Ty Fahner, former Illinois Attorney General and Mayer Brown law firm chair, dies at 81

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Former federal prosecutor, Illinois Attorney General, and high-profile law firm leader Ty Fahner has died.

The law firm Mayer Brown announced Fahner's death on Tuesday. He was 81 years old.

Tyrone C. Fahner was born in Detroit in 1942. As published in a biography from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Fahner worked several blue-collar jobs in Southeast Michigan as a teenager.

Fahner attended the University of Michigan alongside radical activist, Chicago Seven defendant, and later California state lawmaker Tom Hayden, the presidential library said. But Fahner himself was "decidedly un-radical," focusing on his fraternity, working to finance his education, and courting his wife Anne, the library said.

Fahner went on to attend Wayne State University for law school, and in 1971, he earned his Master of Laws from the prosecution and defense program at the Northwestern University Law School—which at the time was run in part by future U.S. Attorney and Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson, the library said.

Fahner went on to private law practice, but soon afterward, he became a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois. He became part of a group of young federal prosecutors who focused on corruption in Chicago city government—known at the time as Thompson's Kiddie Corps—and successfully led the prosecution against longtime City Council Finance Committee Chairman Ald. Thomas Keane (31st), the library said.

In 1976, Thompson won the election for governor. Fahner joined Thompson's administration as director of law enforcement—tasked with reorganizing state law enforcement agencies. Fahner returned to private practice in 1979, only for Thompson to appoint him Illinois Attorney General the following year after Attorney General Bill Scott was convicted of tax evasion, the library said.

As Illinois Attorney General in 1982—while campaigning for a full term—Fahner was at a Republican election event at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles when an aide came out from behind a big blue velvet curtain and tugged at his jacket. People were being poisoned and dying in multiple places around the Chicago area—and it turned out that what they had in common was that they had all taken Tylenol.

Fahner shifted his focus from his campaign to the Tylenol investigation. He became the main spokesperson as new developments unfolded and formed a task force with investigators focused solely on solving the case at the time.

As tips came into law enforcement, Fahner said his team sifted through "300 or 400 tips a day" and there were more than 1,000 leads.

"Every call that came in, we took a name, we logged it, put it down what their tip was and they were run down on a daily basis, distributed," he told CBS News Chicago in a 2022 interview for the documentary "PainKiller."

Fahner lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Neil Hartigan later that fall. He faced criticism for the fact that the case was never solved, but he told CBS News Chicago he had no regrets on his actions or methods.

After losing the 1982 race for Illinois Attorney General, Fahner returned to the high-profile private law firm of Mayer Brown. He served as co-chair of the firm from 1998 until 2001, and chair from 2001 until 2007.

Mayer Brown credited Fahner with leading the firm through "a time of incredible growth and change"—including the firm's combination with North Carolina-based Blanchfield Cordle & Moore, P.A. in 1998, France-based Lambert & Lee, Germany-based Gaedertz Rechtsanwälte in 2001, and London-based Rowe & Maw in 2002.

He also served as a key adviser to former Mayer Brown partner Lori Lightfoot when she served as mayor of Chicago, the law firm said.

Fahner served a stint chairing the finance committee of the Illinois Republican Party, and later, the civic committee of the Commercial Club. He also served as chairman of the board of trustees for the Shedd Aquarium—a role in which he led the search committee that picked aquarium president and chief executive officer Dr. Bridget Coughlin in 2016.

In a statement, former Mayor Lightfoot said:

"Like many, I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Tyrone C. Fahner.  At times like this, it is natural to reflect on what the person meant to your own life.  For me, Ty was a kind and generous friend who was a significant support to me at every stage of my career.  He helped me understand how to be a good lawyer and professional.   I became an AUSA because of his support and encouragement.  As I contemplated a run for Mayor, Ty is one of the first people I consulted and he immediately offered his support.  As I look back, it is hard to imagine what my life would have been like without Ty being in it.  Despite our superficial differences, we shared a deep bond as two working class kids trying to make our mark in the world, and I am forever grateful that when I was so young, Ty saw something in me and a lifelong bond was forged.  My deep love and gratitude for Ty, Ann and their children will continue to burn bright.  I join a chorus in offering my sincere condolences."