RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Dr. David Raup has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Dr. David Raup was a retired University of Chicago professor who was considered the most influential paleontologist of the 20th Century; and
WHEREAS, A native of Boston, Massachusetts, and a son of parents who were botanists, Dr. David Raup was surrounded by scientists during his childhood; and
WHEREAS, Dr. David Raup graduated from the University of Chicago and earned his master's and doctorate degrees from Harvard University; and
WHEREAS, Dr. David Raup called science "just pure joy" and transformed the field of paleontology; and
WHEREAS, Dr. David Raup worked at the Field Museum of Natural History before joining the University of Chicago faculty in 1980; and
WHEREAS, During his long and illustrious career, Dr. David Raup relied on computers, math and statistics to uncover events and patterns that shed light on evolution; and
WHEREAS, Using computer analysis, Dr: David Raup examined 7,000 species that died off over the past 300 million years and discovered that cataclysmic extinctions occur approximately every 26 million years and that one of them was responsible for the end of the dinosaurs; and
WHEREAS, Dr. David Raup authored the book, "Principles of Paleontology" in 1971 which became a leading textbook for educators and was translated into Chinese, Russian and Spanish; and
WHEREAS, Following a long and influential career, Dr. David Raup retired in 1994 to Washington Island in northern Wisconsin; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Dr. David Raup serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared Dr. David Raup to his family members, friends and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, Dr. David Raup was an individual of great integrity and accomplishment who will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his wife, Judith Yamamoto, his son, Mitchell D., his stepson, David P. Topaz, and his grandson, Dr. David Raup imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-ninth day of July, 2015, do hereby commemorate Dr. David Raup for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of .or. David Raup
Alderman - 14th Ward