OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RICHARD M. DALEY
MAYOR
Novembers, 2010
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a resolution honoring the life and memory of Steven P. Walter. Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours, f >. f t
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the untimely death on October 10, 2010, at age 49, of Steven P. Walter, the Deputy Commissioner of the Energy Bureau of the City of Chicago's Department of General Services and a respected citizen of the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Born to Charles M. and Alice L. (Murphy) Walter in Somerville, New Jersey on October 16, 1960, Mr. Walter graduated from Immaculata High School in 1978. He attended the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he received both a Bachelor of Science degree and Master's degree in Economics/Finance and History. Mr. Walter also pursued a Ph.D. degree in History at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, After completing his education, Mr. Walter moved to Illinois, where he worked as an economist for the State of Illinois from 1991 to 1996 before taking a position in December 1996 as a city planner in the City of Chicago's Department of the Environment; and
WHEREAS, A committed public servant, who specialized in energy management, energy policy, regulatory policy, renewable energy and energy efficiency, Mr. Walter became Assistant Commissioner for the City of Chicago Department of the Environment in 2000, and in 2002, he was named Deputy Commissioner; and
WHEREAS, In 2004, Mr. Walter joined the Department of General Services as Deputy Commissioner in the Department's newly-created Energy Bureau, a position which he held at the time of his death; and
WHEREAS, Widely admired for his people-based management style, organizational skills and discernment, Mr. Walter was a true master of the art of negotiation. A tireless advocate for the City, Mr. Walter spent the months immediately preceding his death negotiating the City's new utility contracts. He achieved a cost savings of millions of dollars in the procurement of electricity and natural gas for the City; and
WHEREAS, Particularly interested in the prospect of using green technology in energy ventures to promote clean and sustainable development, Mr. Walter served on the board of directors of the Illinois Solar Energy Association, the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Public Technology, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Possessed of abundant intellectual curiosity and energy, Mr. Walter was an avid traveler, a voracious reader of all types of books, a coin and stamp collector, a music lover, an aficionado of fine wines, a devotee of classic movies and a talented cook; and
WHEREAS, An honest, hard-working and principled person, who served the citizens of this great City and State with dignity and honor, Mr. Walter will always be remembered as the consummate professional, and as a man whose legacy survives in the standard of excellence he set for himself and inspired in others; and
WHEREAS, Steven P. Walter was predeceased by his beloved sister, Laura A. Walter, and is survived by two sisters, Christine Walter and Amy Graham; his brother, Kevin Walter; his niece, Sarah Milewski; his nephew, Christopher Milewski; and countless relatives and friends; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this third day of November, 2010, do hereby honor the life and memory of Steven P. Walter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Steven P. Walter as a sign of our sympathy and good wishes.