RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Honorable John Brademas has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A resident of New York City, the Honorable John Brademas was the loving husband for 39 years of Mary Ellen; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable John Brademas was the much-adored stepfather of Katherine Goldberg, Jane Murray and John Briggs, the grandfather of six and the great-grandfather of one to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, The son of a Greek immigrant restaurateur, the Honorable John Brademas was raised in South Bend, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable John Brademas graduated from Harvard University and won a Rhodes Scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford where he earned a doctorate in social studies; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable John Brademas served 11 terms in Congress from 1959-1981; and
WHEREAS, During his long and highly distinguished tenure, the Honorable John Brademas rose to become House Majority Whip; and
WHEREAS, As a member of the Committee on Education and Labor, the Honorable John Brademas played a leading role in writing legislation concerning schools, colleges and universities; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable John Brademas was also a sponsor of landmark legislation adopted in 1965 that created the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable John Brademas held the distinction of being the first Greek-American elected to Congress; and
WHEREAS, After leaving Congress, the Honorable John Brademas moved to New York and served as President of New York University from 1981 to 1992; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his professional achievements, John Brademas was actively involved in a number of philanthropic efforts that included the arts, higher education, foreign policy, jobs and small business, and science and technology; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable John Brademas served as Chairman of the American Ditchley Foundation and co-chaired the Center for Science, Technology and Congress at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington D.C; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the Honorable John Brademas serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable John Brademas will be dearly missed by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, the Honorable John Brademas 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 twentieth day of July, 2016, do hereby commemorate the Honorable John Brademas for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
Alderman - 14th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of the Honorable John Brademas.
