Mark Anthony Spognardi, noted Chicago labor attorney, died April 12, 2023, at Rush University Medical Center from complications related to heart disease. He was 63.

Spognardi was a founding partner of Spognardi Baiocchi LLP, created in January 2019, and founding partner of Pautsch, Spognardi & Baiocchi Legal Group, 2014-2019. Earlier affiliations included Arnstein & Lehr, partner, 2006-2014; Holland & Knight, partner, 1994-2006; Matkov Salzman, associate, 1989-1994; and National Labor Relations Board, attorney, 1984-1989.

He was a specialist in management-side labor and employment law, acting as counsel to business owners and executives. He was also a long-time board member of the North American Transportation Employee Relations Association, 27th ward committeeman of the Chicago Republican Party and a November 2016 candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives for the 10th district.

Spognardi, a native of Milwaukee, graduated from the University of Iowa in 1980 and the DePaul University College of Law in 1984.

A resident of the West Loop in downtown Chicago since 2006, Spognardi married Chicago banker Kathleen Gallagher in 2014.

Additional survivors include father Julius C. Spognardi and his wife, Lois Bushman-Spognardi, Geneva, Illinois; brothers Julius C. (Michelle) Spognardi II, Beverly Hills, Michigan, and Romulus A. Spognardi, Chicago; nieces Alexandra Spognardi, Chicago, and Isabella Spognardi, Denver; and nephew, Julius C. Spognardi III, New York. He is also survived by his wife's family, including her children Brendan, Patrick and Maura Ford, all Chicago; sisters, Peg (Tom) Magnuson, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Patti (Doug) Newberry, Cincinnati; and brother Tom (Kristi Frahm) Gallagher, Denver; and many other relatives and friends.

He was predeceased by his mother, Audrey (Smith) Spognardi, in 1999.

Family and friends will meet on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 North State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60654, for a 9:30 a.m. Visitation, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass. Free parking for Holy Name Cathedral is available at 14 W. Superior Street (between Dearborn Street and State Street). Please utilize any non-reserved parking space on Lower Level One (LL1) or Lower Level Two (LL2).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed to the American Diabetes Association, P.O Box 7023, Merrifield, Virginia, 22116-7023, or www.diabetes.org .

For further information please call 312-421-0936.