RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 92; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Jean is survived by her two sons, Stephen Kennedy and William Kennedy, two daughters, Amanda and Kym, and six grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Jean was born February 20,1928 to Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy in Boston, Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, In 1948, Jean received a Bachelor's degree in English from Manhattanville College ofthe Sacred Heart in New York; and
WHEREAS, In 1956, Jean married Stephen E. Smith, who was a key financial and political advisor to the Kennedy family; and
WHEREAS, Starting in 1964, Jean was a member ofthe Board of Trustees ofthe Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, which provides grants to promote awareness and advocacy in the field of intellectual disability; and
WHEREAS, In 1974, Jean founded Very Special Arts, a Kennedy Center affiliate that provides programs in creative writing, dance, music, drama and other arts for thousands of physically or mentally handicapped artists in America and elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, On March 17,1993, Jean was nominated by President Clinton to become the US Ambassador at age 65, where she became a political figure in her own right and played a key role on the Northern Ireland peace process, and served her duties until 1998; and
WHEREAS, In April 1993, Jean had her book, Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Arts, written with George Plimpton, published by Random House, which profiles 16 artists with disabilities who discuss how art has made a difference in their lives despite their unique challenges; and
WHEREAS, In addition to a number of honorary degrees, Jean received various award's including the Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service from the American Institutes for Public Service, the Margaret Mead Humanitarian Award from the Council of Cerebral Palsy Auxiliaries and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, for her work with VSA; and
WHEREAS, To her beloved family, Jean Kennedy Smith 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 Twenty-second day of July, 2020, do hereby commemorate Jean Kennedy Smith for her grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to her family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jean Kennedy Smith.
Edward M. Burke Alderman, 14th Ward