CBA Nov.-Dec. 2020

PRESIDENT’S PAGE BY MARYAM AHMAD Re  ecting on the Lives Our Nation Has Lost

The Chicago Bar Association www.chicagobar.org

OFFICERS

President Maryam Ahmad

number are more than statistics. While I find the media focuses on celeb- rities and high profile individuals who have passed away, I find my attention drawn to the histories and narratives of those not as widely known—the regular folk, if you will. I think about the teachers, store stockers, transportation workers, com- munity activists, entrepreneurs, novelists, musicians, farmers, prayer leaders, first responders, and military veterans who comprise the more than 236,000 lives lost. I am very sensitive to surviving family members who fear the larger world is oblivious to the impact of their loved one on the world. Often, those who experience such a significant loss yearn to have others acknowledge that loss. Thus, I’d like to take space in this month’s column to honor the memory of the over 236,000 U.S. residents who have passed away from Covid-19. I’d also like to introduce you to a few outstanding local residents whose lights and contributions were extinguished by this deadly disease. To the families and friends of those who have passed away, I say that your fellow residents grieve with you, even though we may not have access to a platform to share that sentiment more formally. Harold Davis, Jr. passed away on April 12. He was 63 years old and my friend. He was the founder and host of the “Butt Naked Truth” radio show on Chicago gospel station WBGX. Harold’s shows addressed politics, self-empowerment, business development, and education.

First Vice President E. Lynn Grayson

Second Vice President Timothy S. Tomasik

Secretary Ray J. Koenig III

Treasurer John C. Sciaccotta

Executive Director Elizabeth A. McMeen

E very evening I watch network news, most stations begin the coverage with a bold red, six-digit number. It represents the number of people who have passed away this calendar year from Covid-19. With no vaccine and no cure, the coronavirus continues to kill globally. This past May, I read a New York Times article that provided one or two sentences about everyone who had died in the United States from Covid-19. At that time, approximately 100,000 residents had passed away from the disease. Although little was written about each person, it was enough to at least give a brief snap- shot of the person. Now, as U.S. Covid- 19 deaths—that we know of—exceed 236,000, I continue to reflect on the tre- mendous loss our nation is suffering from the deaths of so many talented people. The number of those who have passed away is staggering, but the souls represented by this

Immediate Past President Jesse H. Ruiz BOARD OF MANAGERS Jonathan B. Amarilio Hon. Charles S. Beach II Alexis Crawford Douglas Charles P. Golbert Kathryn C. Liss Michael R. Lufrano Hon. Clare Elizabeth McWilliams

Juan Morado, Jr. Lauren S. Novak Hon. Nichole C. Patton Brandon Peck Ashley Rafael Trisha Rich Antonio M. Romanucci Ajay N. Shah

CBA President Maryam Ahmad recently interviewed Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (39th District) about Illinois’ legislative agenda during Covid-19. The program is available for on demand viewing (and MCLE credit) at learn. ChicagoBar.org.

Hon. Maria Valdez Adam M. Zebelian

6 November/December 2020