WILINSKI, ROBERT S.

Robert S. Wilinski, 75, a former alderman of the 7th Ward on the South Side, died Friday [July 20, 1990] in Northwestern Memorial Hospital after apparently suffering a heart attack in his office at the Chicago Department of Health.

Mr. Wilinski had worked for the city Health Department for 10 years, most recently as an inquiry aide, investigating complaints received by the department. Earlier, he had worked in health code enforcement for the department.

In the 1970s Mr. Wilinski served for five years as alderman of the ward that included much of the South Shore and South Chicago neighborhoods.

Mr. Wilinski became an alderman in 1972 when he was elected to replace Ald. Nicholas Bohling, who resigned to become a judge.

In 1973, a federal judge ruled that the 7th Ward had been racially gerrymandered and ordered a special aldermanic election after the ward boundaries were redrawn. Mr. Wilinski did not run.

But the earlier boundaries were ordered restored on appeal, and in 1975 Mr. Wilinski regained his City Council seat. In 1979 Mr. Wilinski lost his seat to Joseph Bertrand in a runoff election.

Before becoming an alderman, he had been a precinct captain in the 7th Ward and worked as a sign hanger for what was then the Illinois Highway Department.

Mr. Wilinski served in the Marine Corps during World War II and was a one-time Chicago Golden Gloves heavyweight boxing contender and a Catholic Youth Organization champion.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and a daughter, Carol.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday at Kuzniar Funeral Home, 8300 S. South Shore Dr. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Michael`s Catholic Church, 8237 S. South Shore Dr.