Frederick E. Downey, 60, an accountant and former Hoffman Estates village president, died of a heart attack Tuesday in Sherman Hospital, Elgin. Mr. Downey, a longtime Hoffman Estates resident who moved recently to Schaumburg, served as the Hoffman Estates village president from 1969 to 1973. He ran as a reform candidate against Roy Jenkins who later was convicted with four other officials of accepting bribes in exchange for zoning favors.”It was the most turbulent time Hoffman Estates has had in its 30-year history,” said Bruce Lind, a 21-year village trustee who was elected with Mr. Downey. In 1973, when Mr. Downey lost a bid for re-election, he vowed never to return to public life and focused attention on his firm, Professional Tax and Accounting Service, in Schaumburg. Mr. Downey graduated from Loyola University and earned a master`s degree in business administration from Northwestern University. Survivors include his wife, Ruth; two sons, Frederick Jr. and Michael; three daughters, Maureen Mervis, Lynn Dowd and Colleen Hochhalter; and four grandchildren. Prayers will be said at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral Home, 330 W. Golf Rd., Schaumburg. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 1001 E. Schaumburg Rd., in the suburb.
