HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-96-0231J-96-264
3/26/96
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND
SINCEREST CONDOLENCES OF THE CITY COMMISSION
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF MIAMI AND ITS
CITIZENS TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF JOHN J.
RIORDAN, UPON HIS UNTIMELY DEATH.
WHEREAS, John J. Riordan, who recently passed away, leaves
behind an outstanding legacy as an environmentalist who
i
continually fought for the preservation of our community's trees,
i
endangered due to aggressive development or landscaping and
maintenance abuse; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Riordan's many accomplishments include his
jleadership and expertise as a landscape architect, his pro bono
dedication concerning the review of applications for tree
permits, his civic service on architecture review boards, and his
ongoing donation of his own money and time for the planting and
care of the thousands of trees located throughout the City of
Miami; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the City Commission, on behalf
of the City of Miami and its citizens, to express its deepest
sympathy to the family and friends of John J. Riordan;
O. Ty CGMMISSION
MEETING or
MAR 2 6 1996
Resolution No.
96- 231
k,
l
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
i
Section 1. On behalf of the citizens of the City of
Miami, the City Commission hereby conveys to the family and
friends of John J. Riordan, its deepest sympathy and sincerest
condolences, upon his untimely death.
Section 2. This Resolution shall become effective
immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 26th day of March 1996.
I
i
STE HEN P. CLAR , MAYOR
ATTES
WALTER J. F
CITY CLER MAN
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
A. Q JON S III
CITY TTORN Y
W712:BSS
2-
(As- 231
WALTER J. FOEMAN
City Clerk
Not it f tamf
Ounit "nn
April22, 1996
Mr. Dan Murray
Executor
Estate of John J. Riordan
4200 Sunshine Road
Miami, FL 33133
Dear Mr. Murray:
CESAR H. ODIO
City Manager
Following a telephone conversation you had with a member of my staff, Valerie Puyans,
I understand that Mr. Riordan has no surviving relatives to whom we can address a
personal letter to accompany a resolution of condolence (96-231) which was passed
and adopted by the Miami City Commission at its meeting of March 26, 1996.
However, we hope that you will be able to place this resolution with the other items you
mentioned at the memorial service to be held this weekend so that Mr. Riordan's friends
will be able to appreciate the sentiments of the Commission.
Sincerely,
Iter J. Ftoefnaln
City Clerk
Enc. a/s
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK/3500 Pan American Drive/P.O. Box 330708/Miami, FL 33233/(305) 250-5360/FAX: (305) 858-1610
MITI' �JF h:uAit91, i � ', 11iIL��'•
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
ro Honorable Mayor and „ March 14, 1996 FILE
Members of the City
Commission Resolution of Sympathy
n � �
HUN Joe Carollo `2z
City Commi goner
tivl �'_'4Uf7L:>
In honor of the late John J. Riordan, I move that the City Commission adopt a Resolution
of Sympathy in remembrance of Mr. Riordan's contribution to our community's
greenspace and quality of life.
CC: Cesar Odio, City Manager
A. Quinn Jones, III, City Attorney
96 231
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11 RGf�7 (lt(? ,
,fii �iii3tt':;)�'.:lfl ?!r(Jill:';{t .21'rK' � s •�a,.� ,71:f j ::s: Jilt .t� . ,'S Ft)tyr,t'. �};I t��Ki; . '�
9l('11• tid hn ati
G��1V U ld), lant ' 45 oaks onl both' sides' oft „ bodded and smiled.'' - ., I(11 t
�,,. p president
�'
,!4 �_ ,.,,, srli Isrtti .aJn - ;f = i MichaeU Goldstein, of the
r
;aldSt, �tHItt;� �`,,,� �� . Douglas_goad! =- .,Would dot be:fbr,-t 1.. Riordan was a-belovetd figurei.taEih,Coconui Grove Civic Club.
s
' ca1';iitr�lTreen7�an o�;;; gotten.:�;;3:,, 1�,,; t:';•; ,°� r1 zti, Grove -ices who have made trees --,(r4 :ti"He was like Gone -man environ-
, ;a tie, wiry ,nt,q-' While,he wassick he would write�i; :whether in, danger from bulldozers on,/ mental. squad," said Tucker Gibbs,
spectac�gc G[aYS; local me me to contact city.. in
yocgnut , , notes- asking reckless pruners -- sacred stuff , chairman of the Cocoanut Grove Vil
he l4no by'whatwas:written commissioners to try for funding," their fight
.1 to maintain the village
}%usjpes J,.RioFdan, 1 'anti was �"ggaint'tropical '; '�
lage Council:
`bagel
:his card: Jol?n laid Murray; a,friepd calla chann ,'� ? : •
'Riatdan
Sofl=spoken' and' y 135
�►dscapei �chltect..l;r •,..• r ;j,,, �irith when. he , i6W"af- the. iIt's onl , logical that tF Treemar
Y g
� pounds, Riordan usually depended
died;; Tuesday of. Veterans Administration Medical who made the history, planting and on the power of persuasion. A pro
,eumonlaafter along iilnes$;,Center in�Miami, preserving of native trees his.raison bono •tree expert for.the cit he
$ut-no#;E�efore hetmade bisfnends� '',""`T�y,'I said `John; i promise'to d'etre would bea hero. ;; - C i would'patient}yeexplain°to homeown
",'
u'
omise: that his latest tree• plantirg c'arry out,the Douglas Road'proje'ct to "He was in the trenches. He was a °'
;tjte;$11,000 he•hacf raised•") ybur''wislies.'" Murray:'said,."He true environmental warrior," said PLEASESEERIORDAN, 48
.>1 ,tJt�L�)lj.a�i•-'
Riordan
•,'. )i1tJs'`.'I-?..? 'i's!i''-If;'i,trMd, _.... .. _.. ...
ZZ
01.
4uiu, lmiuwan ianuscapc al-untec t, "rove S rapa . Ireeman.
"He loved his ' trees,'.' said Christina
sor with Alcoholics' Anonymous: He lists' no
R000AN, FRAM 113
_
t T "r 7 :
^.r� ,z:r;rrt,t.�l>++t ar,;, t.,s•:r ers
Abrams, a city administrator:."I couldn't sur:
vivewithout him.. We didn't. issue one tree
survivors.
:. 'A memorial service had not been sched-
t a'tlie.tree`itidn'Vidally need to be ,cut.,_
permit without John •looking at it. I hope:::
uled, but for: information, call Murray at
, ,...
someone will pick tip where he left off."-. , .,
(305) 668-0659. Contributions may be made
-Net his,;friends'. references to `ti amor"'
Born in an Irish neighborhood in New,
to the;Tree Man Trust, 3141 MacDonald St.,
h64ts roots. Riordan, a Bronx. street. scrap-.. ,.
York, Riordan got an undergraduate degree: -
Coconut Grove, Fla.,:33133:. .
per'Ondparairooper for the U.S. Air Force in;;
in psychology from Columbia University,
:. The trust, Riordan created was responsible
t�e�Yyears after World,War II,. took a stand
before moving to Miami three decades,
for, trees that now give shade on Grand Ave-
last4summer over the illegal cutting of a tree.
close friends said.
nue, McFarlane Avenue and Oak Avenue. To
11 culprit, fed up,. with his scolding,.'_
Later.moving into landscape architecture;
plant trees on Grand Avenue, Riordan put
attacked Riordan, breaking. two bones' in his"
Riordan won awards for his workdesigning
up several thousand . dollars of hisown
hapa.: His hand X-rayed and ;wrapped *ith ;'
gardens at. Vizcaya. He . served on the city
money.
gaQe;.Riordan was still talking about fining'.;
architecture review boards and gave tree
Said longtime friend Jane Ross Scott:
restaurant owners.he said illegally hired the '
advice.to many neighborhood groups.
"People are surrounded by his work, and
prulier :; ; ,..r:.
. rr +>•� r
Riordan is also known to many ag a spon-
they don't even know who did it."