Hinsdale-Based Government Watchdog Dies At 55

HINSDALE, IL – Adam Andrzejewski, a Hinsdale resident who headed a watchdog organization, died Sunday. He was 55.

His nonprofit organization, OpenTheBooks.com, is at 3 Grant Square in Hinsdale. Its slogan is "Every Dime, Online, In Real Time."

For years, the website included the salaries of local and state government employees in Illinois and across the country.

According to his obituary, Andrzejewski died peacefully in his sleep. He grew up in Herscher, a small town near Kankakee.

He was known for fitness. On Aug. 1, Andrzejewski posted to Facebook about the goal of reducing his marathon time. He had planned to run the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13.

In the post, Andrzejewski said his intense practices had made him sore for much of the last year.

"I'd say this is one of the most difficult endeavors of my lifetime; however, it's on par with being an entrepreneur, raising teenage daughters, and speaking truth to power in some of the most impactful fights in the country!" Andrzejewski wrote.

In 2008, he gathered with concerned parents and taxpayers at a neighbor's table, his obituary said. Afterward, Andrzejewski began publishing local school district spending records online.

The Wall Street Journal once wrote, "OpenTheBooks.com has fomented a revolution in fiscal transparency."

In 2010, Andrzejewski ran in the Republican primary for governor.

A statement from the OpenTheBooks board called Andrzejewski a "happy warrior."

"Adam’s belief in the power of transparency to transform government and hold it accountable at every level is the driving force behind our work," the board said. "His relentless pursuit of open records and forensic auditing has set new standards in the fight for government transparency."

Craig Mijares, the group's chief operating officer, will oversee the daily work of the 30 employees, the board said.

In nonprofit records, the group is officially known as American Transparency.