RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, This august Body wishes to extend its heart-felt sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of former Law Department Deputy Corporation Counsel Edward James Wong, Jr. upon his passing on April 7, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Ed Wong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 25, 1942 to Edward James Wong, Sr. and Ethel Wong; and
WHEREAS, He was educated in the New Orleans Public School system before graduating from the prestigious all-boys Catholic High School, St. Augustine, in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong excelled in his studies at St. Augustine and as a result he had the distinction of being named the salutatorian of his senior high school class; and
WHEREAS, Following graduation from high school, he attended Xavier University in New Orleans for two years before graduating from Loyola University, Chicago; he thereafter attended DePaul University Law School where he obtained his J.D.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong had the good fortune of meeting Marie Bijou, his bride-to-be, and married her in 1962; the happy couple was blessed with two loving children, Michelle and Edward James Wong III; and
WHEREAS, Following graduation from law school, Mr. Wong worked briefly as an associate attorney for the law firm Arnstein, Gluck, Weitzenfeld & Minow. Mr. Wong then joined the law firm Sachnoff, Schragger, Jones, Weaver and Rubenstein, Ltd.; and
WHEREAS, Only a few years later, Mr. Wong was elected as a partner at Sachnoff during a time in America when it was virtually unheard of for an African-American attorney to be named partner at a well-established law firm; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong practiced law at Sachnoff for over 25 years before leaving to become Deputy Corporation Counsel of the Finance and Real Estate Division of the City of . Chicago Law Department; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong was such a devoted public servant that he remained with the City Law Department for over 20 years until his retirement in 2016 at the age of 74, having gained the admiration of his colleagues for his competent, calm leadership, focused intellect and dedication to the City Law Department; and
WHEREAS, Ed Wong's civic service extended beyond his employment with the City of Chicago. Mr. Wong worked tirelessly on Governor Walker's Advisory Board for Mental Health. He was also a member of the Southside Jaycee's and was a board member of United Charities (later called Metropolitan Family Services) for many years; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong was a long-time resident of Chicago's South Kenwood-Hyde Park neighborhood in the 4th Ward, enjoying the activities in the neighborhood and spending time with family and friends as well as his yearly visits back to New Orleans, and also traveling, museums, music, collecting art, going to the movies and getting away to fish and relax at his cottage in Wisconsin; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong is survived by his loving wife Marie, his two caring children, Michelle and Edward; his loving daughter-in-law, Yuki; his cherished granddaughter, Mariama; his lovely sister, Jeneice and many more relatives and friends; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this twelfth day of June, 2019, do hereby honor and pay tribute to former Law Department Deputy Corporation Counsel Edward James Wong, Jr. and extend our sympathies to his family and friends; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Edward James Wong, Jr. as a token of our sympathy and esteem.
