A HERO’S FAREWELL
Owner of Red Wings, Tigers praised for staying true to his roots
Andrew Walters signs a message board outside Comerica Park during Wednesday’s public visitation for Red Wings and Tigers owner Mike Ilitch. “We all felt we were touched by him in some way,” said Olympia Entertainment president Tom Wilson.
Mike Ilitch was a billionaire businessman, professional sports team owner, tireless community advocate — but most of all, a family man.
A public memorial service Wednesday inside Detroit’s Fox Theatre included a video montage that most prominently featured Ilitch as a husband and father above anything else.
“It was very nice,” said Ron Slowinski of Warren, Mich., standing outside the theatre. “You could see he was very devoted family man, husband and father. He was a successful businessman who meant a lot to this city and always showed how much he really cared.
“He kept the Red Wings here (in downtown), the Tigers, encouraged the Lions to come back and now the Pistons. None of this would be here without him. It’s big loss because he was a pioneer and great influence to the city.” Ilitch died last Friday at age 87. Slowinski was among thousands who streamed through the ornate renovated theatre on Woodward Avenue — revived a few decades ago by the Ilitch family — to pay their respects to the Detroit icon affectionately known as “Mr. I.”
“He was just a wonderful human being — that’s the best way to describe him,” said Jessica Paul of Belleville, Mich., who attended the memorial service with her husband and nephew.
“Just going through the Fox Theatre today — you look and say, ‘He did this and preserved it.’ It’s such a magnificent place. We were very blessed in this community to have someone like that. It was nice to pay our respects today because he did so much for all of us.”
Born in Detroit, Ilitch was raised in humble beginnings, joined the U.S. Marines, played minor-league baseball, then opened his first Little Caesars pizza store outside Detroit in 1959.
That one store franchised starting in 1962 to become the world’s largest pizza chain with restaurants in 20 countries. He went on to purchase both the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers.
Olympia Entertainment president Tom Wilson reflected Wednesday how everyone employed within the Ilitch group of companies has been saddened by the loss of their patriarch.
“I have been fortunate to work with a lot of extraordinary, successful and wealthy people,” Wilson said. “The thing that sticks out is how he was such a real person. He never forgot where he came from and could relate to everybody. That’s why it’s not just executives feeling the loss, it’s everyone because we all felt we were touched by him in some way.”
The Ilitch organization has increasingly been steered over the past decade by son Christopher Ilitch so everyone is comfortable going into the future, Wilson said.
“But for all of us, this is a huge loss,” he said. “There are very few people who can fill the room even when they are not there. That speaks to (llitch’s) persona — even when not there, he was always there. That will stay in the hearts and minds of all of us.”
Across the street from the Fox Theatre, outside Comerica Park where the Tigers play, a photo montage of Ilitch was set up where people could sign their names and pay tribute.
“We just really respect all the things Mr. I has done for Detroit,” said Ben Laffoon, who was among those who signed, along with his 10-year old son Aaron.
“We thought this was the right thing to do to pay our respects since he has done so much for the sports scene here. The Ilitch family has been a driving force and so much a part of this community. We wanted to thank him for giving so much to the fans.”
Diane Guzik of Livonia, Mich., was also among those Wednesday who signed the tribute board.
“He had his fingers in nearly everything in Detroit,” she said. “We needed a strong person to get (revitalization) started and he was that. I am sure he will be up there watching us to make sure everything he started continues on forever.”
The Ilitch family has been a driving force and so much a part of this community. We wanted to thank him for giving so much to the fans.