RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 74; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald was a retired Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and the loving husband of Gayle A., nee Aubry; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald was the much-adored father of Maura, Kathryn, Jean, Thomas and Ann and the grandfather of eight to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, A native of Chicago and the son of a Circuit Court judge, the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald graduated from Loyola University and The John Marshall Law School; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald began his career as a prosecutor and was first elected to the bench in 1976, becoming the youngest elected Circuit Judge in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald ably served as a Criminal Court judge from 1976 to 1987 and was later appointed Supervising Judge of Traffic Court and Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division; and
WHEREAS, Widely respected for his judicial wisdom and legal acumen, the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court for the First Judicial District in 2000; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald became Chief Justice in 2008; and
WHEREAS, While a member of the high court, the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald played a leading role in helping to expand free legal services for veterans; and
WHEREAS, As Chief Justice, the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald announced a broad series of initiatives to improve the judiciary and bolster public confidence in the state's court system; and
WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous awards and honors, the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald served as President of the Illinois Judges' Association, as Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Special Committee on Capital Cases and on other numerous high-profile panels; and
WHEREAS, Following a long and highly distinguished judicial career, the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald retired from the bench in 2010; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald 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 beloved family, the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald 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 eighteenth day of November 2015, do hereby commemorate the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
erman - 14th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of ti e Honorabl-^ShomaSytR. Fitzgerald.