Griffith clerk-treasurer Broderick dies after stroke

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Updated: February 12, 2012 11:07PM

GRIFFITH — Bill Broderick will be remembered for his enthusiasm and his commitment to helping people until the very end.

Broderick, 53, died Sunday, said Town Councilman Rick Ryfa, R-3rd, after a brief illness. He’d just been elected to the Clerk-Treasurer’s post in November.

Ryfa said he and Councilman George Jerome, R-2nd, were notified by Broderick’s family that he’d been rushed to the hospital Friday with what appeared to be a massive stroke or aneurysm. An organ donor, Broderick was put on life support until compatible recipients could be found.

He was taken off life support Sunday.

“It was very sudden,” Ryfa said. “There were no signs, and he was on no medicine.”

Broderick ran for Clerk-Treasurer after longtime Clerk-Treasurer Ron Szfarczyk announced his retirement. A little more than a month into his job, he was already a force with which to be reckoned.

“He had such enthusiasm and commitment to doing things right. He was just getting started with the things he wanted to implement in his next four years as Clerk-Treasurer,” Ryfa said.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Ryfa said Lake County Republican Chair Kim Krull will call a caucus within the next 30 days to determine who will take Broderick’s place. Griffith Party Chair Tom Wichlinski is gathering the precinct committeemen who’ll ultimately make the decision. But right now, town officials haven’t thought that far ahead.

“We’re still in such shock. It’s way too early,” Ryfa said.