MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF JULY 6, 2017
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MEMORIAL RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners extending sympathy and condolences to the family of Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele
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WHEREAS, Robert Steele was born on June 29, 1961 to Robert and Bobbie L. Steele; and
WHEREAS, a life-long Chicagoan, Robert graduated from Morgan State University in Maryland; and
WHEREAS, Robert worked as a Community Outreach Manager for the Chicago Park District and as Executive Director of the Lawndale Business & Local Development Corporation; and
WHEREAS, when his mother, Bobbie L. Steele, retired from her position as Cook County Board President in 2006, Robert was appointed to take her place, ultimately serving as President Pro Tempore; and
WHEREAS, dedicated to his North Lawndale community, Robert served as the Commissioner of the Second District, which includes the West Loop, South Loop and the West Side; and
WHEREAS, Robert also held positions as President of the Forest Preserve District Board, Chairman of the Environmental Control Committee, Chairman of the Contract Compliance Committee and Vice Chairman of the Health and Hospitals Committee; and
WHEREAS, he also devoted his time to several local and national boards, as a member of the Mt. Sinai Hospital board of directors, the Gift of Hope board of directors, president of the board of trustees of Frazier Preparatory Academy, as a member of the board of the National Association of Counties, and as a member of the board of the National Association of Black County Officials; where he served as president from 2008-2010; and
WHEREAS, diagnosed with diabetes when he was in his 20s, Robert received a kidney transplant from his sister Joyce Steele in 2010 and went on to become an advocate for organ donation; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele passed from this life on June 19, 2017; and
WHEREAS, Robert Steele devoted his life to public service, dedicatedly advocating for his North Lawndale community and the citizens of Cook County; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, extend our sympathy and condolences to the family of Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Dated: July 6, 2017
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; TIMOTHY BRADFORD; MARTIN J. DURKAN; JOSINA MORITA; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; DAVID J. WALSH; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Susan T. Morakalis, Acting General Counsel