RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that members of this Chamber learned of the death of Marianne Dickerson, on October 14, 2015, and,
WHEREAS, the City Council has been informed of her passing by the Honorable Thomas M. Tunney, Alderman of the 44th Ward; and,
WHEREAS, Marianne Dickerson was an Illinois track star and an early leader in women's sports. Throughout her life she honed her talents and ran through any obstacles in her way. Marianne was a successful business person, an elite distance runner, and an American sports legend; and,
WHEREAS, Marianne Dickerson had a historic and stunning finish in the inaugural women's marathon at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland in 1983. Marianne passed two very accomplished runners as they approached the finish line and captured the silver-medal for the United States; she thereby became the second fastest woman marathon runner in the world. The marathon was not yet an Olympic sport for women; this was the first ever World Championship marathon contest for women, and it was only the third marathon Marianne had ever run; and,
WHEREAS, Marianne was born in St. Joseph, Illinois and attended Saint Joseph - Ogden High School where she won four state medals and was the IHSA Illinois State Champion. Her 1974 record in the 800-yard run still stands as the school record; it inspires and challenges student to this day; and,
WHEREAS, Marianne was a true student-athlete. She graduated from the University of Illinois where she set several track records and earned a degree in engineering. Marianne's accomplishments were not limited to athletics. She earned master degrees from University of Michigan in engineering and an MBA from the Harvard Business School; and,
WHEREAS, Marianne succeeded in her business career by applying her many talents to the energy industry where she held high level positions at at energy utilities and was a very highly regarded consultant at leading management consulting firms. Marianne earned the respect of her teammates and colleagues on and off the track. For many years of her professional business career she lived in the Lakeview East neighborhood; after spending a few years working in California she>returned to live and work in Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, Marianne described herself as an average person who worked very hard. She encouraged girls from her former high-school in athletics and held herself as an example of success through perseverance; and,
WHEREAS, driven as Marianne was at work and on the track, she is also remembered as an enormously warm, fun, and helpful person by her friends, colleagues, and her family. One of her great joys was her nieces Mary Evans, Claire, and Caroline. Marianne is also survived by her mother, Betsy, her brother, Barry, and her sister Maria; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 25th day of January, 2017, do hereby honor the life and achievements and mourn the untimely death of Marianne Dickerson; this body hereby proclaims November 14, 2017 to be "Marianne Dickerson Day" in Chicago; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Marianne Dickerson.
Thomas M. Tunney Alderman, 44th Ward