifts go to the Oak Park Area Arts Council or the Oak Park Regional Housing Center.

John Lukehart photo from The Wednesday Journal