The City of Chicago has lost a gem.
Maggie Daley was a magnificent lady and her smile was always bright, no matter the situation or the event. Her quiet charm was regal. She was a quiet force.
Some people teach us how to live, some people teach us how to rise to the occasion, and some people teach us how to die. She taught it all. She was a cultural force in this city.
Maggie Daley loved the arts and she taught the gentle side of her husband, Richard, our former mayor. No matter neither your politics nor your station in life, you saw a bond and beautiful love story with Mr. and Mrs. Richard Daley. Their love bloomed. If he talked about her he lit up and maybe became teary eyed. If you talked about him she beamed. They held hands in public and they danced, sometimes.
They were a great couple, great parents and great caretakers of the City of Chicago. They made it world class. Sunday was family day, no events.
Maggie's innovative After School Matters program is her greatest accomplishment.
The program reached across the city to thousands of kids to teach and provide them with opportunities to a successful and worthwhile future. No child was untouched, if interested. The program created much-needed jobs and continues to provide a range of opportunity for our Chicago youth through science, tech, performing and visuals arts, and sports.
On the evening of her gala for After School Matters, which was always creatively done, the children performed as though they were on Broadway. It was their recital. You saw Maggie's work in action, on the stage.
The importance of such programming like After School Matters, reign high, especially after schools cut their art programs. Hers became a model for others to follow.
I sat with Maggie and the Mayor at Michael Scott's funeral. I was sitting on the side, which they came in and I got up to move. She asked me to sit back down, along with Bishop Brazier. It was a particularly tough time for all. Her words were strong and determined. She taught us dignity even with a declining illness. She was beautiful and caring.
Maggie was quite a lady. She took "political wife" to new heights.
My heart goes out to the Daley family for their lost. We have been blessed to have her for over 20 wonderful years, in public.
Her dignity and grace will be remembered.