WHEREAS, Thomas Michael Owens, beloved husband and best friend of Mary Owens nee Mc Walter, his wife of 60 years, loving father of the late Mary Eileen, Thomas (Sue) Owens, Jr., Julie Owens (Chris) Burns, Michael (Maggie) Owens, Sharon Owens, and Katie Owens (Tim) Mulcahy, and grandfather and hero to 22 grandchildren, has gone on to his eternal reward; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Tom was born and raised on Chicago's South Side where he attended St. Sabina School and graduated from Leo High School and then attended several universities before earning a bachelor's degree in accounting from Loyola University Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Tom was an innovator in business, philanthropy, faith, and family; and
WHEREAS, Tom was the founder of XL/Datacomp, which provided products and services for the IBV mid-range computer line after a career at IBM; and
WHEREAS, Tom and his wife Mary founded The Owens Foundation in 1985 to use their financial resources to aid those less fortunate; and
WHEREAS, Through their strong Catholic faith and dedication to philanthropy, Tom and Mary were Mends with Mother Teresa of Calcutta, often accompanying her on Missionary of Charity projects to help tlie impoverished; and
WHEREAS, In 1991, Tom founded Cara, a nationally known nonprofit workforce development group that has become a model for getting marginalized people into the workplace; and now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the members ofthe Chicago City Council assembled this thirteenth day of November 2019, do hereby express our sorrow and extend deepest condolences to the family of Thomas Michael Owens on his passing, September 29,
2019.
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED, that a suitable copy ofthis resolution be presented to Thomas Michael Owen's family in remembrance.