OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
September 18, 2019
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Smith and Tunney, a resolution honoring the life and memory of Michael Bauer.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Mayor
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the death on August 29, 2019, at age 66, of Michael Bauer, a respected citizen of the City of Chicago and longtime activist who was instrumental in the election of dozens of local and national political leaders; and ■>
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer was a passionate advocate for worthy causes and oppressed people, with a specific focus on Holocaust education and LGBTQ issues; and
WHEREAS, The son of two Holocaust survivors, raised in East Rogers Park, and trained as a lawyer, Mr. Bauer made a lasting impact on Chicago politics and political institutions that was shaped by his commitment to equality; and
WHEREAS, Influenced by the AIDS epidemic, Mr. Bauer entered politics to direct attention to the needs ofthe gay community; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Mr. Bauer chaired a successful campaign for the state's first elected openly gay person, enabling Tom Chiola to become a Cook County circuit court judge; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer was a pioneer in Holocaust history in 1998, with his participation in cultivating the first academic symposium on the Holocaust's gay victims; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, Mr. Bauer served as campaign co-chair and finance chair for Alderman Tom Tunney's campaign to become the first openly gay alderman elected to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer's significant contributions to the City of Chicago include his distinct presence in Chicago's Jewish community, through his service as the co-chairman ofthe Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission; and
WHEREAS, Most recently, Mr. Bauer, serving as chairman of her campaign, played a pivotal role in the election of our first openly gay Mayor of the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer gave generously of his time to the community, including serving as the co-chair for various annual fundraisers for political and charitable organizations, including Citizen Action Illinois, American Jewish Committee, and IMPACT; he also served on the board of directors for Lambda Legal Defense and Education, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, and the Global AIDS Alliance; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer's lifelong achievements were honored by the American Civil Liberties Union with its John R. Hammell Award in 1998; the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization with its Edwin Astrin Special Service Award in 2002; the Hearts Foundation with its Jackson Service Award in 2003; Horizons Community Services with its
Human First Award in 2003; CitiPAC with its Scoop Jackson Pro-Israel Advocacy Award in 2003; Chicago House with its Spirit Award in 2004; and the Anti-Defamation League with its Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Civil Rights Award in 2005; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer will be remembered as a masterful political advisor and activist who pushed the boundaries of representation and equality, while providing future generations with the expectation of diverse leadership; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer is survived by his beloved husband of 37 years, Roger Simon; his mother, Tema Bauer; his brother, Jerry Bauer; many nieces and nephews; and countless admirers and friends; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this eighteenth day of September, 2019, do hereby honor the life, legacy, and memory of our friend Michael Bauer, and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Michael Bauer as a sign of our honor, gratitude, and utmost respect.
adopted by C]\w Qity QoUHCll
v
ofthe Qity of Qkicago, Illinois
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Aldermen Michele Smith, and
resented by Tom Tunney Qn September 18, 2019
^QllBTBClS / The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the death on August 29, 2019, at age 66, of Michael Bauer, a respected citizen of the City of Chicago and longtime activist who was instrumental in the election of dozens of local and national political leaders; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer was a passionate advocate for worthy causes and oppressed people, with a specific focus on Holocaust education and LGBTQjssues; and
WHEREAS, The son of two Holocaust survivors, raised in East Rogers Park, and trained as a lawyer, Mr. Bauer made q lasting impact on Chicago politics and political institutions that was shaped by his commitment to equality; and
WHEREAS,. Influenced .by.-the AIDS epidemic, Mr. Bauer entered politics to direct attention to the' needs of the gay community; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Mr. Bauer chaired a successful campaign for the state's first elected openly gay person, enabling Tom Chiola to become a Cook County-circuit court judge; arid
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer was a pioneer in Holocaust history in 1998, with his
participation in cultivating the first academic symposium on the Holocaust's gay victims;
and . r
WHEREAS, In 2003, Mr. Bauer served as campaign co-chair and finance chair for Alderman Tom Tunney's campaign to become ihe first openly gay alderman elected to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer's significant contributions to the City of Chicago include his distinct presence in Chicago's Jewish community, through his service as the co-chairman of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission; and
WHEREAS, Most recently, Mr. Bauer, serving as chairman of her campaign, played a pivotal role in the election of our first openly gay Mayor of the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer gave generously of his time to the community, including serving- as the co-chair for various annual fundraisers for political and charitable organizations, including Citizen Action Illinois, American Jewish Committee, and IMPACT; he also served on the board of directors'for Lambda Legal Defense and Education, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, and the Global AIDS Alliance; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer's lifelong achievements were honored by the American Civil Liberties Union with its John R. Hammell Award in 1998; the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization with its Edwin Astrin Special Service Award in 2002; the Hearts Foundation with its Jackson Service Award in 2003; Horizons Community Services with its Human First Award in 2003; CitiPAC with its Scoop Jackson Pro-Israel Advocacy Award in 2003; Chicago House with its Spirit Award in 2004; and. the Anti-Defamation League with its Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Civil Rights Award in 2005; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bauer will be remembered as a masterful political advisor and
activist who,.pushed the boundaries of representation and equality, ■while providing
future generations with the expectation of diverse leadership; and' . ' ' ; ' :
'WHEREAS,, Mr. Bauer is survived by his beloved husband,'qf. 37 years; Roger Simon; his mother, tema Bauer; his brother, Jerry'Bauer; many nieces and nephews; and countless admirers and friends; now;! therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City ' of Chicago, assembled this eighteenth day of September, 20.19,".do hereby honor the life, legacy,- and memory of our. friend Michael Bauer, and extend our heartfelt condolences "fo.his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Michael Bauer as a sign of our honor, gratitude, and utmost respect.
CITY CLERK