Corinne Wood walks with Boone Creek Water Alliance member Carol O’Donnell in rural Woodstock during a 2002 visit to McHenry County. Wood, a Barrington native who became Illinois’ first female lieutenant governor, died Tuesday. She was 66. (Daily Herald File Photo, 2002)
Corinne Wood was a trailblazing politician whose legal background, moderate voice and ability to reach across the aisle helped her become the first female lieutenant governor in Illinois.
But she never lost sight of her suburban roots.
Wood, who served as lieutenant governor alongside Gov. George Ryan from 1999 to 2003, died Tuesday from complications related to her 15 years with metastatic breast cancer, family members said. She was 66.
Wood paved the way for later women to become lieutenant governors, including Evelyn Sanguinetti, who served with Gov. Bruce Rauner, and current Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
In a statement Wednesday, Stratton called Wood “a trailblazer bringing her authentic self to the office and elevating the issue of women’s health. She paved the way for women like me to serve in this role.”
Wood grew up in Barrington, where she was known as Corky Gieseke while attending Grove Avenue School and graduating from Barrington High School in 1972. Her grandparents farmed land in Arlington Heights, Palatine and Barrington, while running the long-standing Gieseke’s Farm Market.
During her first year as lieutenant governor, Wood addressed members of the Barrington Chamber of Commerce, where she reflected on her local roots. At the time, she was recovering from an auto accident in which she suffered a leg injury and her daughter lost her four front teeth.
“I’m excited to be back in my hometown,” Wood said at the time. “The values I gained from growing up in a town like Barrington have guided me in public office.”
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