Son of Roman Pucinski found dead

The son of a former congressman and Chicago alderman was found dead in the family's Northwest side home Thursday by officials responding to a fire.

Christopher Pucinski, 48, was the son of Roman Pucinski, who died in 2002, and brother of Cook County Circuit Court Judge Aurelia Pucinski.

"He was a good brother, loving son and uncle. We're going to miss him," Aurelia Pucinski told reporters outside the home Thursday.

The cause of the fire still is being investigated, as is the origin of an explosive device police found and detonated on the scene after the fire, said Chicago police spokeswoman Amina Greer. A hazardous materials team was called in as a precaution.

Firefighters found Christopher Pucinski's body on the home's second floor, lying near where the fire started, said District Fire Chief George Lynch. The fire was contained to two rooms on the second floor.

Christopher Pucinski was unmarried and did not have children.

Unlike his father and sister, Christopher Pucinski shunned both politics and the spotlight. His sister said he had been turning his life around after a spate of personal problems, including two convictions for cocaine possession in 1976 and 1988.