RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, James A, Serritella has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 78; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, James is survived by his son. Anthony (fianc6e Casey Fause), his sister, Camille Vena, his cousins, John, Daniel, and Joseph, his niece Mary Ann and nephew Anthony, as well as other countless cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends; and
WHEREAS, James was bom and raised in Chicago on Taylor Street, in Chicago's west side Italian American community; and
WHEREAS, In 1981, Tom married his wife, Ruby Amoroso and remained married for 28 years until her death in 2009; and
WHEREAS, He graduated from St. Charles Seminary College of Liberal Arts (State University of New York) and received a second Bachelor's degree from Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, earned his Master's from the Committee for the Analysis of Ideas and Study Methods at the University of Chicago, and received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1971; and
WHEREAS, James served as chief counsel and legal advisor to the Archdiocese of Chicago for nearly 50 years and represented religious and other not-for-profit organizations in general corporate matters; and
WHEREAS, James was a tireless civic volunteer with notable contributions to the Catholic Charities, including founding the Catholic Chanties Gala of the Arts with his late wife Ruby in 2002; and
WHEREAS, He was deeply involved in the Italian American community and founded the "Forum Associates" which aimed to provide professional advancement and philanthropy to the Chicago Italian community; and
WHEREAS, James was also a member of numerous professional and civic organizations including the Chicago, Illinois State, and American Bar Associations as well as the Canon Law Society of America and the Diocesan Attorneys Association; and
WHEREAS, James was the recipient of numerous awards throughout his career including the Papal Degree from the Vatican, an honorary Doctor of Law Degree from North Park University, the John Courtney Murray Award from DePaul University College of Law, the Rerum Novarum Award from St. Joseph Seminary, and the Caritas Christi Urget Nos Award from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, James A. Serritella 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 twenty-sixth day of May, 2021, do hereby-commemorate James A. Serritella for his grace-filled life and,do hereby express pur condolences to'.his-family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of James A. Serritella.
Edward M. Burke Alderman, 14th Ward