RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Raymond F. Simon has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Raymond is survived by his wife, Mary, his eight children, Matthew (Jacqueline Covert), Mark (Dr. Catherine Counard), John (Tanya Solov), Gregory (Barbara Coghlan), David (Agnieszka Kubiak), Kevin (Micaela Daly), Maria (John Taylor) and Daniel, and 23 grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, He was born on November 7,1932, the youngest of six children of Peter Simon and Mary Doody and grew up in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Raymond was educated at Catholic Schools, including St. Ignatius High School (Class of 1950) and Loyola University and Loyola University Law School (Class of 1956); and
WHEREAS, After Law School, Raymond began working for the City of Chicago Law Department and quickly rose through the ranks; and
WHEREAS, In 1965, Mayor Richard J. Daley appointed Raymond Corporation Counsel, making him one of the youngest lawyers to ever hold that position; and
WHEREAS, He represented the City in major trial and appellate litigation, including arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court; and
WHEREAS, While working with the City's Department Heads, Raymond learned about many areas of business and engaged with great professionals, including City Engineer James McDonough and City Architect Jerome Butler; and
WHEREAS, He also made friends among leaders of organized labor, including Ed Brabec, who became head ofthe Plumber's Union and the Chicago Federation of Labor; and
WHEREAS, Raymond resigned from the City and launched a private law practice in partnership with Richard M. Daley in 1970; and
WHEREAS, Raymond worked with Mayor Richard J. Daley and the Democratic Party on political campaigns for many local, state and national candidates, including John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; and
WHEREAS, Raymond continued his public service through appointments to several government and non-government positions; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Jane Byrne appointed Raymond first as a Commissioner and later as the President ofthe Board of Commissioners ofthe Chicago Park District; and
WHEREAS, Raymond was appointed to the Local Labor Relations Board which oversees matters related to public sector collective bargaining, where he served for many years and, with his fellow commissioners, worked to establish a proper balance between labor and management in the public sector; and
WHEREAS, Raymond enjoyed a long, successful career in the private practice of law, beginning when he left the City Law Department; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, Raymond imparts a legacy of generosity, compassion, devotion to family and unwavering faith in God; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this First day of February, 2023, do hereby commemorate Raymond for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Raymond F. Simon.
Edward M. Btfrke Alderman, 14th Ward