RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Seamus Heaney has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of seventy-four; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A native of Northern Ireland and an internationally acclaimed poet and award-winning translator, Seamus Heaney was the beloved husband for forty-eight years of Marie; and
WHEREAS, Seamus Heaney was the proud father of Christopher, Michael and Catherine to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, A writer with a masterful gift for capturing the mystery of nature, Seamus Heaney also addressed the political and social turmoil of his native Northern Ireland; and
WHEREAS, In 1995 the Swedish Academy awarded Seamus Heaney the Nobel Prize in Literature and described his works as having "lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past"; and
WHEREAS, A gifted instructor and professor at several institutions, including Harvard and Oxford Universities, Seamus Heaney was recognized internationally as Ireland's finest poet since William Butler Yeats; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Seamus Heaney serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared Seamus Heaney to his family members, friends and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, Seamus Heaney 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 eleventh day of September, 2013, do hereby commemorate Seamus Heaney for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Seamus Heaney.