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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND LEGACY OF ROGER PASCAL
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal, a man whose exceptional wisdom and compassion led him to a stellar legal career that spanned over half a century, died in December, leaving behind family, friends, colleagues and a community enriched for having known him; and
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal grew up in Rogers Park and graduated from Highland Park High School. He attended the University of Michigan and Harvard University School of Law; and
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal served as general counsel to the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois for thirty years and as a partner at Schiff, Hardin LLP for fifty years; and
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal’s legal legacy is lengthy and cannot be overstated. He will long be remembered in particular for his challenge to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services which brought about important changes for those in the foster care system and for creating new and important legal doctrines that had a major impact on trade-secrets case law; and
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal, in addition to being a highly successful litigator and chair of his law firm’s litigation practice took seriously his commitment to pro bono work. His work as legal counsel to the America Civil Liberties Union brought about profound and lasting reform that has expanded nationwide. One of his major victories was the decentralization of high-rise public housing in Chicago; his suit brought into use the Gautreaux process, now a national model for scattered site, low-density public housing. He successfully led the challenge to conditions at Illinois state psychiatric hospitals, and challenged the abusive and unlawful detention of a legal resident following the terrorist attacks of 911. His work challenging government watch lists and the repeated, lengthy, and abusive detentions of American citizens reentering the U.S made him nothing short of legendary; and
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal’s commitment to justice, due process, and the future of the legal profession inspired his participation in numerous organizations. He served on the board of the Public Interest Law Initiative and the Schiff Hardin/Howard Area Community Center Legal Clinic, which he helped establish and where he served regular shifts for many years. He also helped create the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, an organization that provides low income Evanston youth and their families with legal and social work services. Countless lives have been improved as a direct result of the important work of each of these organizations; and
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal and his wife Missy were leaders in the city of Evanston and the Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park on any issue that improved the quality of life, especially for young people; and
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal not only volunteered his considerable legal abilities he also volunteered his talents as a pilot, sharing his love of aviation in a program that gives urban children their first experiences of flight. He also regularly flew medical missions with LifeLine Pilots transporting patients to hospitals across the country; and
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal was a man with many distinct passions. He was a lover and supporter of jazz. He performed with his band the Rip Chords and served on the board of the Jazz Institute of Chicago. He and his wife Martha were passionate scuba divers; his office was decorated with his photos of exotic fish. He was a talented baker who regularly shared with family and friends his homemade bread; and
WHEREAS, Roger Pascal was the beloved husband of Martha Pascal and the loving father of three: Deborah, Diane, and David; grandchildren Sam and Bennett Pascal, and Sofia Hogue; and his brothers, Charles and Ross Pascal; 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 who he served dutifully, commemorates the life of Roger Pascal, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions he has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
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 Roger Pascal.end