MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 3, 2019
Title
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners extending sympathy and condolences to the family of Dr. Cherie G. Steele-Mitchell
Body
WHEREAS, Dr. Cherie G. Steele-Mitchell was born on February 26, 1928 to Owen J. Patterson, Sr. and Ruth H. Patterson, the fifth child in a blended family of ten children; and
WHEREAS, Cherie was raised on the South Side of Chicago where she attended Chicago Public Schools, graduating with honors from Englewood High School where she was named prom queen, and enrolling in college at the age of sixteen; and
WHEREAS, Cherie earned a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and ultimately a Ph. D in Public Administration, and was a life-long learner who passed her love of learning to her children and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Cherie and her husband James D. Steele settled in the Chatham neighborhood, raising two children, John and Diane; and
WHEREAS, bowling was among Cherie’s favorite pastimes, a hobby she kept throughout her life and passed on to her children; and
WHEREAS, as a member of the Concerned Citizen’s Organization, Cherie gained an interest in politics from organizing her community to be involved in issues that affected them, including the impact of flooding in the Chatham neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Cherie passed that interest on to her children and grandchildren, including her son former 6th Ward Alderman and retired Appellate Court Justice John O. Steele, and her granddaughter Metropolitan Water Reclamation District President Kari K. Steele; and
WHEREAS, Cherie was as committed to her church as she was committed to education and her family, and was never satisfied with taking and not giving, and she demonstrated this spirit by becoming an ordained deacon on December 29, 2002; and
WHEREAS, years after her husband’s death, Cherie met and married Otis Mitchell, and they both worked for the federal government until they retired. For 21 years they traveled, golfed and became snowbirds in Florida. They lived and loved life; and
WHEREAS, Cherie peacefully departed this life on September 16, 2019. She was a woman of faith, perseverance, strength and love and will be forever missed by friends and family; 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 Dr. Cherie G. Steele-Mitchell; 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 and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to the family of Dr. Cherie G. Steele-Mitchell.
Dated: October 3, 2019