RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, God in His infinite wisdom has called Terrence R. Mrakava to his eternal reward; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by the Honorable Marty Quinn, Alderman of the 13th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Terrence R. "Terry" Mrakava, 74, a former educator at two Southwest Side Catholic elementary schools who later worked in the financial industry, died Feb. 6, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mrakava, a longtime Clearing resident, taught from 1968 to 1972 at St. Camillus School in the Garfield Ridge community. He was a teacher at St. Joseph-St. Anne School in Brighton Park from 1973 to 1979 and served as principal there from 1979 to 1981. Between those local assignments he taught for one year at St. Nicholas-St. Louis School in the Roseland neighborhood from 1972 to 1973. After Mr. Mrakava concluded his teaching career with the Archdiocese of Chicago, he worked at Continental Bank downtown and then became a senior marketing manager with the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT); and
WHEREAS, Born in the West Elsdon community to the late Frank and Florence (nee Kowalski), Mr. Mrakava graduated from St. Turibius Elementary School and De La Salle Institute. He attended the former St. Procopius College, Roosevelt University and the University of Illinois in Chicago, then known as Circle Campus, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mrakava was a passionate fisherman, a devotion he shared with his father and elder brother who taught him the initial techniques and brought him to some ofthe locations Mr. Mrakava would grow to love. He fished with them from the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago to the Pacific Ocean coast in California, as well as many other locations including Wisconsin, Montana and Colorado. Fly fishing and spin-casting were the styles he liked most, recalled his brother. He said that Mr. Mrakava tied his own flies and would sometimes work a single spot in a river or stream, even if the catch-count was low, just for the enjoyment ofthe fly fishing process in that particular place; and
WHEREAS, Well-read, with a quick and sharp wit, Mr. Mrakava enjoyed the music ofthe Grateful Dead and several classical composers. He built and flew precision, lightweight model aircraft he made from blueprints and wood. He was a longtime member ofthe Illinois Model Aero Club and was a prizewinner in many ofthe club's competitions; and
WHEREAS, "He was a pretty good athlete and he adapted to a number of careers," said his lifelong friend James Borowicz. "Teacher, principal, banker and a professional in the marketing department at the CBOT. He excelled at all." Mr. Mrakava and Mr. Borowicz were born on the same day at Mercy Hospital, Chicago, where their mothers met in the maternity ward. The boys grew up together, attended some ofthe same schools and even worked together at the bank and the CBOT; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mrakava is survived by his best friend and companion, Janice Rigan; son, Anthony E. (Carolyn Nowakowski) Caciopo; brother, Thomas (Madeline); sister, Carol (Donald) Birmingham; granddaughters Karla and Katerina Rigan; three nieces and a nephew. He was preceded in death by his wife, June; and
WHEREAS, Terrence R. Mrakava leaves a legacy of faith, dignity, compassion and love; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the Chicago City Council gathered here this seventeenth day of June, 2020, hereby express our sorrow on the death of Terrence R. Mrakava and extend to his family and friends our deepest sympathy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy be presented to the family of Terrence R. Mrakava.
Marty Quinn Alderman, 13th Ward