MEMORIAL RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that members of this Chamber learned of the death of P. Craig Smith, on October 12, 2013, at the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, The City Council has been informed of his passing by the Honorable Margaret Laurino, Alderman of the 39th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Craig was the loving husband of Barbara (Moravek) Smith for twenty-five years; loving father of Ginger (Timothy) Seery of Madison, Wisconsin, Sarah (Tom) Maxwell of Indianapolis, Indiana and Andrew of Santa Monica, California; and, cherished grandfather of Katherine and Patrick Maxwell and Sam and Alexandra Seery. Craig leaves a legacy of faith, compassion, dignity and love; and
WHEREAS, Craig was born on May 23, 1931 in Henderson, North Carolina, to the late Pinkney Andrew and Bertie Craig Smith, and then spent his childhood in Richmond, Virginia. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and his Master of Arts in Russian History from Columbia University in New York. He served as a Russian Language Specialist in the United States Army from 1954 until 1958 and then he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his Ph.D. in Russian History. Craig taught Russian and European history at the University of Illinois at Navy Pier from 1963 until 1967, and then at Northeastern Illinois University from 1968 until 1999, retiring after thirty-two years of dedicated service; and
WHEREAS, A lover of opera, classical music and a voracious reader of history, biographies and newspapers, Craig will always be remembered for his exceptional good humor and the affection that he showed his family and all animals; and
WHEREAS, Craig touched the lives of everyone who knew him through his kindness, generosity, heart and spirit. He will be deeply missed, but the memory of his character, intelligence and compassion will live on in those who knew and loved him; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Coun...
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