Memorial Tree for Tami Gorodetzer

In May we said goodbye to Tami Gorodetzer.

Tami was a larger-than-life force and a light like no other—a beacon of hope, a champion for true change, and an all-around amazing human being. We all reaped the benefits of her oversized personality and passion, her smile and humor, her vision and wisdom, and most of all, her friendship.

Tami was an ally and advocate for all, making sure that everyone was seen and heard. She wanted us to get comfortable—but not to stay comfortable. She charged through barriers and ignited conversations. She led us with justice and lifted us with love.

My name is Dan Schaefer, and I, alongside a collective of Tami's former coworkers, family, and friends, are raising money to plant a memorial tree on Chicago's Lakefront. This is our way of honoring Tami and giving everyone who loved her a beautiful place to visit to remember her.

Recently, we met with a Landscape Architect from Chicago Parks District to determine the type of tree to be planted and its location. Together, we chose to plant a catalpa tree and install a sidewalk and a bench at Loyola Beach, located in Rogers Park. Loyola Beach Park is full of paths that Tami often ran while training for the marathon and is also facing Lake Michigan or "the water," as she called it, where she regularly went to connect with herself.

Here's a photo from our visit to a local park, with a "teenage" catalpa tree:

Catalpa trees are very special.

Here's a close-up of the flowers, which bloom around Tami's birthday every year:

Our goal is to raise $13,000. Here's the breakdown of how that money will be spent:

While it would be more affordable for us to just plant a tree, we want to follow in Tami's inclusivity footsteps. A bench and a sidewalk helps us make the tree accessible to all, including people with disabilities and those who simply want to sit and spend an extended amount of time with her tree.

Any excess money raised will be used to further support Tami’s legacy.

Any little bit you can give helps. I'll post on this page as we have updates about the tree's location and planting schedule so you can see your dollars in action.

We love you, Tami.