The public will be able to pay final respects to former Cincinnati City Council member and Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune downtown today, Feb. 3.
Portune, who spent three decades in Greater Cincinnati politics and continued to work while fighting a valiant battle against cancer, passed away Jan. 25 at the age of 61.
His visitation will take place today from 10 a.m. to noon at the Duke Energy Convention Center and will be followed by funeral services there. Burial services will subsequently take place at Spring Grove Cemetery.
Portune's memory will live on in the newly-renamed Todd B. Portune Center for County Government downtown and via the honorary renaming of Court Street between Main and Walnut Streets, where the building is located.
"Todd was a tireless champion for all people, and has left the world a better place through his long legacy of care and love for Hamilton County," his family said in a statement after his death. "Todd is survived by his greatest love of all, his children Ethan, Ellyse and Emma. The family would like to thank everyone who has expressed their support, and well wishes."
Portune's successes during his time as commissioner came from a rare blend of profound tenacity, even stubbornness, foresight and the ability to disagree deeply without totally burning bridges. He was ahead of the curve regionally on many issues that are front-and-center today — LGBTQ rights, help for those experiencing poverty and housing insecurity, better transit and others.
He had held his commission seat for almost exactly 20 years and was a city council member for seven years prior. He had also chaired or been president of a number of other governmental bodies, including the Hamilton County Transportation Improvement District, the Hamilton County Homeland Security Commission, the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments and more.
