OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
May 6, 2015
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a resolution honoring the life and memory of Gloria Alitto Majewski. Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Mayor
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the death on April 20, 2015, at age 82, of Gloria Alitto Majewski, a respected citizen of the City of Chicago and the mother of our friend and colleague Deputy Director of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Joy Adelizzi; and
WHEREAS, Born in Chicago, Mrs. Majewski grew up in Lincoln Park, where her father, who immigrated to the United States from Italy, owned a portrait photography business. She attended Mundelein College, now part of Loyola University Chicago, and then worked for a time before marrying and raising her children. Mrs. Majewski lived on the Northwest Side of Chicago for most of her life before moving to Orland Park; and
WHEREAS, Following the death of her husband Chester, who served on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago ("MWRD"), Mrs. Majewski was strongly encouraged by her family, and most especially by her mother Rose, to run for office to fill the vacant board seat formerly occupied by her husband. Lacking the support of a major political party, Mrs. Majewski ran her campaign from her kitchen table with the help of supporters who covered Cook County with campaign literature on her behalf. Mrs. Majewski's successful bid for office was a personal victory for her and a testament to her amazing organizational skills, persistence and broad-based appeal to voters; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Majewski served as a MWRD commissioner from 1984 until her retirement in 2010; and
WHEREAS, In 1986, Mrs. Majewski was chosen by her fellow board members to head the MWRD's finance committee, becoming the first woman ever to hold that position; and
WHEREAS, A strong advocate for the MWRD, Mrs. Majewski was instrumental in expanding the MWRD's outreach efforts by instituting a public education program and by personally speaking to thousands of organizations about the MWRD and its work; and
WHEREAS, A fiscal conservative by nature, Mrs. Majewski was an admirable steward of taxpayer money. As chairman of the MWRD's finance committee, Mrs. Majewski imposed a tax cap limiting the MWRD's ability to raise property taxes to finance its water management, wastewater treatment and flood control functions. It is no coincidence that under Mrs. Majewski's watch the MWRD's bond rating from all three bond rating agencies improved to triple A ("AAA") status, the highest credit rating possible and the best creditrating the MWRD had ever before received; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure in office, Mrs. Majewski worked tirelessly on the MWRD's Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, better known as the Deep Tunnel project, a decades-long initiative to construct, 300 feet below grade, an elaborate tunnel system to mitigate flooding and to keep Lake Michigan and other sources of fresh water in Cook County free of pollutants. She was honored for her contributions to the MWRD when the 350-million gallon Chicago Underflow Plan Reservoir was named in her honor, as was The Majewski Metro Athletic Complex in DesPlaines, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Deeply involved in community affairs outside of work, Mrs. Majewski was the proud recipient of the Polish-American Political League's Distinguished Service Award; Disabled American Veterans Commander's Award; and New Horizon Center for the Developmental^ Disabled Special Friend to Special Children's Award; and
WHEREAS, An exceptional role model for women, who balanced the demands of home and career with unparalleled ease and grace, Mrs. Majewski had a deep and abiding love for her family. She never failed to be there for her children, both in good times and in bad, and she always took tremendous pride in their accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, An energetic and fun-loving woman, Ms. Majewski was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs; and
WHEREAS, A truly special person, possessed of a sunny disposition, vibrant spirit and inimitable style, Gloria Alitto Majewski will always be remembered as a wife, mother and grandmother par excellence; as a deeply committed and highly effective public servant; and as a woman whose strength of character and legacy of love survive in the beautiful family she left behind; and
WHEREAS, Gloria Alitto Majewski is survived by her two daughters, Joy Adelizzi and Kimberly Feeney; her two grandchildren, Shannon Rose and Daniel James Feeney; her brother, Ronald; and countless admirers and friends; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this sixth day of May, 2015, do hereby honor the life and memory of Gloria Alitto Majewski, and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Gloria Alitto Majewski as a sign of our sympathy and good wishes.