Ann C. Tighe's bid to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois did not result in her becoming the first woman to do the job.
It did result in a fresh conversation about the dynamics of power couples, gender roles, sacrifice and fair play.
Ms. Tighe (pronounced like the word "tie") was in private practice in 1997 when she was put on the shortlist of names being considered for the job — a high-profile law enforcement seat whose occupants have historically run point on investigations targeting a range of bad actors, including mafia figures and corrupt politicians.
But the fact that Ms. Tighe's husband, Jim Houlihan, was serving as Cook County Assessor at the time was seen by some as a potential conflict of interest.
To satisfy critics, including the Chicago Council of Lawyers, the Better Government Association and the media, Houlihan would have had to resign as assessor.
"I gave it serious thought," Houlihan told the Sun-Times when the couple sat for an interview in 1998. "I knew Ann was qualified for the job."
"I said to Jim, 'Don't you dare,'" Ms. Tighe said, adding that the measure would have been "a drastic step that was totally, completely unnecessary."
"I found it kind of insulting," said Houlihan. "The implication was that I'd be part of corruption."
Ms. Tighe had served as an assistant federal prosecutor in Chicago from 1974 to 1980, one of the first female attorneys to work in the office that she later sought to lead.
Even those who pointed out the potential conflict of interest did so without questioning Ms. Tighe's qualifications, her integrity or that of her husband.
Attorney Scott Lassar was ultimately named to the position in 1997, which has still never been held by a woman.
"I don't think the fact that I'm married to Jim should disqualify me. I think the fact that we've been married almost 25 years shows maturity and dedication," Ms. Tighe said in the interview with the Sun-Times shortly after learning she didn't get the gig.
"There are ways of dealing with any potential conflict that I felt totally comfortable with, and we both knew we would act appropriately. Obviously if there had been any investigation involving the assessor's office, I'd step aside," Tighe said.
For Ms. Tighe, who had to get permission from a judge in 1973 to practice law under her own name, not her husband's name, "the thought of being the first woman [U.S. attorney] was very exciting. It is a very powerful office. I just thought it would be good for women."
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) at the time accused Ms. Tighe's critics of being "trapped in an ancient mindset."
Ms. Tighe died Tuesday from natural causes. She was 87.
"In today's norms that conflict of interest would be laughable, but that was then, this is now," said friend and lobbyist Tom Murphy.
The episode may have stung, but it did not diminish her career.
For decades she worked as a white-collar criminal defense attorney and became a named partner in the firm now known as Cotsirilos, Poulos & Campbell.
"Ann was the first lady of the white-collar criminal defense," said former colleague Theodore Poulos.
"And she had this unique sounding laugh that everybody just adored," Poulos said. "She was joyous and classy, but tough as nails and did not suffer fools."
Ms. Tighe, who figure skated while growing up in Highland Park, kept a pair of skates in her Loop law office and skated as often as she could during her lunch breaks at an ice rink at Block 37.
She loved spending time at her family's summer home in Beverly Shores, Indiana.
Ms. Tighe, who practiced law into her 80s, graduated from Stanford University and attended law school at Northwestern University.
Ms. Tighe faced gender discrimination early in her career, beginning with a male professor who, when asked to write a letter to help her get into law school, responded: "Why would I help you get a spot that would otherwise be held for a man to help him get a job and feed his family?" her husband, Jim Houlihan, said this week.
"She went on to be a star," he said.
In addition to her husband, Ms. Tighe is survived by her sons Mike Houlihan and Daniel Houlihan, as well as five grandchildren.
A visitation will be held at at Old St. Patrick's Church on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. with a funeral Mass immediately after.
