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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE SUE BRADY
WHEREAS, Sue Brady, an exceptional woman whose life was devoted to family, social justice and her community, died on December 15, 2014 leaving behind family, countless friends and a community profoundly enriched for having known her; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady represented the best qualities of humanity through her life-long work as an advocate, activist and community leader. For nearly five decades, the citizens of Cook County were the beneficiary of her tireless efforts as an indefatigable advocate for housing and social justice; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady was a woman of unique focus who devoted a substantial portion of her life to serving her community as an elected official, as a staffer for another elected official and later in an auxiliary capacity to government as a community activist; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady grew up on Chicago’s North Side and graduated from Mundelein College. After she married her husband Tony in 1946, they moved to Northbrook. They became parents during the early days of the school desegregation movement of the 1960’s. Sue and Tony resolved that each of their five children should attend desegregated schools and so moved the family to Evanston where they became major participants and leaders in the school desegregation movement. Sue Brady became a treasured neighbor and PTA board member; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady volunteered for the campaign for Abner Mikva when he ran for the House of Representatives from the 10th District and after his election served on his congressional staff. Her respect and admiration for Mikva was returned: Judge Mikva recently described Sue Brady as “one of the most wonderful people I have known”; and
WHEREAS, after leaving Mikva’s office when he was appointed to be a federal judge, Sue Brady was chosen to head the Housing Resource Center of Hull House, a position she maintained until she retired in 2000; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady’s tenure at Hull House will long be remembered for ushering in a major policy change. It was her leadership and support that was instrumental in the Chicago Housing Authority policy shift to turn over scattered sites to private managers. Never content to limit herself to just managing an issue from a distance, she regularly became acquainted with and knew almost all of the residents by name; and
WHEREAS, at the same time she was making major changes in how the Chicago Housing Authority managed public housing, Sue Brady became a popular and well-respected alderman, who was elected to two terms as Evanston’s Third Ward alderman, from 1985 to 1993; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady was a long-time member of the League of Women Voters of Evanston. For many of her last years she focused her energies on local government. In addition to her decades working on housing she put her knowledge and expertise acquired as Alderman to work for the Local Government Committee of the League of Women Voters of Evanston. The absence of her advice, friendship, and sense of humor has left a void there that cannot easily be replaced; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady and her husband Tony shared their commitment to social justice issues very early with their children and in so doing created a family legacy of community service. She was the matriarch of a mighty family who have all followed her example and become leaders themselves. The beneficial impact the Brady family has had on the region cannot be overstated; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady was always willing to contribute her leadership skills to causes she cared about. Throughout her life she devoted substantial portions of her time to a variety of organizations such as the Public Service Challenge, Leadership Evanston, Evanston Housing Commission, and Youth Organizations Umbrella. Most recently, she was active in the Evanston League of Women Voters and Executive Service Corps; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady was beloved not just in her community she was also the doting mother of five children, Eileen Brady (Brian Rohter) of Portland, Oregon; Beth Brady Keating (Anthony), of Weehawken, New Jersey; Chip Brady (Kate); Neal Brady(Tracy Quattrocki); and Brian Brady (Anna Fillmore), all of Evanston, a brother, John Durburg (Sue) of Evanston, and a sister, Jan St. John, of Maui, Hawaii. Sue was pre-deceased by her husband Charles Anthony Brady in 2000. Her son Chip once noted that “She was known as a community activist and leader, and rightly so. But she was adamant about family first, and she never let us feel she was too busy. She changed public housing in Chicago but she was always our mother first.”; and
WHEREAS, Sue Brady was known to regularly check-in with each of her 17 grandchildren to insure that they were each registered to vote. She will be sorely missed by grandchildren Caitlin Alcott (Emily), Colin O’Brady (Jenna Besaw), Nathaniel Keating, William Keating, Cara Keating, Marianna Brady, Julia Brady, Angelina Brady, Katherine Brady, Benedict Brady, Ella Brady, Oliver Brady, Caroline Brady, Russell Fillmore-Brady, Hazel Fillmore-Brady, Sadie Morrison, Casey Rohter and a brand new great-grandson Griffin Alcott; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County commemorates the extraordinary life of Sue Brady and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions she has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to the family of Sue Brady.
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