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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HONORABLE BURTON “BURT” NATARUS
WHEREAS, the Honorable Burton “Burt” Natarus, Alderman of Chicago’s 42nd Ward for 36 years, died on June 11, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Natarus was born and raised in Wausau, Wisconsin, where his mother and father operated a dry goods store with a lunch counter. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Wisconsin before studying government at Harvard. He also served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves; and
WHEREAS, Natarus settled on the Near North Side in 1960 and started his life-long love and admiration for those who lived there.
WHEREAS, Burt Natarus taught government classes at Loyola University before embarking on his City Council career in 1971 with the first of nine consecutive winning elections; and
WHEREAS, Ald. Natarus supported Mayor Harold Washington, one of only a handful of white aldermen to do so, when Washington was elected the city’s first African American mayor in 1983. Natarus played a key role in helping to elect Alderman Eugene Sawyer as the acting Mayor during the marathon City Council meeting that followed Washington’s death; and
WHEREAS, Ald. Natarus was Chairman of the Traffic and Safety Committee. He also served on six other committees: Finance; Zoning; Rules and Ethics; License and Consumer Protection; Budget and Government Operations; and Housing and Real Estate. In addition, he was a member of the Chicago Plan Commission, the Central Area Planning Task Force, the Regional Transportation Task Force and the Zoning Reform Commission.
WHEREAS, Ald. Natarus was the self-proclaimed “janitor” of the downtown 42nd Ward and known for a series of quirky quality-of-life crusades waged over his tenure. He tackled everything from loud motorcycles, street musicians and blaring car radios to valet parking and tacky store advertising on North Michigan Avenue; and
WHEREAS, an avid outdoorsman, Natarus enjoyed taking his son on childhood trips rafting down rivers in the western United States; and
WHEREAS, Natarus is survived by his son, Michael; daughter, Jill; and grandchildren Jacob and Jenna.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County, honors the life and contributions of THE HONORABLE BURTON “BURT” NATARUS and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions he 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 THE HONORABLE BURTON “BURT” NATARUS.
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