HR1043 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1043 LRB093 22405 KEF 52011 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representative were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Ed Marciniak of Chicago on May 23, 2004; and

WHEREAS, A life-long Chicago resident, Ed Marciniak was born on December 17, 1917, one of three children of the late Walter and Hattie; his father, a Polish immigrant, owned a South Side grocery store and bought and sold buildings in a small way; this forced Mr. Marciniak to attend different grade schools in four years as the family frequently moved; his parents instilled in Mr. Marciniak at an early age the values of kindness, friendship, tolerance, compassion for all people, a strong work ethic, and a steadfast belief in God; and

WHEREAS, He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and earned a bachelor's and master's degree in social administration from Loyola University; in his youth he was a labor activist during the Depression and read the Catholic Worker; as a college student he began advocating and speaking our for social justice issues, and as a college student in 1938 he joined the Catholic Worker movement and was active in the Chicago Inter-Student Catholic Action group and for many years headed the Catholic Labor Alliance; and

WHEREAS, Ed Marciniak was dedicated to his professional work, his community, and the issues he believed in, but his first love and his life's priority was always his family: his loving wife Virginia; their four daughters Kate, Christina, Francesca, and Claudia; and their eight grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, After graduation he stayed at Loyola University for 10 years, first teaching sociology, labor economics, and the city's first course in race relations in the 1940s; at the same time he began a journalism career by publishing Work magazine; and

WHEREAS, From 1955 to 1960, he was international vice president of the Newspaper Guild and negotiated contracts for reporters with the Chicago Sun-Times; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Richard J. Daley named him executive director of the Chicago Commission on Human Rights in 1960 and he worked to improved race relations and promote integration, particularly in education and housing, during a critical time in the city's history; and

WHEREAS, In 1967, he became deputy commissioner of development and planning for Chicago; he left city government in 1973 to head the Institute of Urban Life and serve as adjunct professor of urban studies at Loyola University, a post he held until his death; and

WHEREAS, Ed Marciniak served as a special consultant to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission and led integration efforts at all levels, from local apartment buildings to the board rooms of Fortune 500 companies; and

WHEREAS, He created a scholarship fund for children in public housing to help them attend private schools, he contributed many articles to local and national journals, and authored and published several books including "Reclaiming the Inner City", "Reviving an Inner-City Community", "Reversing Urban Decline", "Non-Profits with Hard Hats", and "The Role of Chicago's Private Schools in Neighborhood Revitalization"; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Marciniak gave his time and energy to over 150 community organizations by serving on their boards, including the Chicago Urban League, Neighborhood Housing Services, the City Club, the Community Investment Corporation, the Illinois Humane Society for Children, and the Lira Ensemble, a Polish-American music group; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Marciniak was a man of deep faith who contributed to his church, St. Ita, in many ways; and he was very devoted to the improved development of his Edgewater community; and

WHEREAS, The voice of Ed Marciniak resounded across Chicago for more than 60 years, as he fought for civil rights and social justice in education, labor, affordable housing, and neighborhood development; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Ed Marciniak approached his teaching and work with the belief that change is possible, with confidence in the goodness of humanity, and with the willingness to help individuals realize their personal power and reach their fullest potential; and

WHEREAS, Ed Marciniak was loved and respected by thousands of students, colleagues, and friends whose lives he forever touched; and

WHEREAS, His passing will be deeply felt by many, especially his daughters, Kate and Claudia, Dr. Christina Marciniak, and Francesca M. Maher; his sister, Bernice Barta; and his eight grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Ed Marciniak, a great Illinoisan, along with all who knew him and loved him and extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ed Marciniak as an expression of our deepest sympathy.