In his hometown of Detroit, Ilitch has been honored for his efforts in the community with the Joe Louis Brown Bomber Jacket Award, the Distinguished Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award, the Shining Light Regional Cooperation Award and the Edward H. McNamara Goodfellow of the Year Award.
A visionary, true leader, and dear friend, Mike Ilitch will be forever missed by everyone at the Ilitch companies.
Memorials
The family will honor Mr. Ilitch at a private funeral service. An opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects is also being planned. Details will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to:
Ilitch Charities www.IlitchCharities.org
The Detroit Red Wings Foundation
https://redwings.nhl.com/club/microhome.htm?location=/foundation
The Detroit Tigers Foundation
https://Detroit.Tigers.mlb.com/det/community/foundation.jsp
Statement from Mayor Duggan:
“Mike Ilitch was more than just a shrewd, successful businessman. He was a Detroiter through-and-through. Whether he was making pizza, building successful sports and entertainment franchises or supporting youth organizations in our city, “Mr. I” helped to bring thousands of jobs and opportunities to our city and attract millions of dollars of investment.
More than all of this, he was a family man. I know how Mike Ilitch adored his family and how his family adores him. My heart goes out to Marian, their children and the entire Ilitch family at this difficult time.”
Statement from U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell: “Mike Ilitch was a giant for Detroit and Southeast Michigan who spent his life nurturing and giving back to the city and state he loved. His drive and vision – and passion for sports – helped contribute to the revival of downtown Detroit, helped make us the pizza capital of the world, and brought us four Stanley Cups and two trips to the World Series. Through it all, Mike never lost touch. He was a real guy, and as much as he loved Detroit, his true love was his wife Marian and their seven children. John and I were honored to call Mike a friend, and our prayers are with Marian and the family.”
Statement from Rodrick T. Miller, president and CEO of Detroit Economic Growth Corporation: “Mike Illitch, a first generation American, exemplified the essence of Detroit. Through grit, tenacity, and savvy he built a global empire from a meager start in a single storefront. His life is an inspiration for any entrepreneur who chooses Detroit as a place to dream big and work hard. His investments in the city have been catalytic for our recovery, and his legacy will endure for generations to come.”
About Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Ilitch Holdings, Inc. provides professional services to the companies owned by Mike and/or Marian Ilitch. The Ilitch companies in the food, sports and entertainment industries collectively employ 23,000 full-time and part-time colleagues worldwide and posted revenues of $3.4 billion in 2016. The Ilitch companies include: Ilitch Holdings, Little Caesars Pizza, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Little Caesars Pizza Kits Fundraising Program and Champion Foods. Marian Ilitch owns the MotorCity Casino Hotel.
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