MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO TERRENCE L. BARNICH OF CHICAGO
WHEREAS, a decade has now passed since Tcncncc L. "Terry" Barnich, a lifelong resident of Chicago, a city he loved, was killed on Memorial Day, May 25, 2009 while serving his country as Deputy Director of the US State Department's Iraq Transition Assistance Office; and
WHEREAS, the Members ofthe Chicago City Council are reminded ofthe tenth anniversary of Terry Barnich's passing by the Honorable Brian Hopkins ofthe 2nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, it is the privilege of Council Members to honor the memory of this dedicated, citizen of our city, country, and the world - a man who humbly and courageously came forward in 2006 to give of his extensive leadership, technical capabilities, and humanistic spirit and help re-build infrastructure in war torn Iraq; and
WHEREAS, Terry Barnich was spurred into action to go to Iraq by his belief that if Iraq was to succeed in developing a democratic government, then its people needed to have the basic essentials of a decent life in place, like clean water and electricity; and
WHEREAS, in multiple ways, it seems that Terry Barnich had been preparing all his life to take on what would become his final mission in a most distinguished career. Prior to going to Iraq, Terry Barnich had served in multiple roles, including: Chief Executive Officer of New Paradigm Resources Group, the thriving telecommunications firm he founded in Chicago; former Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission from J 989-93; former General Counsel lo Governor Jim Thompson; leader of Bell Atlantic Corporation's strategy for securing forty-eight state regulatory approvals for its merger with the TCI cable company; and, as a former associate of the law firms McDermott, Will and Emory and Rudnick & Wolf; and
WHEREAS, while Terry Barnich's expansive intellect and credentials insured he was eminently qualified to assist in Iraq, it was with equal measure that his many personal character strengths fueled his accomplishments there before his tragic passing in 2009. Terry Barnich was well-known and highly regarded for his kindness, graciousness, good humor, commitment to social justice, focus, determination, perseverance, and good heart; and
WHEREAS, it was Terry Barnich's fundamental beliefs and convictions as a caring, loving human being and patriot, committed to the freedom of all people, that endeared him to many at home and abroad; and
WHEREAS, At a 9/11 Memorial Service in Washington D.C. in 2009, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton honored Terry and recognized that he "wore many hats. He had the kind of talent that can make a person restless. He was a lawyer, a campaigner, a policy wonk, an entrepreneur, a public servant, a talented executive. Those were his day jobs. He was also a Chicagoan, a writer, a proud product of Jesuit education, a cherished son, brother, uncle, and husband-to-be;" and
WHEREAS, borrowing from the words of Terry Barnich's lifelong friend, the late Dr. Phillip R. O'Connor, in his statement to the U.S. Department of Stale on September 11, 2009, "At the very moment
that Terry, Dr. Maged Hussein, and Navy Commander Duane Wolfe died alongside one another, they were living out the commandment that we love our neighbors as ourselves"; and
WHEREAS, Terry Barnich's formative years were spent growing up in Chicago's Hegewisch community. He graduated from Washington High School, went on to earn his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and his law degree from Fordham University in New York City; and
WHEREAS, Terry Barnich's legacy lives on in his family, colleagues, and friends throughout the world. It is with great hope that his life serves as a model for the importance of living passionately; and, to continually look for ways large and small that wc can make life in this world better, for all; now therefore
BE IT RESOL VED, that we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-ninth day of May 2019, three days before the ten-year anniversary of Terry Barnach's untimely passing, that we honor his memory and his service to the State of Illinois, the United States of America, and the citizens of the world; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Terrence L. Barnich, as a sign of our deep respect and gratitude for the love he made manifest in his consistent accomplishment of great things; and, the abundant caring, and meaningful relationships that he developed along the way.
Brian Hopkins Alderman, 2nd Ward