Maggie Daley, the wife of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, has died at age 68, after a long battle with metastatic breast cancer. We talk about her life and her legacy on this special edition of Chicago Tonight at 7:00 pm.
President Barack Obama, Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel released statements following Maggie Daley's death. Read them below.
Statement by the President on the Passing of Maggie Daley
"Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Maggie Daley. Maggie was an extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to public service. While she will be sorely missed, her initiatives on behalf of Chicago’s youth live on as national models for how to create environments for children to learn and grow outside the classroom. Maggie’s commitment to the children and people of Chicago was surpassed only by her devotion to her family. Tonight, our thoughts and prayers are with Mayor Daley, Nora, Patrick, Lally and the entire Daley family."
Governor Quinn Statement on Maggie Daley
"Tonight, the State of Illinois lost a great treasure. Maggie Daley was a woman for all seasons who treated Chicago residents like family and served up hope and inspiration wherever she went.
"The ever-gracious Maggie was devoted to her family and her faith. Maggie had a servant's heart, especially for children. Through her founding and leadership of After School Matters, she lifted up thousands of Chicago teenagers with opportunities to discover their potential and find their path to a meaningful life.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Daley family. The people of Chicago and Illinois now mourn a great loss, but we remember the legacy of grace and compassion that Maggie left."
Statement from Mayor Emanuel regarding the passing of Maggie Daley
"Tonight we grieve for the Daley family. Chicago has lost a warm and gracious First Lady who contributed immeasurably to our city. While Mayor Daley served as the head of this city, Maggie was its heart. Of all her accomplishments, Maggie’s most treasured role was as a wife, mother, and grandmother. Our hearts go out to Mayor Daley, Nora, Patrick, Lally and the rest of the Daley family. Just as Maggie will remain a constant presence in their lives, she will remain a constant presence in our city. Like Chicagoans everywhere, Amy and I will always hold her in our hearts.
"We are grateful to Maggie for lending her shining spirit to Chicago in so many ways. She inspired all of us with her commitment to children and the arts. She revealed her grace through her battle with cancer. Whether you knew her personally or were among the countless more who loved and admired her, all of Chicago will remember Maggie for the grace and dignity with which she served for twenty-two years as First Lady.
"Every person in this city, one way or another, has been touched by her vision and determination. In the summer of 1991, Maggie started an after school program that apprenticed teenagers to learn their crafts from professional artists in a fun, safe environment. I remember the first time Maggie gave me a tour of the headquarters: a tent village they had put up on an empty lot downtown. There were just two hundred students. Twenty years later, twenty thousand Chicago students are busy learning, growing, and building a brighter future – all because of Maggie.
"On the fifth floor of City Hall hangs a beautiful mural that was created by some of those young artists from Maggie’s program. I pass it when I come to work every morning and when I leave every evening. It reminds me that, at the end of the day, everything I do in that office as Mayor of Chicago is measured by her standard – to leave behind a city that is worthy of our children. That was the standard she lived by. That is what she leaves to us. So, join me in comforting the whole Daley family, and let us commit to carrying on Maggie's life's work to build that brighter future for the City of Chicago, together."
Maggie Daley will be remembered during a public wake at the Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall on Sunday, Nov. 27 from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm. A public funeral will be held at Old St Patrick’s Church, 700 W. Adams, on Monday, Nov. 28 at 10:30 am.
What are your thoughts on Maggie Daley's life and legacy? Post your comments below or on our discussion board.
