William J. Tunney, the father of Chicago Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), passed away Sept. 20 in his home in Chicago.

Tunney was 90 years old.

He had lived in Chicago since 1947, when he came here as an immigrant from Ireland. Two years later, Tunney married Ann Higgens, also an Irish immigrant to Chicago, and went on to build a successful bricklaying and contracting company, Tunney Builders, with his brothers. The company built large numbers of homes across the South Side.

In addition to his son Tom, who owns Ann Sather restaurants and made history when he became Chicago’s first openly gay alderman, the elder Tunney and his wife had seven other children, Jean McGrath, Kevin, William, Ann Marie, Edward, John and Deborah Hunt, all of whom survive him. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren.

Lakeview Funeral Home handled the arrangements, and a memorial mass was held Sept. 25 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made in Tunney’s honor to the Misericordia Foundation, 6300 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago, IL 60660.