RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Oscar D'Angelo has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 84; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Oscar D'Angelo was a widely admired Chicago civic figure and the loving husband of Paula, nee Grespan; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Little Italy, Oscar D'Angelo was born to the late Luigi and Linda; and
WHEREAS, As a boy, Oscar D'Angelo worked in his parents' grocery store near Laflin and Flournoy Streets; and
WHEREAS, Oscar D'Angelo went on to become a prominent lawyer, real estate developer and advisor to major institutions; and
WHEREAS, A confidante of both Chicago mayors and political powerbrokers, Oscar D'Angelo never left the community that he loved; and
WHEREAS, Oscar D'Angelo often patrolled the neighborhood in his Cadillac to ensure it remained clean, safe and vibrant; and
WHEREAS, Many in Little Italy knew Oscar D'Angelo as a mustached dynamo who led a crew of kids every weekend as they hauled trash out of vacant lots, parks and riverbanks; and
WHEREAS, Oscar D'Angelo worked diligently to protect the architecture, cultural integrity and fabric of the Italian neighborhood that he treasured so much; and
WHEREAS, The embodiment of the spirit of Taylor Street, Oscar D'Angelo earned the title "The Mayor of Little Italy" and was intimately involved in every aspect of its civic life; and
WHEREAS, Oscar D'Angelo was a co-founder and board member of the Chicago Architecture Foundation and of the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois which is now called Preservation Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Oscar D'Angelo was a member of the board of directors of Friends of the Parks; and
WHEREAS, In 1989 Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Chicago City Council named a large landscaped traffic island near the foot of the Eisenhower Expressway as Oscar D'Angelo Park in his honor; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Oscar D'Angelo serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared Oscar D'Angelo 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, A big-hearted man of abundant generosity and vision, Oscar D'Angelo will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, Oscar D'Angelo 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 fourteenth day of September, 2016, do hereby commemorate Oscar D'Angelo 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 Oscar D'Angelo.
