Resolution
WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that members of this Chamber learned of the death of Joseph Barclay Organ at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, The City Council has been informed of his passing by The Honorable Robert W. Fioretti, Alderman of the 2nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Joe, a World War II Army veteran, died on Memorial Day, May 26, 2014. Born in Oak Park on January 14, 1925, he attended Mann Elementary School and was a graduate of Fenwick High School. He was a lifelong resident of Oak Park and River Forest.; and
WHEREAS, After completing his military service, Joe attended Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and became a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. During his time in college he met his future wife, Marilyn, whom he married in 1950. After college, Joe worked for his family lumber and garage building business. Throughout his life he built residential homes, was a licensed realtor, and later was supervisor of property acquisitions for the Illinois Department of Transportation; and
WHEREAS, Civic-minded throughout his life, he served on the River Forest Park District Board for over 30 years, many of them as board president. He was past president and a longtime member of the River Forest Service Cub. He also served as commander of River Forest American Legion Post 730 and was an active member of the River Forest Republican Organization, ln 2006, he received the Community Service Award from the River Forest Service Club for his long history of volunteer service in the community; and
WHEREAS, During retirement, he was a daily communicant at St. Luke Church in River Forest. A devoted husband and father, Joe loved spending time with his family and watching thoroughbred racing with friends at Maywood Park racetrack. He had a terrific sense of humor and his family will miss him terribly; and
WHEREAS, Joe is survived by Marilyn, his wife of 64 years; his three children, Joseph Barclay Organ Jr., Melinda Organ Brennan (Terry), and Marcia O'Brien Organ (Michael); his four grandchildren, Marcella Brennan and Mike, Maggie and Jack O'Brien; and his nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick Joseph Organ and Marie Callahan Organ; and his sisters, Patricia Organ Davis Fox McGah and Sally Organ Hughes; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the mayor and members ofthe City Council of the city of Chicago gathered here this twenty fifth day of June, 2014, do hereby express our sorrow on the passing of Joseph Barclay Organ and express to his family and friends our deepest sympathy; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Joseph Barclay Organ as a token of our honor, gratitude and respect.
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