Legislation Details

Record #: R2022-1231   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 12/14/2022 Current Controlling Legislative Body:
Final action: 12/14/2022
Title: Congratulations extended to Maureen O'Donnell on retirement from Chicago Sun-Times
Sponsors: Burke, Edward M.
Attachments: 1. R2022-1231.pdf

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of Maureen O'Donneirs retircment as the Chicago Sun-Times' obituary writer by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and

 

WHEREAS, Maureen is a Chicago native and graduate of Loyola University's Mundelcin Col|ege; and

 

WHEREAS, Before joining'the Sun-Times, Maureen worked as a criminal courts reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, an;associate editor at Adweek magazine, and a reporter and editor at the City News Bureau of Chicago; and

 

WHEREAS, Prior to becoming the Sun-Times' obituary writer, she spent 20 years as a general assignment report, during which she wrote about crumbling conditions .in, Chicago schools, Mississippi River flooding and the Jeffrey Dahmer slayitigs: and

 

WHEREAS, Maureen became the Chicago Sun-Times' obituary writer in 2009; and

 

WHEREAS, Maureen served as President of the Society of Professional Obituary Writers from 2015-2018; and

 

WHEREAS, Her journalism awards include the Chicago Headline Club's Anne Keegan Award, SPOW, awards for obituary writing, the Illinois Associated Press Editors Association Public Service Reporting Award, the:Jllinois .Gold;Bell Award from the Mental Health.Association in Illinois, and;aXisagor Award.and obituary writing awards from the Illinois^Press Association;, and

 

WHEREAS, Maureen and her husband, MarkRosati, a former journalist raised their daughter, Mairead, while juggling dueling late night deadlines; and

WHEREAS, Through her wisdom and guidance, Maureen has written send-offs and storytelling from eyewitnesses to history; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members ofthe Chicago City Council assembled this fourteenth day of December, 2022, do hereby thank Maureen for her years of distinguished service to the City of Chicago as a reporter and obituary writer, and wish her the very best as she; begins the next phase of.her life; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a:suitable copy ofthis resolution be presented to Maureen O'Donnell.