Chicago City Council June 23,2021
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR BRUNO FRANCIS ROTI
WHEREAS, Bruno Francis Roti was born on August 10, 1933, in Chicago and is a lifelong Chicago resident; and
WHEREAS, He moved with his family to Rogers Park when he was 10 years old, where he attended St. Ignatius Grade School as well as Loyola Academy (on the Loyola University campus at that time); and
WHEREAS, Upon returning from the U.S. Army, he married and raised his family in Rogers Park; and
WHEREAS, Bruno became a community leader in the Rogers Park neighborhood, serving on community and parish councils, fundraising for his local church, and donating his time and money to help neighborhood schools and community based organizations; and
WHEREAS, Bruno's strong will led to him opening Bruno's Lounge in 1956 in the Rogers Park neighborhood, where it remains today; and
WHEREAS, It is one of the longest-serving bars on the far North Side of Chicago, tenaciously withstanding many challenges, with the most recent being the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the bar has served as a community staple, helping neighbors connect with one another through the decades; and
WHEREAS, Everyone knew Bruno, people were drawn to his gregarious personality and he easily made new friends, enjoying speaking with new patrons at his establishment; and
WHEREAS, Bruno connected with athletes, students, and members of the school community from Loyola University, earning the respect of teachers, coaches, and Loyola students, who would come to visit him at the bar years after graduating as alumni; and
WHEREAS, His charitable nature led him to help neighbors and patrons, always ready to help with his hand in his pocket whenever someone was out of luck; and
WHEREAS, Bruno left a strong legacy that will not be forgotten, and the 6500 block of Sheridan, where the long-standing bar resides, will always be remembered as Bruno's Place; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-third day of June, 2021, do hereby honor the remarkable life and
legacy of Bruno Francis Roti, and extend our most heartfelt condolences to family and friends; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Bruno Francis Roti, as a token of our honor, gratitude, and respect.
Maria E. Hadden Alderperson, 49th Ward