RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this,Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the untimely death on December 3, 2014, at age 49, of Timothy ("Tim") J. Mitchell, the former head of the Chicago Park District and a respected citizen ofthe City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Born to Tom and Mariann Mitchell on January 17, 1965, Mr. Mitchell grew up in Chicago's Mount Greenwood neighborhood and later moved to the North Side of Chicago. He became interested in politics while serving in student government al Brother Rice High School, where his father was the football coach. Mr. Mitchell never lost his love for government and politics, which became the defining interest of his adult life; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell graduated from Chicago's Loyola University with a bachelor's degree in political science. A longtime aide to former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Mr. Mitchell began his illustrious career in city government in 1989 as a Managing Deputy Commissioner in the Department of Human Resources. In 1998, Mr. Mitchell was named First Deputy Commissioner ofthe Department of General Services. He was appointed Commissioner the following year, and later served in the Mayor's office as Chief of Infrastructure and Operations; and
WHEREAS, From 2004 until his retirement in 2011, Mr. Mitchell served as Chief Executive Officer and Superintendent ofthe Chicago Park District. The driving force behind a multitude of park improvements, Mr. Mitchell's many accomplishments at the Chicago Park District included creating neighborhood play lots across the city; transforming Northerly Island into a natural green space for all Chicagoans to enjoy; modernizing the Kathy Osterman Beach House at Chicago's Hollywood Beach; establishing the Grant Park dog park; and increasing parkland space and park facilities along the lakefront and in neighborhoods throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, A gifted manager and a creative problem solver, who was always acutely aware of his responsibility to taxpayers, Mr....
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